UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ, November 14, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Olubunmi Olutoyin Afonja, MD, MBA, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Afonja is a distinguished pediatric hematology-oncology specialist with deep expertise in drug development for hematologic disorders, cancer, and genetic diseases in children. As a medical consultant in clinical development and medical affairs at Oriola ClinMed Consulting LLC, she provides strategic guidance in medical oversight of clinical studies, medical review and input on regulatory submissions (IND and BLA), and support for medical affairs activities across both investigational and approved therapies.

Prior to establishing her consulting company, Dr. Afonja held senior leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently she served as Interim Head and later Vice President of Clinical Development at Editas Medicine, where she played a pivotal role in advancing transformative gene-editing therapies for beta hemoglobinopathies. From 2021 to 2023, she was Senior Director of Clinical Development at Editas, further strengthening her expertise in rare diseases and cell and gene therapies.

Her leadership experience also includes serving as Global Clinical Leader at Bayer Pharmaceuticals (2019–2021), where she directed development programs in hematology. Earlier in her thirteen-year tenure at Bayer, she advanced from Medical Director to Executive Director of Medical Affairs for Hematology, providing medical strategy and oversight across multiple therapeutic areas. She previously held positions as Field Medical Director, overseeing Diagnostic Imaging, Hematology, General Medicine, and Neuroscience, and as Medical Director of Oncology. Across these roles, Dr. Afonja consistently shaped business and clinical strategies while ensuring the successful execution of development and medical affairs initiatives.

Following her fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology, Dr. Afonja joined the faculty of NYU Langone Health and Bellevue Hospital, where she served as an attending physician from 1998 to 2008. During this decade, she contributed significantly to the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders and conducted basic and translational research on homeobox genes and retinoid-regulated genes.

Dr. Afonja earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, equivalent to an MD) in 1990 from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, followed by a one-year internship at University College Hospital, Ibadan. She completed her residency in general pediatrics at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn and her subspecialty fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at New York University College of Medicine. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and is board-certified in pediatric hematology-oncology.

Her passion for pediatric hematology and oncology was shaped early in her career by experiences in Nigeria, where she witnessed the devastating impact of neonatal jaundice, hemoglobinopathies, hemophilia, anemia, and childhood cancer. Inspired by these encounters and the mentorship of a Canadian-trained professor of hematology-oncology, she committed her career to advancing outcomes for children with blood disorders and cancer.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Afonja is an active member of leading organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the European Hematology Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy. Her participation reflects her continued commitment to advancing research and clinical innovation.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Afonja is committed to community service and philanthropy. She has supported medical outreach programs in Nigeria aimed at improving access to healthcare for underserved populations, as well as community development initiatives that address education, housing, and social infrastructure. In addition, she has participated in service projects such as Habitat for Humanity and continues to contribute to programs that strengthen communities both locally and internationally.

In her personal time, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and traveling.

Looking ahead, Dr. Afonja remains committed to advancing the development of innovative and transformative therapies for patients with inherited blood disorders and cancer. She is especially focused on facilitating the approval of groundbreaking treatments for genetic disorders and conditions that profoundly affect children during their early years.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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