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Co-Directors Training Advisory Group KEMRI 2008 Certificate Program Scholars 2007 Certificate
Program Scholars 2006 Certificate
Program Scholars MUHAS
Rose Mpembeni 
Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi is a senior research officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute. She received her MBChB. and her M.Med in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the University of Nairobi. Soon after completing her specialist training, Dr. Bukusi began to study reproductive tract infection, which eventually led to her completing an MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Washington. She is currently completing her dissertation for a PhD in Epidemiology. She has participated in several investigations in reproductive tract infections, including studies on diaphragm efficacy and acceptability, male microbicides, and bacterial vaginosis. Dr. Bukusi supervises graduate students in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Cohen is an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He conducts medical research in two major areas: female reproductive tract infections and HIV/AIDS care and support in developing countries. He is PI for the Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group (STI CTG), a seven-year NIH contract that supports clinical trials for STI diagnostics, treatment and vaccines, as well as microbicides, both domestically and internationally. Dr. Cohen is director of the CDC PEPFAR-funded Kenya-based FACES, Family AIDS Care and Education Services, which provides HIV/AIDS care and support to patients and their family members in Nairobi and Nyanza Province in western Kenya. Starting in 1994, he established a research and training program in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya. In addition to conducting research, the goal of the program is to enhance local capacity to conduct biomedical research through training and infrastructure development. Overall, the collaborative program employs approximately 200 full-time staff in Kenya including epidemiologists, physicians, nurse-counselors, laboratory technologists, field workers, data managers, biostatisticians and administrative staff. In addition, Dr. Cohen has mentored over 30 predoctoral students, residents and post-doctoral fellows, most of whom have conducted research in Kenya.
Joyce Kibet Joyce received a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and Chemistry and then served for several years at the Kenya Medical Research Institute/ Welcome Trust Collaborative Programme (WTRL). At the WTRL, she was a clinical research assistant with projects investigating the main causes of infant mortality and morbidity in a birth cohort study and a young infant study conducted at the Kilifi District Hospital. Joyce was employed as a senior laboratory technologist working on pneumonia causing bacteria in the microbiology laboratory. In this role, Joyce engaged in a number of projects, including clinical surveillance of invasive pneumococcal isolates, 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine trials and surveillance of the effectiveness of the Hib vaccine. From 2004 to 2006, Joyce undertook a study to quantitatively describe the ecology of pneumoccoci in the nasopharyngeal of children and other healthy individuals, which will be published later this year. Currently, Joyce is earning a Masters of Sciences in Medical Epidemiology at the Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. She is also working with the Center for Public Health Research/ KEMRI on a parasitology project. From her exposure to medical research, Joyce has developed a keen interest in infectious diseases research, particularly in those that affect children. She intends to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field by finding solutions to ineffective diagnostic tools and by developing simple interventions and preventive methods for disease control. Joyce believes her training in clinical epidemiology from UCSF will help her reach these goals.
Henry Njuguna Henry was born and raised in a small village in the outskirts of Nairobi called Wangige. In secondary school, he developed an interest in medicine because he felt that medicine was the best way to help ease human suffering. He secured a place in medical school at the University of Nairobi but studied accounting at Strathmore College and worked as an audit assistant prior to his medical studies. During medical school, Henry served as a student representative with the Association of Medical Students University of Nairobi (AMSUN). He was elected as a church elder and was a member of the Rafiki AIDS ministries, which cares for AIDS orphans. His article “ARV drug use in Management of HIV/AIDS in a resource poor setting” was published in the medical school’s journal in 2004. Henry received a scholarship to attend the International AIDS Research and Training Program (IARTP) at the University of Washington where he learned a lot and developed an interest in medical research. He completed an internship in Kenya’s main referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and later worked as a medical officer in the privately owned, Valley Hospital. Currently, Henry works for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a research assistant/medical officer in a clinic in Africa’s largest slum, Kibera, while also attending Jomo Keyetta University to earn a Masters in Public Health. With the CDC, Henry is conducting an active population based surveillance of Kibera. He has initiated weekly continuous medical education sessions at the clinic and attended a pneumonia workshop and the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases held in Atlanta. He loves his job because he has been able to help the poor and ease their suffering while building new friendships with the community. He particularly loves the children; finding them to be a source of inspiration. Henry plans on entering the PHD program at Jomo Kenyatta University upon completion of his MPH. Henry has a special interest in women and children’s health and is looking forward to furthering his training in this field.
Benjamin Ngugi's interest in medical research began while working at the Kenyatta national Hospital in Nairobi Kenya as a Medical Officer. He applied and was awarded a Department for International Development (DFID) scholarship to study Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, UK, where he graduated in May 2003. He proceeded to work for KEMRI at the Centre for Microbiology Research (CMR) where he was involved in data analysis of an ongoing filariasis project. Currently in his PhD research, Ngugi is working towards the goal of determining the factors which may influence the colonization of the vagina by probiotic lactobacilli (Lactin V, Osel Inc.) given to women diagnosed with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) for prevention of recurrence after they are treated with Metronidazole vaginal gel. To achieve this goal he is working on a protocol for a cohort study to be nested in the main phase ?? Randomized Controlled Trial assessing the effectiveness of Lactin V in women with BV. His career goal is to become an experienced researcher in the field of Medical Epidemiology and to be an expert in sexually transmitted infection (STI) research, especially in the use of probiotics and other upcoming remedies to treat genito-urinary diseases and to prevent the spread of HIV. Ngugi also hopes that while at UCSF and when he goes back home he will form collaborations to increase the scope, knowledge base and international coordination in his area of research.
