Simon Efange: "Brain Gain" Pioneer

Professor of Chemistry at the University of Buea, Cameroon

In the past two decades, the socio-economic and political development of most African countries has been severely hampered by the massive exodus of its highly skilled human resources to developed countries -- the infamous brain drain phenomenon. Recently, however, there have been coordinated attempts by international institutions, NGOs, and some African Governments at stemming or simply reversing the tide by creating enabling conditions that would facilitate the return Africa's intellectual capital to Africa - the much touted "Brain Gain" movement or the "reverse brain drain".

While this movement has gained steam in many Southern, Eastern and West African countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, it is an idea that has yet to be embraced at state level Cameroon. In spite of the absence of institutional incentives, some skilled Cameroonians are nonetheless taking the plunge and making that generally uncertain and risky return to the motherland

One of the pioneers of the nascent Cameroonian "brain gain" movement is none other than Dr. Simon Mbua Ngale Efange, the founding President of Fako America, who left his financially rewarding and professionally fulfilling position as a tenured Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in Minneapolis, for a position as a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Buea Cameroon.

According to information culled from the website of his Alma mata, SUNY, Geneseo:

Professor Efange’s research into drugs for diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases has yielded numerous patents and publications. His reputation in this field has led to his serving on an international steering committee charged with reviewing drug discovery research funded by the United Nations Development Program, World Bank and World Health Organization.

After receiving his B.A. in biology and chemistry from Geneseo (1979) and a Ph.D. from SUNY Buffalo (1984), Dr. Efange became a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota, where he concentrated on the development of radioactive drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and for heroin and cocaine dependency. Throughout his years in the United States, Efange also conducted research in his native country, particularly into medicinal plant chemistry.

He recently returned to Cameroon to pursue his longtime goal of expanding his efforts to develop plant-based drugs for poorer countries.

We seize this opportunity to doff our hats to the Professor, and wish him the best in his courageous foray into Cameroon's Higher Education labyrinth.

Education:
B.A., State University College Geneseo, New York, 1979
Ph.D., SUNY-Buffalo, 1984

Research Interests:
Acetylcholine released from central, sympathetic and peripheral, neurons is involved in a wide range of biological functions including motor, sensory (e.g., pain, taste, thermal), learning and memory, sexual activity, sleep, and autonomic control of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital functions. Not surprisingly, cholinergic dysfunction has been implicated in a wide variety of pathologic states (e.g., Alzheimer’s desease, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, Parkinson’s desease, etc). Conversely, modulation of cholinergic function has been found to have beneficial effects in a number of pathologies. Such modulation may be effected through one or more of the following molecular targets: Sodium-dependent high affinity choline transporter (SDHAChT), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Armed with the prototypical nAChR and VAChT ligands nicotine and vesamicol, respectively, our current primary interests are to develop pharmacologic agents and radioligands which are directed at the nAChR and VAChT. In addition, we are interested in the development of new medications for the treatment of cocaine and other psychostimulant dependence. Our investigations involve the design, synthesis, radiolabelling and biological evaluation of new molecular entities, thus providing exposure to a broad spectrum of drug development activities.

Sample Publications:
S.M.N. Efange, A.B. Khare, C. Foulon, S.K. Akella and S.M. Parsons. Spirovesamicols: Conformationally Restricted Analogs of 2-(4-Phenylpiperidino)-cyclohexanol (Vesamicol AH5183) as Potential Modulators of Presynapic Cholinergic Function. J. Med. Chem., 37, 2574-2582 (1994).

S.M.N. Efange, R.B. Langason and A.B. Khare. Age-Related Diminution of Dopamine Antagonist-Stimulated Vesamicol Receptor Binding. J. Nucl. Med., 37, 1192-1197 (1996).

J.K. Staley, D.M. Mash, S.M. Parsons, A.B. Khare and S.M.N. Efange. Pharmacological Characterization of the Vesamicol Analogue (+)-[¹²⁵I]MIBT in Primate Brain. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 338, 159-169 (1997).

