Prof. R. Scott McClelland Delivers Special Lecture on Sexually Transmitted Infections

Prof. McClelland with Members of Faculty and MSc Students

Prof. R. Scott McClelland of the University of Washington delivered a special lecture on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) to MSc students from the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology on the 11th of July.

Prof. McClelland is an Infectious Disease specialist. His research focuses on women's reproductive health, STIs, and HIV in Kenya. Prof. McClelland is co-PI of the University of Washington Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit and site PI for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trial and a frequent collaborator with the University of Nairobi where he is a visiting Professor with the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology.

In his lecture, Prof. McClelland highlighted how globally STIs are increasing at an alarming rate and are primarily affecting women and infants. He discussed the current WHO recommendations for management and treatment of STIs as well as touching on the strains that are increasingly becoming resistant to current treatment methods. Additionally, he made references to current ongoing research and discussed viable research ideas with the students that they could conduct as part of their dissertation projects.

This lecture was organised by Dr. Hellen Mwaura, from the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology who currently teaches Microbiology (Bacteriology & Mycology) to Undergraduates of various specialties and is the course coordinator for the Tropical Pediatrics and Maternal Health Unit. Her research expertise and passion is centered on improvement of maternal and neonatal health services, infectious disease in tropical pediatrics and maternal health, and one health approach in improvement of reproductive health. Additionally, she is also a mentee in the first cohort of One Health early career champions programme (OH-ECC)at the University of Nairobi