Hilary Njenge developed an interest in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) while volunteering at National HIV Reference Laboratory, at the National Blood Transfusion Center and Institute of Primate Research (IPR) in Nairobi, Kenya. The Infectious Disease Research Training Program at UCSF has greatly empowered him in designing clinical research and developing epidemiological skills. He is working towards applying these skills to global health problems, specifically blood borne diseases. Currently, Njenge is attached at the Blood Centers of the Pacific, working towards the goal of determining the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in HIV-discordant couples as well as the risk factors for HBV and HCV concordance among HIV discordant couples in Kenya.
Everlyne Ombati became interested in sexually transmitted infections after an eye-opening lecture on the scope of infectious diseases in Africa. After listening and watching documentaries on the impact HIV/AIDS has had on many families in Africa, she decided to pursue a career in STIs. Having lived in Africa, she is a witness to the many health challenges faced by developing countries, where women and children are the most affected due largely to their unequal social status. Everlyne's main objective is to gain comprehensive understanding of the new principles of management and control of sexually transmitted infections. Her primary interest is working with young women with the aim of evaluating the risk behavior and determining the prevalence of STI which will assist in STI and HIV prevention intervention strategies. Her plans for the future are to work in a research institution collaborating with other scientists as part of the global endeavor to address the infectious and non-infectious diseases the world is facing.
Charles Wachihi first considered specializing in STI/HIV management while in his fourth year of undergraduate medical training, following a three month attachment at the Microbiology department of the University of Nairobi. He recognized that one of the biggest challenges that medical practitioners would face in Kenya was in the area of STI/HIV prevention and management. Due to the lack of empirical research on best practices in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and STIs in Kenya, he resolved to gain research skills that he could apply to this issue in the interest of improving STI prevention and management in resource-limited countries. Currently, Wachihi is working at the University of Nairobi, International Institute of Tropical Diseases, as a clinician in a sex worker research clinic that focuses on HIV/STI research. His other studies for the MSc in Public Health focus on the interaction between bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections, with a focus on human papilloma virus.
Ibrahim Daud first considered specializing in sexually transmitted infections (STI) when he began work in the STI department of the National AIDS/STI Control Program (NASCOP) in Kenya. Daud quickly recognized that patient treatment was inadequate due to imprecise diagnoses and a lack of antibiotic sensibility testing. Noting the lack of empirical research on the scientific intricacies of HIV/AIDS and STI in Kenya, Daud resolved to gain research skills that he could apply to this issue in the interest of improving STI diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in resource-limited countries. Currently, Daud is working in a Molecular epidemiology lab that focuses in Human Papilloma Research (HPV) research. His other studies at UCSF focus on the nature, pathogenesis, virulence and the diversity of STI causative agents with the view to innovate scientific solutions. Studying at UCSF offers the opportunity to pursue such knowledge and skills.
George Michuki began exploring his interest in disease pathogenesis while a researcher at the Centre for Microbiology Research at KEMRI, where he was involved in clinical and environmental bacteriology research. Michuki built upon the skills he acquired at the Centre in obtaining a Masters degree in Medical Microbiology. Currently in his PhD studies, Michuki is working towards the goal of determining the role of bacteriophage in development of bacterial vaginosis condition in women. To achieve this goal he is applying molecular and bioinformatics techniques in the DeRisi lab, Biochemistry and Biophysics Department, UCSF. His future interests are to join other scientists in understanding and contributing to knowledge on tropical infectious diseases by research. Based on the belief that the world is a global village, Michuki hopes to be involved in collaborative research with scientists not only in Kenya but globally.
Growing up, Harriette Sande always wanted to work in the health sector but not necessarily be a doctor or a nurse. After graduating from her undergraduate degree program, Sande worked as an administrator and teacher. During this year, she felt she could do more in the field of health. With encouragement from her mother she enrolled in the Public Health Program at ITROMID. Sandes primary interest is in how to improve health care access in resource poor settings. Being part of the Infectious Disease Research Training Program at UCSF has given her an opportunity to learn how important research is in the development of health care systems especially in resource poor settings. She eventually hopes to work with organizations whose goal is to improve and manage health care systems to ensure that it is accessible to all who need it.
Rose Mpembeni Rose received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania and pursued a Masters degree in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She was employed at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) as a lecturer with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Rose’s interest in research began with her employment at MUHAS where she was often consulted to advise and assist the data management of various research projects conducted by university staff and health researchers. Her first research experience analyzing maternal health care services in Tanzania led to her current work. Rose is now a PhD student working on maternal referrals to specialized care in a remote region of Tanzania. She is testing the impact of the modified ANC referral criteria on referral compliance and utilization of skilled assistants during delivery. Rose’s career goal is to reduce the high maternal mortality rates in Sub Saharan Africa by developing locally appropriate and effective interventions.
Tumaini Mwita Nyamhanga Tumaini received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is a PhD scholar and an Assistant Lecturer at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). Tumaini’s interest in research developed during the third year of his undergraduate education when he wrote a term paper on socio-economic and cultural factors influencing women’s health. This influenced his graduate studies, as he took an optional course on gender and socioeconomic development and wrote his Master’s dissertation on the socioeconomic and cultural factors influencing maternal mortality in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. His current research interests are still focused on gender and health. His research project is entitled “Equity in HIV & AIDS, Treatment, and Support: Towards Examining the Influence of Gender in Accessing and Adhering to Antiretroviral Therapy in Tanzania”. Tumaini’s career goal is to be an experienced researcher in the field of gender and health, particularly in reproductive health and HIV & AIDS. He hopes his coursework in clinical epidemiology at UCSF will be a catalyst in his research career. He plans to return home to work on strengthen the emerging regional and international collaboration in his area of research.
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