Reproductive Health and Biology Profile
In 1975 under the directorship of Dr Jim Else interest was generated in the development of a primate research centre for biomedical research in the country and funding was acquired from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the regional primate research centres in the USA (first through Oregon and later Yerkes) and from the World Health Organizations (WHO) Special Programme in Human Reproduction. A proposal by the then Director IPR, Dr Jim Else to World Health Organization (WHO) in 1980, to breed 500 monkeys for biomedical research, was approved, leading to the Government of Kenya allocating land in Oloolua forest in Feb 1981 for this purpose. In April 1983, IPR moved from Tigoni to Oloolua forest and WHO hired consultants for expanding the monkey colony and undertaking research in human reproduction.
The department conducts both basic and applied research aspects of reproductive health including reproductive biology, anatomy and physiology, immunology, pathology and fertility mechanisms.
These are aimed at understanding both human and non-human reproductive functions and enhancing primate conservation. The research efforts have led to the development of non-human primate models, particularly the baboon, to study specific aspects of reproductive health including contraception, in vitro fertilization, semenology, sexually transmitted infections such as herpes simplex virus that causes cervical cancer. This is as a result of our establishment that phylogenetically, the baboon is closer to humans and therefore a suitable model for testing the safety, efficacy and mechanism of action of contraceptives and new drugs for reproductive diseases and disorders.
OUR RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Name: Dr. Jael Apondi Obiero
Title: Head of Department
Academic Qualifications: BSc: B.Ed Science (Bot/Zoo), Egerton University, MSc: Mammalian Physiology (UoN), PhD: Medical Microbiology (UoN)
Area of Expertise: Infectious Diseases of reproductive Health, Contraceptive Research, Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis, Vaginal and Gut Microbiota, Antimicrobial resistance, Bacteriology & Molecular Biology
SCIENTISTS PROFILE
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS; BSc – Kenyatta University, MPhil – University of Bristol, UK, PhD - University of Bristol, UK AREA OF EXPERTISE: Molecular Biology, In-vitro fertilization, Research and Innovation, Product Development, Cancer Research, Entrepreneurship ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS; BSc: - JKUAT, MSc – KU-Leuven, Belgium PhD - KU-Leuven, Belgium AREA OF EXPERTISE: In-vitro fertilization, Molecular Biology, Mechanisms of human diseases, Phage Biology, Endometriosis, Contraceptive Research, Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS; BSc - UoN MPhil – University of London, UK PhD – University of London, UK AREA OF EXPERTISE: Molecular Biology Cancer Research Academic Qualifications: BSc Medical Bioscience - Monash University (Australia), BSc Biotechnology - Monash University (Australia), Honours in Genetics (Australian MSc equiv.) - Monash University (Australia), PhD Physiology - La Trobe University (Australia) Area of Expertise: Investigating the molecular mechanisms governing male infertility. Teaching, training and mentorship (former university lecturer) and Molecular Biology experience. Molecular biology work: genetically modified animal research (mice and zebrafish), PCR, qPCR, genotyping, DNA and RNA sequencing, In-situ gene expression studies (immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridisation, LacZ staining) bacterial and mammalian cell cloning and culture, gene knockdown (morpholino studies) and organism developmental studies. Qualification: PhD in Veterinary Sciences (Viral immunology) – Ghent University - Ghent, Belgium, MSc in Immunology – Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, B.Ed Science (Biology and Chemistry) with a major in Biology – Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya Research Interests: I have keen interest in infectious diseases, mainly those caused by viruses with high pandemic risks, among them coronaviruses and influenza viruses. Currently, am involved in a study that seeks to characterize coronaviruses isolated from humans, non-human primates and bats in Kenya and formulate vaccines based on the isolated strains. Academic Qualifications: PhD Biomarker Discovery and Proteomics- University College London (UCL), London. United Kingdom, Msc Biomedical Science (Medical Microbiology and Pathology)- Middlesex University, London. United Kingdom, Bsc Biomedical Technology- University of Nairobi. Nairobi, Kenya Area of Expertise: Biomarkers, Reproductive Biology, Cancer Genomics and Proteomics.My current research focuses on the integration and application of Multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) technologies to study Wilms Tumour (Nephroblastoma) which is the most common Renal Cancer in Children. This goal is to study WT in an African cohort to identify unique molecular signatures of the disease and novel biomarkers in-order to establish their role and association with aggressiveness and poor prognosis in the African population. Qualifications: MSc (Biochemistry), Kenyatta University, Master’s in Public Health (MPH), Kenyatta University, BSc Biochemistry- Karatina University Research Interests: Human health research, Reproductive health, Antimicrobial resistance, Phage Biology, Zoonotic diseases, Infectious diseases and Lifestyle diseases Other Positions: Founder Phages IPR Click here and President Phage Kenya Consortium. click here Area of Expertise: Microbial flora characterization, Infectious bacterial zoonotic pathogens transmission, Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria of medical importance
DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
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