Folefac Aminkeng

Dr. Folefac Aminkeng is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics of the University of British Columbia. He is also a board certified medical laboratory scientist.

Dr. Aminkeng’s research focus is the pharmacogenomics of adverse drug reactions. Dr. Aminkeng and his colleagues at the Canadian Pharmacogenomic Network for Drug Safety monitor for adverse drug reactions, identify genetic markers that are predictive of severe adverse drug reactions and implement these in a cost-effective diagnostic screening program to reduce the occurrence of disability and deaths.

Dr. Aminkeng is interested in developing genomic applications for public health. He has given a number of invited and conference presentations and has a number of publications in this field. Dr. Aminkeng has received a number of awards including: 2016 Child and Family Research Institute Outstanding Achievement by a Postdoctoral Fellow Award, Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Boehringer Ingelheim Post-Doctoral Award in Pharmacology, Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Best Publication Award, 2016 Golden Helix Abstract Challenge First Place Winner, American Society of Human genetics Trainee Paper Spotlight (2016), CIHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2014), MSFHR Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2013), CFRI Bertram Hoffmeister Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2012) and CPNDS Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2011). He is an elected member of several professional associations, including the Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the African Society of Human Genetics.

Recent Publications

Aminkeng F, Ross CJ, Rassekh SR, Hwang S, Rieder MJ, Bhavsar AP, Smith A, Sanatani S, Gelmon KA, Bernstein D, Hayden MR, Amstutz U, Carleton BC; CPNDS Clinical Practice Recommendations Group. Recommendations for genetic testing to reduce the incidence of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2016 May 16. doi: 10.1111/bcp.13008. [Epub ahead of print] Review. PMID: 27197003

Ngwa EN, Sobngwi E, Atogho-Tiedeu B, Noubiap JJ, Donfack OS, Guewo-Fokeng M, Mofo EP, Fosso PP, Djahmeni E, Djokam-Dadjeu R, Evehe MS, Aminkeng F, Mbacham WF, Mbanya JC. Association between the rs12255372 variant of the TCF7L2 gene and obesity in a Cameroonian population. BMC Res Notes. 2015 Nov 25;8:717. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1661-3. PMID: 26608632.

Aminkeng F. PDGFRB mutation causes autosomal-dominant Penttinen syndrome. Clin Genet. 2015 Dec;88(6):531. doi: 10.1111/cge.12680. Epub 2015 Oct 27. PMID: 26507258.

Aminkeng F. DLL4 loss-of-function heterozygous mutations cause Adams-Oliver syndrome. Clin Genet. 2015 Dec;88(6):532. doi: 10.1111/cge.12681. Epub 2015 Oct 16. No abstract available.  PMID: 26419402.

Aminkeng F, Bhavsar AP, Visscher H, Rassekh SR, Li Y, Lee JW, Brunham LR, Caron HN, van Dalen EC, Kremer LC, van der Pal HJ, Amstutz U, Rieder MJ, Bernstein D, Carleton BC, Hayden MR, Ross CJ; Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety Consortium. A coding variant in RARG confers susceptibility to anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer. Nat Genet. 2015 Sep;47(9):1079-84. doi: 10.1038/ng.3374. Epub 2015 Aug 3. PMID: 26237429.

Nanfa D, Sobngwi E, Atogho-Tiedeu B, Noubiap JJ, Donfack OS, Mofo EP, Guewo-Fokeng M, Nguimmo Metsadjio A, Ndonwi Ngwa E, Pokam Fosso P, Djahmeni E, Djokam-Dadjeu R, Evehe MS, Aminkeng F, Mbacham WF, Mbanya JC. Association between the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Cameroonian population: a pilot study. Clin Transl Med. 2015 Apr 23;4:17. doi: 10.1186/s40169-015-0058-1. eCollection 2015. PMID: 25995831.

Guewo-Fokeng M, Sobngwi E, Atogho-Tiedeu B, Donfack OS, Noubiap JJ, Ngwa EN, Mato-Mofo EP, Fosso PP, Djahmeni E, Djokam-Dadjeu R, Evehe MS, Aminkeng F, Mbacham WF, Mbanya JC. Contribution of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 (C/T) gene polymorphism to the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Cameroon. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2015 Apr 14;14:26. doi: 10.1186/s40200-015-0148-z. eCollection 2015. PMID: 25897419.

Aminkeng F. EIF2AK4 genetic mutations cause a recessive form of rare and deadly lung disease, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Clin Genet. 2014 Sep;86(3):218-9. doi: 10.1111/cge.12446. Epub 2014 Jul 21. No abstract available. PMID: 24962724.

Brunham LR, Chan SL, Li R, Aminkeng F, Liu X, Saw WY, Ong RT, Pillai EN, Carleton BC, Toh D, Tan SH, Koo SH, Lee EJ, Chia KS, Ross CJ, Hayden MR, Sung C, Teo YY. Pharmacogenomic diversity in Singaporean populations and Europeans. Pharmacogenomics J. 2014 Dec;14(6):555-63. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2014.22. Epub 2014 May 27. PMID: 24861855.

Lee JW, Aminkeng F, Bhavsar AP, Shaw K, Carleton BC, Hayden MR, Ross CJ. The emerging era of pharmacogenomics: current successes, future potential, and challenges. Clin Genet. 2014 Jul;86(1):21-8. doi: 10.1111/cge.12392. Epub 2014 May 9. Review. PMID: 24684508.

