Bio

Peter Nonso Nwokoye was born and raised in Nigeria and graduated summa cum laude with dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biology from Barry University. During his undergraduate studies, he worked on the synthesis of selective muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists. In 2021, he was awarded the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study at King's College, University of Cambridge. There, under the mentorship of Professor Anthony Davenport, he researched the expression and signaling of the apelin receptor and its endogenous agonists, Elabela and Apelin, in glioblastoma stem cells. This experience sparked his interest in developing novel methods to deorphanize orphan Class A GPCRs. After several months of intensive computational research, Peter developed a complex, multi-layered bioinformatic tool that he has used to identify likely endogenous ligands of orphan GPCRs, focusing on peptide ligands found in annotated uncharacterized open reading frames in the human genome. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, running, meditating, and teaching. Peter is excited about pursuing a career as a physician-scientist.

Honors & Awards

  • Gates Cambridge Scholarship, Gates Foundation (2021)

Education & Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Barry University (2016)
  • BS, Barry University, Chemistry and Biology (2016)
  • MPhil, Unversity of Cambridge, Translational Biomedical Research (2022)

Contact

  • Academic
    pnn24@stanford.edu
    University - Student Department: School of Medicine Position: Graduate, Medicine

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5151

All Publications

  • Blood vessels in a dish: the evolution, challenges, and potential of vascularized tissues and organoids. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine Nwokoye, P. N., Abilez, O. J. 2024; 11: 1336910

    Abstract

    Vascular pathologies are prevalent in a broad spectrum of diseases, necessitating a deeper understanding of vascular biology, particularly in overcoming the oxygen and nutrient diffusion limit in tissue constructs. The evolution of vascularized tissues signifies a convergence of multiple scientific disciplines, encompassing the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into vascular cells, the development of advanced three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting techniques, and the refinement of bioinks. These technologies are instrumental in creating intricate vascular networks essential for tissue viability, especially in thick, complex constructs. This review provides broad perspectives on the past, current state, and advancements in key areas, including the differentiation of hPSCs into specific vascular lineages, the potential and challenges of 3D bioprinting methods, and the role of innovative bioinks mimicking the native extracellular matrix. We also explore the integration of biophysical cues in vascularized tissues in vitro, highlighting their importance in stimulating vessel maturation and functionality. In this review, we aim to synthesize these diverse yet interconnected domains, offering a broad, multidisciplinary perspective on tissue vascularization. Advancements in this field will help address the global organ shortage and transform patient care.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1336910

    View details for PubMedID 38938652

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11210405

  • Expression of the apelin receptor, a novel potential therapeutic target, and its endogenous ligands in diverse stem cell populations in human glioblastoma. Frontiers in neuroscience Williams, T. L., Nwokoye, P., Kuc, R. E., Smith, K., Paterson, A. L., Allinson, K., Maguire, J. J., Davenport, A. P. 2024; 18: 1379658

    Abstract

    Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common and lethal forms of brain cancer, carrying a very poor prognosis (median survival of ~15 months post-diagnosis). Treatment typically involves invasive surgical resection of the tumour mass, followed by radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy using the alkylating agent temozolomide, but over half of patients do not respond to this drug and considerable resistance is observed. Tumour heterogeneity is the main cause of therapeutic failure, where diverse progenitor glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) lineages in the microenvironment drive tumour recurrence and therapeutic resistance. The apelin receptor is a class A GPCR that binds two endogenous peptide ligands, apelin and ELA, and plays a role in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. Here, we used quantitative whole slide immunofluorescent imaging of human GBM samples to characterise expression of the apelin receptor and both its ligands in the distinct GSC lineages, namely neural-progenitor-like cells (NPCs), oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like cells (OPCs), and mesenchymal-like cells (MES), as well as reactive astrocytic cells. The data confirm the presence of the apelin receptor as a tractable drug target that is common across the key cell populations driving tumour growth and maintenance, offering a potential novel therapeutic approach for patients with GBM.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fnins.2024.1379658

    View details for PubMedID 38803685

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11128631

  • Bioengineering methods for vascularizing organoids. Cell reports methods Nwokoye, P. N., Abilez, O. J. 2024: 100779

    Abstract

    Organoids, self-organizing three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from stem cells, offer unique advantages for studying organ development, modeling diseases, and screening potential therapeutics. However,their translational potential and ability to mimic complex invivo functions are often hindered by the lack of an integrated vascular network. To address this critical limitation, bioengineering strategies are rapidly advancing to enable efficient vascularization of organoids. These methods encompass co-culturing organoids with various vascular cell types, co-culturing lineage-specific organoids with vascular organoids, co-differentiating stem cells into organ-specific and vascular lineages, using organoid-on-a-chip technology to integrate perfusable vasculature within organoids, and using 3D bioprinting to also create perfusable organoids. This review explores the field of organoid vascularization, examining the biological principles that inform bioengineering approaches. Additionally, this review envisions how the converging disciplines of stem cell biology, biomaterials, and advanced fabrication technologies will propel the creation of increasingly sophisticated organoid models, ultimately accelerating biomedical discoveries and innovations.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100779

    View details for PubMedID 38759654

  • Novel M2 -selective, Gi -biased agonists of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. British journal of pharmacology Randáková, A., Nelic, D., Ungerová, D., Nwokoye, P., Su, Q., Doležal, V., El-Fakahany, E. E., Boulos, J., Jakubík, J. 2020; 177 (9): 2073-2089

    Abstract

    More than 30% of currently marketed medications act via GPCRs. Thus, GPCRs represent one of the most important pharmacotherapeutic targets. In contrast to traditional agonists activating multiple signalling pathways, agonists activating a single signalling pathway represent a new generation of drugs with increased specificity and fewer adverse effects.We have synthesized novel agonists of muscarinic ACh receptors and tested their binding and function (on levels of cAMP and inositol phosphates) in CHO cells expressing individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors, primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells and suspensions of digested native tissues from rats. Binding of the novel compounds to M2 receptors was modelled in silico.Two of the tested new compounds (1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridinium and 1-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridinium) only inhibited cAMP synthesis in CHO cells, primary cultures, and native tissues, with selectivity for M2 muscarinic receptors and displaying bias towards the Gi signalling pathway at all subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Molecular modelling revealed interactions with the orthosteric binding site in a way specific for a given agonist followed by agonist-specific changes in the conformation of the receptor.The identified compounds may serve as lead structures in the search for novel non-steroidal and non-opioid analgesics acting via M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors with reduced side effects associated with activation of the phospholipase C signalling pathway.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/bph.14970

    View details for PubMedID 31910288

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7161557