In Kenya, the U.S. Military’s Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program is working to identify and track infectious disease threats through collection of samples from sentinel sites. Scientists conduct rapid pathogen identification and drug resistance analysis at regional laboratories run in collaboration with Kenyan health authorities and local research partners, like the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).
Bolstering local laboratory capabilities and developing the next generation of scientists is critical to the success of collaborative surveillance research in the area, which requires robust systems and well-trained personnel to respond effectively. The Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) Basic Science laboratory in Kisumu, Kenya, has become an important local resource, thanks in part to its involvement in collaborative disease surveillance activities.
The lab receives samples from hospital patients who have AFI, which can be caused by many diseases that have similar presenting signs, ranging in severity from flu to malaria, dengue or Ebola. On receiving the samples, the AFI lab uses broad detection systems to determine the pathogens they’re dealing with. With funding from different collaborative programs, the lab has been able to buy robotics to automate workflows to help increase the daily throughput, and to buy new equipment to make sure the facility stays on the leading edge of technology, including whole genome sequencing for pathogen discovery and characterization.
“Before these efforts to increase efficiency, we had to do everything manually—like pipetting and centrifuging—which meant we could only process a few samples a day,” said Dr. Beth Mutai, the AFI Basic Science lab manager. “With the robots we’ve been able to increase sample volume turnaround by a factor of 10, like from 100 to 1,000 samples in a day. And now we handle them inside new biosafety cabinets; that helps protect the people working in the lab.”
Mentorship and training are also significant aspects of the collaborative GEIS efforts. The emphasis on junior scientist development ensures a sustainable bench of experts in Kenya who can help drive the country’s health systems forward.
“The expectation is that if you've been mentored, you're should also be a mentor and a trainer,” said Dr. Mutai, herself a product of the mentorship program, and adds, “It is a responsibility to mentor someone in what you're good at.” Dr. Mutai joined the program under the tutelage of veteran scientist, Dr. John Waitumbi.
Graduate student Vane Kwamboka is conducting her master’s research at the AFI Basic Science Lab, focusing on the genetic evolution of Leishmania parasites. She is one of five students currently working on projects at the lab. “I am very thankful to the team for the mentorship, because today, I know I am very lucky, and I know I have learned a lot from this place,” Vane said. “Not just learning extractions, the PCRs, the sequencing; I’ve learned about safety and how to carry myself in the lab.”
Moreover, AFI Basic Science Lab fosters collaboration between local institutions and international partners, enabling the exchange of data, knowledge and best practices. The GEIS surveillance and lab activities are overseen by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in the U.S. and WRAIR-Africa, headquartered in Nairobi. The longstanding partnership advances science, international health collaboration and health system strengthening, ensuring Kenya and the surrounding region is better prepared to face the evolving landscape of infectious disease.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2025 15:12 |
| Story ID: | 493901 |
| Location: | KISUMU, KE |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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