Dakota Okwuone

KUMC MD-PhD, G4-P6| SMU Alum

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

👀👀👀👀 the knee slide

[NCAA Soccer @NCAASoccer]

GARRETT MCLAUGHLIN GAMEWINNER! 🤯

The golden goal gives No. 8 SMU the 1-0 win over Coastal Carolina as well as a spot in the Round of 16.

#NCAASoccer | @smusoccerm

[KUMC Department of Cancer Biology @KUMCCancerBio]

Dakota Okwuone, Cancer Biology graduate student, recently defended his PhD dissertation with honors (March 18th, 2026) and was awarded the Karen and Kelly Gregg Award for outstanding graduate student research in cancer. Mary Needham from KU Endowment presented him with the certificate and a box of Lamar's Donuts. Congratulations @dokwuone !

[KUMC Department of Cancer Biology @KUMCCancerBio]

January Spotlight: Dakota Okwuone-Graduate Student

Dakota is an MD-PhD student in the 4th year of his PhD (G4-P6). Born and raised in Olathe, KS, he is the child of Nigerian immigrants. He graduated from Southern Methodist University, earning degrees in Biological Sciences, Health and Society, and Political Science, while also competing in NCAA men's soccer. As an undergraduate in the lab of Dr. Pia Vogel, he explored ways of biochemically mitigating multidrug resistance in cancer.

During his PhD in the lab of Dr. Greg Gan, Dakota has focused on uncovering novel mechanisms of head and neck cancer progression regulated by MK2, a protein that is part of an important inflammatory pathway. His goal is to understand how the protein controls both the movement of cancer cells and the immune environment of head and neck tumors. Long-term, he hopes to become a physician-scientist, treating patients in the clinic as a medical oncologist while also running a lab that aims to identify better therapeutic targets to prevent cancer progression and metastasis. He hopes to play a role in revolutionizing cancer care both locally and globally.

Dakota has served as the President of the KUMC Cancer Biology Student Society, and he is currently a trainee representative on the KU Cancer Center Education and Training Steering Committee.

Outside of the school, Dakota enjoys being out and about with friends, being physically active, traveling, listening to music, and binging TV shows. Despite the copious hours in the lab, he's proud of the balance he has been able to strike between schoolwork and a vibrant life outside of academics, whether it's playing semi-professional soccer or indulging in financially unwise social escapades.

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

Excited to share my first (co-)first author original research publication! “MK2 promotes p16 negative head and neck cancer migration, invasion, and metastasis”

https://t.co/8i6p2ouorb

[KU Cancer Biology Student Society @CanBioStudents]

Meet Dakota, our student spotlight for the month of March!

[KU Cancer Biology Student Society @CanBioStudents]

Tonight, we had the privilege of hosting a holiday dinner for over 30 patients and their families at @HopeLodgeKC. This amazing program provides free lodging to those undergoing cancer treatment in the KC area. Grateful to spread some holiday cheer!

[SMU Football @SMUFB]

frythefrogs.mp4

#PonyUpDallas

[KU Medical Scientist Training Program @kumcmstp]

Congratulations to Dakota Okwuone (G2-P4) for receiving funding from KUMC’s Biomedical Research Training Program! 🎉🔬🧪

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

A little Mini-Review I wrote was just published! Very excited to have my first first-author publication!

https://t.co/XGXLc5s05Q

[KU Medical Scientist Training Program @kumcmstp]

Harmony Saunders and Dakota Okwuone were both honored with AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Awards! Fantastic job to the both of you!💐💐 @Harmony_S_ @dokwuone @HaganlabKUMC @KURadonc @CanBioStudents

[An Post Malone @CianClarke1]

There are no vegan men, just..

[FC Dallas @FCDallas]

Nico Ball strikes again.

A complete team effort that leads to a stellar Eddie Munjoma finish.

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

We LOVE to see it! Congrats sis, more than well deserved 🤩

[Sunflower State FC 🇺🇦 @SunflowerStFC]

LIVE FROM KC! IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT! Today’s player is 24-year-old center midfielder and right back, DAKOTA OKWUONE!! Check out his full bio on IG & FB #KansasSoccer #SunflowerSoccer #workbettertogether #flowerpower #precisionmatters #SmileOP #outworkthem #BioFriday @thedarkhorse_ai

[Sunflower State FC 🇺🇦 @SunflowerStFC]

Happy birthday @dokwuone!!🎉⚽ You work hard on and off the field and the world benefits every day from it!!💪👏 #KansasSoccer #SunflowerSoccer #workbettertogether #flowerpower #precisionmatters #SmileOP #outworkthem

[SMU Men's Soccer @SMUSoccerM]

How could you NOT be impressed by @gabrielpfc1996 🔥🔥

#PonyUp | #SCTop10 | @SportsCenter

[San Antonio FC @SanAntonioFC]

FULL SEND @EMILCUELLO 💥 2-0 #Defend210

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

Wow 🤩 🤩🤩

[FC Dallas @FCDallas]

Worked for this moment.

Tonight, Homegrown @EddieMunjoma makes his first career start.

[Dakota Okwuone @dokwuone]

Just a couple of BBCs #BeautifulBlackChildren @ Texas Republic Bar & Kitchen Fort Worth https://t.co/mXUp0M7YAV

[Sunflower State FC 🇺🇦 @SunflowerStFC]

Excited to announce our Neuromics Student-Athlete Interview article is up on the website!🚨 Thank you to @stratoman1, @dokwuone, and @Wyatt_the_king!🙏🏼 Go check it out!👏🏼🔥 Link in bio‼️ #KansasSoccer #SunflowerSoccer #workbettertogether #flowerpower #precisionmatters #SmileOP