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.
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.
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. Omosa, a lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Researcher, KAVI – ICR, UoN has been awarded a grant by IAVI to establish a scientific manuscript writing program at the College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi.
Dr. Marianne Wanjiru Mureithi was in Kigali Rwanda where she attended the Global HIV Enterprise Workshop – Supporting African-led HIV Vaccine R&D during ICASA 2019 that took place from 1st to 6th December, 2019.
Dr. Mureithi gave an oral presentation titled ‘Trials and tribulations of conducting vaccine R&D in Africa’.
