Kojo Seys John Elenitoba-Johnson

Kojo Seys John Elenitoba-Johnson
Born	Lagos
Alma mater	University of Lagos
Scientific career
Institutions	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center University of Michigan Brown University University of Utah

Kojo Seys John Elenitoba-Johnson is a Nigerian American pathologist who works at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His research considers the role of genomic alteration in the pathogenesis of lymphoma. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023, and awarded the William L. Gerald Award in 2019.

Early life and education

Elenitoba-Johnson was born in Lagos. He became interested in science as a child, and was particularly excited by human biology. He eventually studied medicine in Nigeria, where he discovered the science of pathology.^{[ citation needed ]} After earning his medical degree, he moved to Brown University. At the time, researchers were starting to understand immunology and molecular pathology. There was increased awareness that cancer was a genetic disorder. He was one of the first physicians to be certified in molecular pathology by the American Board of Pathology. He was awarded the American Society for Investigative Pathology Emerging Investigator Award in 2012, which allowed him to focus on translation pathology. ^[1]

Research and career

Elenitoba-Johnson has held positions at the University of Utah, University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania. ^[2] He joined the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2022. He investigates hematolymphoid neoplasms,using whole genome sequencing and mass spectrometry to explore how structural alterations impact disease progression. ^[3] By understanding the molecular events that underpin the pathogenesis of lymphoma, Elenitoba-Johnson hopes to identify new therapeutic targets for specific subtypes. ^[4]

In 2019, Elenitoba-Johnson was awarded the William L. Gerald Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to tumor pathology. ^[5] In 2023, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. ^{[6] [7]}

Selected publications

• Noah A Brown; Larissa V Furtado; Bryan L Betz; Mark J Kiel; Helmut C Weigelin; Megan S Lim; Kojo Elenitoba-Johnson (30 June 2014). "High prevalence of somatic MAP2K1 mutations in BRAF V600E-negative Langerhans cell histiocytosis". Blood . 124 (10): 1655–1658. doi:10.1182/BLOOD-2014-05-577361. ISSN   0006-4971. PMID   24982505. Wikidata   Q54200198.
• Carl T. Wittwer; Mark G. Herrmann; Cameron N. Gundry; Kojo S.J. Elenitoba-Johnson (1 December 2001). "Real-time multiplex PCR assays". Methods . 25 (4): 430–442. doi:10.1006/METH.2001.1265. ISSN   1046-2023. PMID   11846612. Wikidata   Q34532460.
• Frits van Rhee; Peter Voorhees; Angela Dispenzieri; et al. (4 September 2018). "International, evidence-based consensus treatment guidelines for idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease". Blood . 132 (20): 2115–2124. doi:10.1182/BLOOD-2018-07-862334. ISSN   0006-4971. PMC   6238190 . PMID   30181172. Wikidata   Q57161074.

Personal life

Elenitoba-Johnson and his wife, hemopathologist Megan So-Young Lim, run a lab together at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. ^[3]

References

1. "ASIP Outstanding Investigator Award". American Society for Investigative Pathology. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
2. "Honoring Peter C. Nowell and the Inaugural Peter C. Nowell, MD, Professor Kojo S. Elenitoba-Johnson". almanac.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
3. "Pinpoint Accuracy: How Dr. Elenitoba-Johnson Helps Lead the Diagnosis of Cancer at MSK | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center". www.mskcc.org. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
4. "Integrative Biomedicine Spring Lecture: Kojo Elenitoba-Johnson". www.mdc-berlin.de. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
5. "Dr. Kojo Elenitoba-Johnson Receives William L. Gerald Award from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | University of Pennsylvania | Pathology and Laboratory Medicine". pathology.med.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
6. "Memorial Sloan Kettering Physician-Scientists Elected to the Prestigious National Academy of Medicine | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center". www.mskcc.org. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
7. "National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members - NAM". nam.edu. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-10-25.