Professor Patrick Maduabuchi Aja is a professor of Nutritional Biochemistry and Director of Research, Innovations, Consultancy and Extensions (RICE), Western Campus, Kampala International University.

He is an internationally recognised biomedical scientist with expertise in nutritional biochemistry, nutraceutical science, molecular therapeutics, natural products research, and translational biomedical innovation. His work focuses on developing natural product-based therapeutics and affordable biomedical solutions for chronic and infectious diseases, including cancer, metabolic disorders, inflammatory conditions, and schistosomiasis.

Professor Aja has held several academic and research leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Associate Dean of Research, and Head of the Natural Products and Nutraceutical Research Group. Through these roles, he has contributed significantly to research capacity strengthening, postgraduate mentorship, grant acquisition, institutional research development, and international collaboration.

He holds a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry, an MSc in Medical Biochemistry, and a BSc in Biochemistry from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria. He also completed a DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda, where he advanced his research in natural products, bioactive compounds, and biomedical applications.

With over 200 peer-reviewed publications and thousands of citations, Professor Aja has established a strong global scholarly profile. His research combines in vivo, in silico, bioinformatics, and molecular approaches, with particular interest in microRNA-mediated mechanisms, precision medicine, aptamer-based diagnostics, and nano-formulated nutraceuticals.

Professor Aja has attracted competitive international and national research funding, including support from DAAD, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and TETFund. He also contributes to global scientific service through editorial board membership, research ethics governance, professional associations, and RNA research advocacy as co-founder of the African Life Science RNA Salon.

As Director of RICE at KIU Western Campus, Professor Aja provides strategic leadership in advancing research excellence, innovation, consultancy, and community-oriented knowledge translation.