Dr. Samuel Baker Obakiro is a Pharmacologist / Medicinal chemist with BSc. Chemistry and Botany in 2010, MSc. Pharmacology in 2015 both from Makerere University Uganda and a PhD (Analytical Chemistry) in 2022 from Moi University Kenya. He is currently a Lecturer and Ag. Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University. His areas of research interest are drug discovery and development from medicinal plants towards tuberculosis, Diabetes Mellitus and cancer, herbal medicine use and standardization, antimicrobial resistance and toxicology. Samuel is the Principal Investigator of the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE) funded project at Busitema University that is “Formulating and Evaluating Herbal Products for Management of Acute Respiratory Illnesses including COVID-19”. In 2018, he was the Principal Investigator of the VLIRUOS (Belgium) funded project that was aimed at “Tracking and Mapping Antimicrobial Resistance in Eastern Uganda”. He is the founder and current Chair of Busitema University Natural Products and Drug Research Group (BUNaPReG) based at the Faculty of Health of Health Sciences Busitema University that is championing the establishment of the “Natural Products Research and Innovation Centre (NAPRIC)”. Samuel has received a number of awards and scholarships from International Foundation of Science (IFS), TWAS-ICCBS, ACEIIPTRE, RISE-AFNNET, MEPI-MESAU and Ugandan Government. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Natural Products Research for Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA) and Uganda Pharmacological society (UPharS), Natural Product Industry Advancement Network Africa (NAPIANA). His career objective and goal is to build technical capacity and competence in pharmacology and toxicology research, training and mentoring of biomedical scientists and leadership skills so as to contribute towards improved health care and community transformation. Samuel has researched and published 15 articles in several peer reviewed journals and his work can be accessed ORCID, google scholar and research gate.
- Evaluation of the Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity of Tephrosia Linearis, Zanthoxylum Chalybeum and Albizia Coriaria and Formulation of Herbal Product(s) for Management of Covid-19 (2020 – 2023)
- Prevalence of and factors associated with use of both conventional and herbal medicines among caretakers of children with sickle cell disease at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (2021 – 2022)
- Antimycobacterial activity, phytochemistry and toxicity profiles and of Erythrina abyssinica, Entada abyssinica and Albizia coriaria (2019 -2022)
- Prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use among pregnant women attending Mbale regional referral hospital (2019)
- Tracking and mapping drivers of antimicrobial resistance in Eastern Uganda (2018-2020)
- Toxicity Evaluation of the methanolic leaf extract of Eucalyptus globulus in Wistar albino rats (2013-2014)
- Analysis of anthocyanin containing food stuffs sold in Kampala capital city and potential application in the food and medical industry (2008-2009)
- Obakiro S.B, K’Owino, Kigondu E., Andima M., Owor R.O., Kiprop A., (2022). Molecular Docking Interactions with Mycobacterial ATP and Polyketide-13 Synthase Enzymes of Phytoconstituents Isolated from Entada abyssinica Stem Bark. Biointerface research in applied chemistry (in press).
- Omara, T., Odero, M.P. & Obakiro, S.B. Medicinal plants used for treating cancer in Kenya: an ethnopharmacological overview. Bull Natl Res Cent 46, 148 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-022-00840-x
- Kiyimba K, Ayikobua ET, Mwandah DC, Obakiro SB (2022). Assessing the protective effect of Crassocephalum vitellinum against Rifampicin- induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Afri Health Sci. 2022;22(1):352-60. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ ahs.v22i1.43
- Obakiro, S. B., Kiprop, A., Kigondu, E., K’owino, I., Kiyimba, K., Drago Kato, C., & Gavamukulya, Y. (2021). Sub-Acute Toxicity Effects of Methanolic Stem Bark Extract of Entada abyssinica on Biochemical, Haematological and Histopathological Parameters in Wistar Albino Rats. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12(September), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.740305
- Obakiro SB, Ambrose Kiprop, Isaac K’Owino, Moses Andima, Richard Oriko Owor, Robi Chacha, and Elizabeth Kigondu. 2022. “Phytochemical, Cytotoxicity, and Antimycobacterial Activity Evaluation of Extracts and Compounds from the Stem Bark of Albizia Coriaria Welw Ex. Oliver.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7148511.
- Obakiro, S. B., Napyo, A., Wilberforce, M. J., Adongo, P., Kiyimba, K., Anthierens, S., Kostyanev, T., Waako, P., & Van Royen, P. (2022). Are antibiotic prescription practices in Eastern Uganda concordant with the national standard treatment guidelines? A cross-sectional retrospective study. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, xxxx. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2021.11.006
- Obakiro, S.B., Kiyimba, K., Paasi, G., Napyo, A., Anthierens, S., Waako, P., Royen, P. Van, Iramiot, J. S., Goossens, H., & Kostyanev, T. (2021). Prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria among patients in two tertiary hospitals in Eastern Uganda. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 25, 82–86.
- Kagoya, E. K., Royen, K. Van, Waako, P., Royen, P. Van, Iramiot, J. S., Obakiro, S. B., Kostyanev, T., & Anthierens, S. (2021). Experiences and views of healthcare professionals on the prescription of antibiotics in Eastern Uganda. A qualitative study. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 25, 66–71.
- Obakiro, S.B., Kiyimba, K., Napyo, A., Kanyike, A. M., Mayoka, W. J., Nnassozi, A. G., Aguti, B., Akech, G. M., & Waako, J. P. (2021). Appropriateness and affordability of prescriptions to diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE, 16(1 January), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245036
- Obakiro, S.B., Kiprop, A., Kowino, I., Kigondu,E., Odero, M.P., Omara ,T., Bunalema., (2020)Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry of traditional medicinal plants used in the management of symptoms of tuberculosis in East Africa: a systematic review. BMC Tropical medicine and Health 48 (68).
- Obakiro SB, Kiprop A, Kigondu E, et al. Traditional Medicinal Uses, Phytoconstituents, Bioactivities, and Toxicities of Erythrina abyssinica Lam. ex DC. (Fabaceae): A Systematic Review. Evid based Complement Altern Med - Hindawi. Published online 2021:1-43. doi:10.1155/2021/5513484.
- Bunalema L, Obakiro S, Tabuti RS, Waako JP (2014) Knowledge on plants used traditionally in treatment of Tuberculosis in Uganda. Journal of ethnopharmacology vol. 151; 999-1004.
- Omara, T., Kiprop, A. K., Wangila, P., Wacoo, A. P., Kagoya, S., Nteziyaremye, P., Peter Odero, M., Kiwanuka Nakiguli, C., & Obakiro, S.B (2021). The Scourge of Aflatoxins in Kenya: A 60-Year Review (1960 to 2020). Journal of Food Quality, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8899839.
- Muhwana, I., Obakiro, S. B., Ibanda, I., Crucifix, P. G., Afodun, A. M., & Odoma, S. (2020). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Erlangea tomentosa (Asteraceae) in rats and mice. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources, 17(1), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.4314/jpb.v17i1.4
- Obakiro, S B, Bunalema, L., Nyatia, E., & Waako, J. P. (2018). Ulcerogenic Potential of Eucalyptus globulus L . Leaf Extract in Wistar Albino Rats. https://doi.org/10.3923/jpt.2018.Research
- Lecturer Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2018
- Ag. Head of Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2018
- Executive member to the Uganda PharmacologicalSociety 2021
- Drug discovery and development from natural products (Ethnopharmacology, medicinal chemistry, Nanotechnology)
- Analysis of drugs including poisons and their metabolites in biological samples.
- Food stuffs and environment (Analytical chemistry and toxicology).
- Medicine access and utilization (Rational drug use)