Research

Nairobi, October 11, 2023 - The University of Nairobi’s esteemed Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology commenced its academic year 2023-2024 with an enriching orientation program, welcoming a new batch of postgraduate students. The multi-day event was meticulously planned to integrate the newcomers into the department’s culture, ethos, and academic rigour.

Day I: Beginning of a Transformative Journey

Professor Pier Paolo Piccaluga paid a courtesy visit to Department Chair Dr. Marianne Mureithi on the 24th of July 2023.

A recent publication in the "BMJ Open Respiratory Research", penned by Lilian Nkirote Njagi, Videlis Nduba, Marianne Wanjiru Mureithi, and Jared Ongechi Mecha, offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between HIV and tuberculosis (TB) infection. Dr. Lilian Najgi is a PhD Scholar in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

The Scope of the Problem

The BioMed Central, an open access journal and part of Springer Nature, released a special issue on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) on the 15th of May which included two papers with data from Kenya.

James Kang'ethe, a PhD scholar in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Nairobi, recently attended the African Advanced Vaccinology Course (Afro-ADVAC) held in Muldersdrift, Gauteng, South Africa. James, a CARTA cohort 10 fellow, participated in the course between April 17 - 26, 2023.

Washington State University (WSU) is making strides in the field of education by expanding its global outreach. WSU President Prof. Kirk Schulz recently led a top delegation to the University of Nairobi (UoN) in Kenya. The visit aimed to discuss a joint PhD program between the two universities, a first in the region.

Delories Sikuku, an MSc student in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, recently received the prestigious Norman L Letvin award for her outstanding research in the field of AIDS vaccine discovery. The award was presented to her at the Collaborative AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD) meeting held in in Cape town South Africa in February 2023.

The Kenya Research and Training Center (KRTC) held a strategic plan launch meeting on January 24, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. It was Led by Prof. Carey Farquhar, the Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Global Health and Director International AIDS Research and Training Program and Kenya Research and Training Center.  Dr. Marianne Mureithi, Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology was also in attendance.