S.M.N. Efange, A.P. Kamath, A.B. Khare, M.P. Kung, R.H. Mach, and S.M. Parsons. N-Hydroxyalkyl Derivatives of 3-b-Phenyltropane and 1-Methylspiro [1H-indoline-3,4’-piperidine]: Vesamicol Analogues With Affinity for Monoamine Transporters and Receptors. J. Med. Chem., 40, 3905-3914 (1997).

Comments

[Pamela Soh]

Hi ‘Prof,
Good Job and more power to your elbow. You inspire a lot of us through your had work, advise and support. Your simplicity above all is a strong force to reckon with. Hope we all out here realize the Brain drain and make it home soon.

[Eric Tangumonkem]

Prof,
Congratulations. How did you pull it? This is a very good example to be followed by others. We should not forget the hand that feed us. Our country needs us. What other contribution, than influncing the lives of futur leaders?
Eric

[Ngunde Julius]

I also worked with him (Efange):
Ngwendson, J. Ngunde; Bedir, E.; Efange, S. M. N.; Okunji, C. O.; Iwu, M. M.; Schuster, B. G.; Khan, I. A. Constituents of Peucedanum zenkeri seeds and their antimicrobial effects. Pharmazie (2003), 58(8), 587-589.

[Dr. Waithira Gikonyo]

Great gain to Cameroun and Africa! Very proud to have studied with you at SUNY Geneseo.. you are one of the most insipiring people I've ever met!! Glad to see you take that inspiration back to the continent.

[George Mafany Teke]

Hi Prof,

It takes more than courage to do what you did: coming back home. Sadly, many of us back home may not appreciate what you did talk less of your importance. Paradoxically, it is here that you are most needed. You have foresight hence you took the right decision. You are an inspiration to many. Many wouldn't say it. But I stand at the peak of Mt Cameroon - which I climb very often - and announce it to all: Prof you are doing great. May God Bless you.

[Tayu wilfred]

Prof is great
I was inspired to pursue my current carreer in pharmacy after he taught Organic synthesis and reaction mechanisms.Thank God he is contributing to the pharmaceutical sector of the country.

[Kambuji]

It is wondeful to see Afrikan's return home from western countries to solve Afrikan problems and develop Afrikan solutions for all humanity. Dr. Simon Mbua Ngale Efange is to be a national hero for Cameroon as well as the Afrikan world.

[Marcia Kellogg Hilliard]

Hi Simon or should I say Dr. Simon Efange:

I was going through some old letters and E-Mail's and I can across your e-mail address which I know now it is incorrect. How often I think of you and wondering how you are doing. Looking over your many many accomplishments I can see that you are doing very well and I am so very proud of you and I know that Skip would be too. Before I go on any longer about myself and the family I am going to send this off to you. Please respond back it would be great to hear from you again and we will continue our talk.

Take care and I hope to hear from you soon.

Marcia

[Jibuin Jones Tsemi]

Hi Grand prof,
happy to have known you are great by those out there and by those in here ; am your student in the university of buea and has taken up the challenge. By and see you in class.

[nkoh jackson nkoh]

prof I,m so proud to be your student. After going through your fabulous profile I could do nothing but smile to my self saying he is really a super man.Thank you for coming back home to us and no matter how slow we may study the truth to know we will surely make you proud.

[Ntie Kang Fidele]

This is great hope for Africa!!!

[Eyup Akgun]

Hi Simon,
Please send me your e-mail address. I like to communicate with you.
Eyup Akgun

[Mandi Antoinette Sake]

Hi prof
what you did is so great. you work is so marvelous. I will like to be like you some day. May God bless you for every thing that you have done to the University of Buea and to the department of chemistry in particular. I'm proud to be you student

[Efange Mbua]

This is very impressive. Learning soo much about my you through the internet is comical in a sense. If you are not able to complete your mission, then your many children shall.

[Lobe Maloba]

Hi Prof
This is nothing but great concern for ones country hardwork.I feel so delighted to have been one of your many students.Sir,i would like to let you know that your person and works inspire me alot. Sir,i believe there is more that needs to done and i promise not to dissappoint you.The mere thought of this makes me want to do something.Thank you very much sir, for everything. May God be with you all the way.