About 

Dr. Boluwatife "Olu" Afolabi is a Nigerian dental surgeon, molecular biologist, and poet who bridges clinical medicine and laboratory science. Currently a doctoral candidate in Oral Biology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Boluwatife Olu Afolabi investigates the mechanisms of calprotectin suppression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), combining his clinical dental training with advanced molecular biology techniques to advance cancer research.

As President of the Council of Graduate Students at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Afolabi advocates for graduate student interests across the Twin Cities campus while pursuing his vision of becoming a clinician-scientist; integrating patient care expertise with translational research to improve outcomes for head and neck cancer patients.

Dr. Boluwatife Afolabi's journey from clinical dentistry in Nigeria to cancer biology research reflects his commitment to understanding disease mechanisms at the molecular level. His doctoral work focuses on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway and inflammatory proteins in HNSCC, positioning him at the intersection of basic science discovery and clinical application. Looking ahead, he is particularly interested in exploring the nexus between orofacial pain and head and neck cancer, especially how the tumor microenvironment modulates pain signaling through complex interactions between cancer cells, nerves, and immune mediators.

Beyond the laboratory and clinic, Boluwatife Olu Afolabi expresses his creativity through poetry. His debut chapbook, "The Cartographer of Memory," was published by the Sankofa Initiative in 2017, show casing his multidimensional approach to understanding the human experience through both scientific and artistic lenses.