Country of Residence
Discipline(s)
Institution
University of Kinshasa
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 212, Kinshasa XI,
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Research Interests
Nano-/micro-encapsulation and targeted delivery of small drug molecules, bio/macromolecules and live particles for human, animal and plant health.
Multifunctional smart nano-/bio-materials for sanitation, therapeutic and diagnostic applications
Research and development of drug products from bench to bedside
Topics to speak on:
Nanotechnologies, Nanomedicine, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nano-vaccines, Drug Formulation Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Product Development
“God helps those who help themselves” – Benjamin Franklin/Algernon Sidney
Biography
Dr. Nkanga graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kinshasa (D.R. Congo) in 2014 and was awarded the BEBUC excellence scholarship for MSc studies at Rhodes University (South Africa) in 2015. He completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Rhodes University in 2019, focusing on nanoparticle-based antimicrobial drug delivery. Following this, in 2020, he undertook postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Diego (USA), specializing in plant virus nanotechnology for biomedical applications, including COVID-19 vaccines and cancer therapies.
His academic and research endeavors have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2017 SACI Postgraduate Medal (South Africa), the 2018 Novartis Next Generation Scientist award (Switzerland), and the 2017/2020 DST/NRF Innovation Scholarships (South Africa). In addition, Dr. Nkanga co-founded the D.R. Congo Young Academy of Sciences (Académie des Sciences pour les Jeunes en RDC) in 2020, further demonstrating his commitment to scientific advancement in his home country.
Since 2019, Dr. Nkanga has been an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Kinshasa and recently became head of product development at Memsel Inc. (Texas, USA), focusing on the development of intelligent biomaterials. With over 30 publications, several patents and a significant citation record, Dr. Nkanga has made substantial contributions to the field of nanotechnology and biomaterials, serving as a guest editor and reviewer for various scientific journals.
In 2022, he received the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) award, launching the first Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Kinshasa. Through the ARISE program, he mentors junior scientists from the D.R. Congo, employing green nanoengineering tools to convert waste into biogenic sanitizers to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Nkanga’s mission is to harness Africa’s natural resources for developing advanced nanoparticle-based medical solutions, aiming to elevate nanotechnology across Africa, inspire young scientists in nanoscience, and lead groundbreaking research to improve global health. His vision positions Africa as a pivotal provider of nanomedicine raw materials, aiming to establish the continent as a leading nanotechnology hub.
Awards
Bourse d’Excellence Bringmann aux Universités Congolaises (BEBUC), by the NGO Förderverein Uni Kinshasa e.V. (2015-2019)
SACI Postgraduate Medal, by the South African Chemical Institute (2017)
Novartis Next Generation Scientist, by Novartis Pharma AG & University of Basel (2018)
Henderson Doctoral Scholarship, by Rhodes University (2018)
DST/NRF Innovation and Priority Research Areas, by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (2017 & 2020)
African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence, by the African Academy of Science (2022)