Latest News & Announcements

The University of Nairobi through the Directorate of University Advancement and Institutional Development, has partnered with Silk Origin Ltd. in the establishment of a Sericulture Center of Excellence. The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, through the leadership of Dr. Marianne Mureithi will speared microbiology research project using silk worm products to understand their effects on microbes.  

“UANDISHI-Building Capacity for Writing Scientific Manuscripts” is an innovative and experiential training program in mentoring and scientific manuscript writing, aimed at fostering scientific manuscripts writing skills and output, at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Nairobi (UON). This program complements other existing research training ventures within FHS and is hosted at KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR). IAVI funds UANDISHI through a collaborative grant secured by Dr.

While there have been some disappointments, Dr. Marianne Mureithi of KAVI-UoN told Healthy Nation that challenges in research do not mean failure.

“The HIV trials have not failed, rather, we have learnt a lot from previous trials that have greatly informed us on improving the vaccines and bringing us closer to an efficacious HIV vaccine,” she said.

From Anne Maina's PhD study, recently published in the Pan African Medical Journal. In the Study; we were able to highlight that a syndromic approach to the management of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) is recommended in areas without adequate laboratory support. Here the study assessed the diagnostic accuracy of this approach in diagnosing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) among 18 to 49-year-old individuals seeking treatment for STIs in a health centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

What this study adds

This year’s UoN HIV/AIDS Collaborative meeting was held in the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha from the 26th – 28th of January 2022. The department was represented by the Chairman, Dr Marianne Mureithi, Director Research UNITID- Prof Julius Oyugi, Dr Kariuki Njaanake and Ms Winnie Mutai.

Dr Mureithi’s work focuses on studying multiple social-behavioural, environmental and biological factors associated with the increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections and advocating for better access to Sexual and Reproductive health care for all women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa.

The omicron variant has been classified as a variant of concern with at least 32 mutations and potential vaccine escape. Prof Anzala participated in a National Discussion Tonight on the #FrontRow Show on KTN News to discuss the variant & the Country's level of preparedness to combat it.

Victor Musyoki presented his research study titled: Speciation and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Isolates from Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients in Kenyatta National Hospital #UoNResearchweek

Dr Marianne Mureithi, a Medical Microbiologist and a research scientist at KAVI-ICR is among researchers studying the vaginal secretions of volunteers from Nairobi's Kangemi and Kibra areas to develop a vaccine that will prevent HIV transmission. The study was launched in 2017 targeting both the HIV-positive and negative women from these two areas and also those who seek hysterectomy services at Kenyatta National Hospital. 

Dr. Kariuki Njaanake of Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, participating in and training residents of Mutithi Ward in Mwea, Kirinyaga County on how to build biodigesters as part of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene strategy to control water-borne infections in the area. Proper sewage disposal is fundamental in the control of waterborne infections which have plagued the area for decades. Using his skills and innovativeness, Dr. Njaanake has been in the forefront in the war against these infections