By Blossom Ukoha What does it take to transform global health systems into spaces of justice, dignity, and equity? For Dr. Irehobhude O. Iyioha, the answer lies at the powerful intersection of law, race, and human rights, an intersection she is now shaping on a global scale. In March 2026, Irehobhude O. Iyioha was appointed as the inaugural holder of the UNESCO Chair on Health, Race and Human Rights at the University of British Columbia. This landmark appointment is more than a personal milestone. It signals a growing global commitment to addressing racialised health inequities through rigorous research, policy innovation, and legal reform. A Historic Academic Milestone The creation of this UNESCO Chair marks a significant institutional achievement. Established through a formal agreement between UBC President Benoit Antoine Bacon and UNESCO, it is the first UNESCO Chair at UBC and only the second of its kind within a law school…

By Blossom Ukoha “I’m honored to be announced as the next CEO of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Alzheimer’s is one of the defining health challenges of our time, but we are living in a moment of real progress. The clinical pipeline is expanding, blood-based diagnostics are changing how we detect disease, and advances in AI are helping accelerate the pace of discovery. Together with growing evidence around prevention, there is new momentum in the field and real reason for hope.” With this statement, Isobel Coleman sets the tone for her new role as Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, which took effective March 23, 2026. Her appointment comes at a critical moment as Alzheimer’s research enters a phase of accelerated scientific progress. Coleman brings extensive leadership experience across government, private sector, and nonprofit institutions. Most recently, she served as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for…