Lekan M Latinwo

Old Dyson Pharmacy Building, Suite 200, Room C

BSC7910 Graduate Directed Research
BSC5935 Graduate Seminar
BSC5971 Thesis
BSC4905 Directed Individual Study

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Dr. Lekan M Latinwo is a full professor and chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida A&M University. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, in 1986, and had his postdoctoral experience at Michigan State University and Purdue University. He is a distinguished scientist, teacher, mentor, and administrator.
His research interests include using molecular techniques to investigate the mechanisms underlying the toxification and detoxification of environmental pollutants in mammalian systems. He has many years of experience in this study, collaborating with other scientists within the department, college, university, and outside colleagues. Some of his most recent and fruitful collaborations focus on the biological evaluation of novel coumarin derivatives, biodiesel production from plant oils, and biological wastes. The investigations of coumarin derivatives seek to understand the molecular basis for their anti-cancer effects on various cancer cell lines. He also has fruitful collaborations, applying machine learning tools for biological studies. His research activities have been supported by NIH, DOE, ATSDR, and USDA funds, totaling over $5 million. He has published over 65 articles in reputable journals. Also, he has mentored over 50 undergraduate and graduate students at FAMU.

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• Toxicology
• Biofuel
• Cancer biology

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• Chair •  2005-Present
  Department of Biological Sciences, Florida A&M University
• Interim Chair • 2003-2005
  Department of Biological Sciences, Florida A&M University
• Professor • 1998-Present
  Florida A&M University
• Associate Professor • 1994-1998
  Florida A&M University
• Assistant Professor • 1990-1994
  Florida A&M University
• Postdoc, Purdue University, 1986-1987
• Postdoc, Michigan State University, 1987-1990

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Most recent publications (out of 65 articles)

• Jisieike, C. F., Betiku, E., Ojumu, T. V., & Latinwo, L. M. (2025). Rubber seed oil biodiesel synthesis via ethanolysis using a blend of four biogenic residues as a sustainable heterogeneous catalyst. Renewable Energy, 123500.
• Yedjou, C. G., Long, R., Eno, V., Liu, J., Smith, S. B., Ngnepieba, P., ... & Tchounwou, P. B. (2025). COVID-19 Prevalence in Nations with Normal Body Mass Index (BMI): Implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare. Journal of nutrition & food sciences, 15(1), 56.
• Yedjou, C. G., Long, R., Eno, V., Liu, J., Smith, S. B., Ngnepieba, P., ... & Tchounwou, P. B. (2025). COVID-19 Prevalence in Countries with Normal Body Mass Index: Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Healthcare. Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, 15(1), 1-7.
• Messeha, S. S., Fidudusola, F. F., Gendy, S., Latinwo, L. M., Odewumi, C. O., & Soliman, K. F. (2025). Nrf2 Activation as a Therapeutic Target for Flavonoids in Aging-Related Osteoporosis. Nutrients, 17(2), 267.
• Taiwo, A. E., Falowo, O. A., Okoji, A. I., Latinwo, L. M., & Betiku, E. (2024). Recovery of Value‐Added Products from Sewage Sludge: Processes, Life Cycle Assessment, and Costs. Sewage and Biomass from Wastewater to Energy, 225-257.
• Betiku, E., Oraegbunam, J. C., Falowo, O. A., Ojumu, T. V., & Latinwo, L. M. (2024). Sustainable microwave-supported biodiesel production using sandbox oil and its waste shell as a nanoparticle green alkali heterogeneous catalyst. Process Biochemistry, 142, 1-12.
• Messeha, S. S., Zarmouh, N. O., Maku, H., Gendy, S., Yedjou, C. G., Elhag, R., ... & Soliman, K. F. (2024). Prognostic and therapeutic implications of cell division Cycle 20 homolog in breast cancer. Cancers, 16(14), 2546.
• Yedjou, C. G., Webster, S., Osborne, D., Liu, J., Balagurunathan, Y., Odewuni, C., ... & Tchounwou, P. B. (2023). Health promotion and racial disparity in COVID-19 mortality among African American populations. Reports on global health research, 6(3), 168.
• Yedjou, C. G., Grigsby, J., Mbemi, A., Nelson, D., Mildort, B., Latinwo, L., & Tchounwou, P. B. (2023). The management of diabetes mellitus using medicinal plants and vitamins. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(10), 9085.
• Falowo, O. A., Taiwo, A. E., Latinwo, L. M., & Betiku, E. (2023). Current Status of Substrate Hydrolysis to Fermentable Sugars. In Bioethanol: A Green Energy Substitute for Fossil Fuels (pp. 69-102). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
• Betiku, E., Olatoye, E. O., & Latinwo, L. M. (2023). Bioprocessing of underutilized Artocarpus altilis fruit to bioethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A fermentation condition improvement study. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 8(2), 125-135.
• Oraegbunam, J. C., Ishola, N. B., Sotunde, B. A., Latinwo, L. M., & Betiku, E. (2023). Sandbox oil biodiesel production modeling and optimization with neural networks and genetic algorithm. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 1(1), 100007.
• Betiku, E., Olatoye, E. O., & Latinwo, L. M. (2023). Bioprocessing of underutilized Artocarpus altilis fruit to bioethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A fermentation condition improvement study. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 8(2), 125-135.
• Messeha, S. S., Noel, S., Zarmouh, N. O., Womble, T., Latinwo, L. M., & Soliman, K. F. (2023). Involvement of AKT/PI3K pathway in sanguinarine’s induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cancer Genomics & Proteomics, 20(4), 323-342.

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Teaching Incentive Program Award

• 1999 Teacher of the Year Award
• 2000 Advanced Teacher of the Year
• 2001 University Service Award

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• BSC1010 General Biology
• BSC1010L General Biology Lab
• BSC 1005 Biological Science
• BSC 1005L Biological Science Lab
• PCB 5595C Gene Manipulation
• PCB 5025 Graduate Molecular Cell Biology
• PCB 4023 Molecular Cell Biology
• PCB 4023L Molecular Cell Biology Lab
• PCB 4024 Advanced Molecular Biology
• PCB 4024L Advanced Molecular Biology Lab
• BSC 4905 Undergraduate Directive Individual Study
• BSC 7910 Graduate Directive Individual Study
• BSC 5971 Graduate Research Thesis