18 JCAM 2022 www.jesuits.africa Annual Review he Voice of an African Jesuit in the Area of Cancer Research Picture of xxxxxxxxxxxx Fr. Michael Otieno, SJ Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) T Fr. Otieno, SJ, handling specimen in the lab. Microscopic examination of specimen. I am Michael Ochieng Otieno, SJ, a Jesuit from Kenya. My interest in Currently, I am studying for PhD in Molecular Oncology at the cancer research can be traced back two decades when I had a sad Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). My research experience of cancer that runs deep in my family. Losing my focuses on the role of DNA and RNA binding protein known as grandmother to cancer motivated me to pursue education at heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP K) in solid Kenyatta University in Nairobi, specializing in biology with the tumours. The oncogenic function of hnRNP K has been observed in intention of pursuing cancer biology in the future. patients with solid tumours where its increased expression has been associated with poor prognosis. My research focuses on how In Kenya, many cancer patients travel to India for treatment to develop a small molecule (drug) to prohibit hnRNP K from because the latter has better facilities and lower treatment cost. promoting the development of pancreatic cancer. There are only 20 cancer oncologists in Kenya most of whom are working in Nairobi and very few researchers. While cancer survival The excellent facilities and professors at CNIO will instil in me skills rates have greatly improved in the developed countries, the and knowledge, which will enable me to become an important reverse is true in Kenya. player in cancer research.