Dr. Samuel Achilefu, a Nigerian-born scientist is an extraordinary individual: a luminary in research and development, inventor of 66 U.S. patents, published author of 300 scientific papers and recipient of 30 local, national, international honors for his accomplishments. He created an incredible invention that revolutionized the way cancer is detected and treated. He invented high-tech infrared goggles which enable surgeons to see cancer cells during surgery.
The innovative genius is a world-renowned expert in the development and use of light-sensitive drugs for cancer detection, imaging, and therapy. The pair of infrared goggles, when viewed through these special eyewear, stray tumor cells glow blue and are quickly removed before they can spread further throughout the body.
In order to find and remove as much cancer as possible during surgery, doctors need to be able to see where the cancer cells are. This is why his invention is so important. With these goggles, surgeons can clearly see cancer cells, and remove them to help many people fighting cancer.
“A limitation of surgery is that it’s not always clear to the naked eye the distinction between normal tissue and cancerous tissue,” Ryan Fields, MD, an assistant professor of surgery who has used the goggles with melanoma patients at Siteman Cancer Center, said last year. “With the glasses developed by Dr. Achilefu, we can better identify the tissue that must be removed.”
This groundbreaking technology has earned the professor of Radiology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and founding director of the school’s Center for Imaging Science, Dr. Achilefu several awards and honors from around the globe, including being presented with St Louis Award in 2001 and most recently, the prestigious Britton Chance Biomedical Optics Award in 2019 for his work on this revolutionary invention.
Furthermore, he serves on multiple fellowships within professional societies such as SPIE- The International Society for Optics and Photonics or Royal Society Medicine among many others,. In addition, he was inducted into both National Academy of Medicine (NAM), National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging Bioengineering.
In addition to changing the way cancer is detected and treated, his invention is not only a revolutionary development in the medical field, but it’s also an incredible example of what African scientists are capable of achieving when given proper resources and support.
Who is an African Giant?
Africa Giant media, where Africans share information on talent, achievements, culture, economy and more and together we can tell the original Africa story.