Aminkeng F. GFI1B mutation causes autosomal dominant gray platelet syndrome. Clin Genet. 2014 Jun;85(6):534-5. doi: 10.1111/cge.12380. Epub 2014 Apr 9. No abstract available. PMID: 24635673.

Aminkeng F. Using pharmacogenetics in real time to guide therapy: the warfarin example. Clin Genet. 2014 Jun;85(6):533-4. doi: 10.1111/cge.12378. Epub 2014 Apr 9. No abstract available. PMID: 24628520.

Asanghanwa M, Gorus FK, Weets I, der Auwera BV, Aminkeng F, Mbunwe E, Goubert P, Verhaeghen K, Sobngwi E, Wenzlau JM, Hutton JC, Pipeleers DG, Keymeulen B, Mbanya JC, van Schravendijk C. Clinical and biological characteristics of diabetic patients under age 40 in Cameroon: relation to autoantibody status and comparison with Belgian patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2014 Jan;103(1):97-105. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.11.013. Epub 2013 Nov 20. PMID: 24332797.

Aminkeng F. WDR45 mutations define a novel disease entity–static encephalopathy of childhood with neurodegeneration in adulthood. Clin Genet. 2013 Sep;84(3):209. doi: 10.1111/cge.12183. Epub 2013 May 29. No abstract available. PMID: 23647500.

Aminkeng F, Ross CJ, Rassekh SR, Brunham LR, Sistonen J, Dube MP, Ibrahim M, Nyambo TB, Omar SA, Froment A, Bodo JM, Tishkoff S, Carleton BC, Hayden MR; Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety Consortium. Higher frequency of genetic variants conferring increased risk for ADRs for commonly used drugs treating cancer, AIDS and tuberculosis in persons of African descent. Pharmacogenomics J. 2014 Apr;14(2):160-70. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2013.13. Epub 2013 Apr 16. PMID: 23588107.

Aminkeng F. KCNT1 mutations in ADNFLE and MMPSI: a new driver in the etiology and pathophysiology of early-onset epileptic syndromes. Clin Genet. 2013 Apr;83(4):319-20. doi: 10.1111/cge.12082. Epub 2013 Jan 24. No abstract available.  PMID: 23278465.

Aminkeng F. Mutations in ATP1A3 cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood. Clin Genet. 2013 Jan;83(1):32-3. doi: 10.1111/cge.12031. Epub 2012 Oct 29. No abstract available. PMID: 23043298.

Aminkeng F. HINT1 mutations define a novel disease entity – autosomal recessive axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia. Clin Genet. 2013 Jan;83(1):31-2. doi: 10.1111/cge.12030. Epub 2012 Oct 29. No abstract available.  PMID: 23043279.

Aminkeng F, Weets I, Van Autreve JE, Koeleman BP, Quartier E, Van Schravendijk C, Gorus FK, Van der Auwera BJ; Belgian Diabetes Registry. Association of IL-2RA/CD25 with type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population. Hum Immunol. 2010 Dec;71(12):1233-7. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Sep 16. PMID: 20849903.

Aminkeng F, Van Autreve JE, Weets I, Quartier E, Van Schravendijk C, Gorus FK, Van der Auwera BJ; Belgian Diabetes Registry. IFIH1 gene polymorphisms in type 1 diabetes: genetic association analysis and genotype-phenotype correlation in the Belgian population. Hum Immunol. 2009 Sep;70(9):706-10. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.06.013. Epub 2009 Jun 16. PMID: 19539001.

Ramos-Lopez E, Scholten F, Aminkeng F, Wild C, Kalhes H, Seidl C, Tonn T, Van der Auwera B, Badenhoop K. Association of KIR2DL2 polymorphism rs2756923 with type 1 diabetes and preliminary evidence for lack of inhibition through HLA-C1 ligand binding. Tissue Antigens. 2009 Jun;73(6):599-603. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2009.01252.x. Epub 2009 Apr 8. PMID: 19392800.

Aminkeng F, Van Autreve JE, Koeleman BP, Quartier E, Van Schravendijk C, Gorus FK, Van der Auwera BJ; Belgian Diabetes Registry. TNFa microsatellite polymorphism modulates the risk of type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population, independent of HLA-DQ. Hum Immunol. 2007 Aug;68(8):690-7. Epub 2007 Jun 11. PMID: 17678725.

Ramos-Lopez E, Ghebru S, Van Autreve J, Aminkeng F, Herwig J, Seifried E, Seidl C, Van der Auwera B, Badenhoop K. Neither an intronic CA repeat within the CD48 gene nor the HERV-K18 polymorphisms are associated with type 1 diabetes. Tissue Antigens. 2006 Aug;68(2):147-52. PMID: 16866884.

Van Autreve JE, Koeleman BP, Quartier E, Aminkeng F, Weets I, Gorus FK, Van der Auwera BJ; Belgian Diabetes Registry. MICA is associated with type 1 diabetes in the Belgian population, independent of HLA-DQ. Hum Immunol. 2006 Jan-Feb;67(1-2):94-101. Epub 2006 Mar 31.