Kenya Medical Research Institute

Reimagining research equity and beneficial community impact: reflections from the GSK Africa Open Lab inaugural cohort

Global health research continues to rely heavily on knowledge generated outside the regions that bear the greatest disease burden, reinforcing structural inequities in scientific leadership and innovation. The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Africa Open Lab (AOL) was established to address...

The First Whole-Genome Characterization of a Kenyan DS-1-like G3P[8] Rotavirus Strain: Evidence for an Intragenogroup Reassortment Event in Africa

Unusual DS-1-like G3P[8] rotavirus strains have emerged and spread rapidly across several countries. In Africa, however, reports of these strains and available whole-genome data remain limited, and their evolutionary relationships across the continent are not yet fully understood...

Trends and patterns of varicella zoster virus infection in Kilifi: A population-based serosurvey

Abstract There is limited epidemiologic data on varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections from low- and middle-income countries including Kenya. We aimed to describe the seroepidemiology of VZV in Kilifi, Kenya, where varicella vaccine is not included in the national infant immuniz...

“I know how important it is”: A qualitative analysis of participants’ experiences in a vaccine safety study

Specialist immunization clinics can support vaccination counseling for individuals experiencing adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) and research into AEFIs. We sought to describe the experiences of participants from the Canadian Special Immunization Clinic Network COVID...

Reducing the diagnostic and treatment gap for priority mental, neurological and substance misuse disorders in primary care in rural Kenya: Results of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial from the EPINA study

ABSTRACTBackground: In resource-limited settings, care for mental, neurological and substance misuse (MNS) disorders has been integrated into primary healthcare facilities (PHC) by training primary health workers (PHW) on the use of the mental health Gap Action Program Interventi...

Changes in neurodevelopmental outcomes from 24 to 36 months among children HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) and HIV-unexposed (CHU)

Objective: To compare neurodevelopment through 36 months between breastfed children who are HIV-exposed and uninfected (CHEU) exposed to maternal dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) and children born to mothers without HIV (CHU). Methods: We enrolled a prospecti...

Detection of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Anopheles sergentii with reduced insecticide net susceptibility in a dryland ecosystem of the Kenyan Rift Valley: implications for malaria surveillance and vector control

Abstract Background In Kenya, parts of the dryland ecosystems have disproportionately witnessed a surge in malaria burden amidst poor understanding of the entomologic risk factors. This study investigated whether this trend is linked to shifts in the vector landscape, including t...

Compounding impacts of prolonged drought and onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war on food security and cleaner cooking fuel use in Nairobi, Kenya in 2022

In 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian war onset increased global fuel and food prices. Additionally, a multi-season drought in Kenya reached peak severity in 2022. We aimed to quantify the impacts of these climatic and energy-related shocks on energy/food security in an informal settlem...