Objective 3: To support HIV and STI prevention, care, and research efforts in Mombasa by training Kenyan researchers and practitioners, implementing technology transfer, and contributing to infrastructure development.

TRAINING

Since the Mombasa HIV/STD Research Site was established over 50 IARTP training appointments have been awarded to Kenyan investigators and key collaborators (see Appendix). Combined, these appointments correspond to over 40 training years and include:

  • 2 PhD degrees
  • 10 MPH degrees in Epidemiology
  • 2 MPH degrees in Global Health
  • 1 MSc degree in Virology
  • 6 Advanced In-Country Scholar appointments (based in Mombasa)
  • 9 laboratory training appointments (UW)
  • 13 IRB related appointments for members to attend collaborative exchange workshops with IRB members in the US.
  • 1 Fogarty postdoctoral grant to conduct a study on HPV vaccine preparedness among youth in Mombasa County.

Recently funded trainees include (alphabetical listing):

Griffin Manguro, MBChB, MPH. Dr. Mang’uro recently completed his MPH Global Health training at UW in 2015. His MPH thesis is titled “Self-collected genital specimens for detection of high-risk HPV mRNA for cervical cancer screening among women in Mombasa, Kenya.” We wish him well in his new position at ICRH-K and we look forward to papers from conducted analyses.

Linnet Masese, MBChB, MPH, PhD. Dr. Masese recently completed her PhD studies at UW. Her PhD dissertation was entitled, “Epidemiological Linkages between Sexually Transmitted Infections.” She is currently a postdoctoral Fogarty fellow working on a study to assess HPV vaccine preparedness among youth in Mombasa County. She completed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of screening for sexually transmitted infections among adolescents and young women in schools and colleges in Mombasa.


Workshops and Seminars:

In addition to the individual trainings described above, a number of major workshops, courses, and seminars co-sponsored by our research group, the IARTP, and the University of Nairobi have been presented in Kenya including:

  • We host a monthly Journal Club to discuss recent publications in the field of HIV & STD
  • We also host a monthly Teaching Conference that features presentations on health care topics of current interest, and is also a venue for presentations meeting summaries from recent attendees at international trainings and conferences
  • Annually we send staff members to the Principles of STI and HIV Research training in Seattle every July. Staff members who have attended include: Fatma Mwidadi, Khamisi Mwinyikai, Esther Mutunga, Juma Shafi, Lucy Adala, and Sarah Nteka. Beginning in 2014, we have offered an asynchronous, hosted webcast of this course to Mombasa County health professionals.
  • During the first quarter of 2015, we hosted the free University of Washington graduate certificate course, “Clinical management of HIV and STIs” (MED 553). This is the fifth time that we have offered the course (previously offered in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014). Participants have included >100 doctors, nurses, counselors, and COs from Mombasa and elsewhere.
  • In 2014, twice in 2015, and 2016 we offered the Leadership and Management in Health course from the University of Washington. This course has trained >100 participants from diverse backgrounds including doctors in both private and public hospitals, nurses and administrators.
  • In the first quarter of 2016, we offered the Fundamentals of Implementation Science course from the University of Washington. This is the first time the course was offered and it attracted 8 health professionals from both the public and private sectors of Mombasa County.
  • The Principles of HIV Research Course, held in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011. This week-long course focused on HIV care, research, and clinical trials.
  • The Bioethical Review workshop in July of 2002 and the Ethics and Research Workshop in May of 2004 addressed human subjects’ research ethics. The primary objective of these workshops was to stimulate discussion on ethical issues and research practices.
  • In 2006, the Pambazuko Nurses Training Workshop was presented in Mombasa with sponsorship from the University of Washington Center for AIDS Research, the University of Nairobi, and KEMRI. Ninety nurses from throughout Kenya participated.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

  • Technology transfer is another important feature of our HIV/STD research efforts. The laboratory at CPGH performs
  • State of the art diagnostic testing for STDs including microscopy, cultures, ELISAs for HIV, and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) based detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, HPV, and Mycoplasma genitalium.
    • Our laboratory supports sophisticated STI testing for Kenyan surveillance programs led by KEMRI and the CDC, as well as STI research projects throughout East Africa
  • We have been working with Hologic to develop and deploy their HIV-1 viral load assay for non-subtype B HIV strains. Our laboratory completed training and certification for the viral load assay during the week of October 10th, and we look forward to scaling up our HIV viral load testing in the coming months.
  • Monitoring for patients with HIV-1 infection including CD4 cell counts and biochemistry testing required for patients on antiretroviral therapy (ALT, cholesterol, amylase, hemoglobin, glucose, and creatinine).
  • Add the new testing that is taking part in the HPV study, including the TVDC and the Arbor Vita E6 assay.
  • We now have capacity for HCV viral load testing at the laboratory in Mombasa, and several research groups around the region are planning grant applications that may make use of this service.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

  • Highlights of major infrastructure projects supported by the University of Washington’s Center for AIDS Research include:
  • 2014 added Reflotron dry chemistry testing and new set of automated pipettes including single and multi-channel for our sister laboratory in Nairobi, the Clinical Trials Research Laboratory in the UON Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This laboratory supports the Nairobi site for the Lifecourse Study
  • In July 2012, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi officially opened the J. O. Ndinya-Achola Building. The building provides expanded office, laboratory, pharmacy, and data management space at Ganjoni Health Center
  • Replacement of hospital electrical panel following water damage and roofing repairs over laboratory and administrative wing at Coast General Hospital (2012)
  • Renovation of a new Laboratory Seminar Room at Coast General Hospital (2011)
  • Drilling of a bore-hole to provide a reliable water supply at Ganjoni Health Center (2010)
  • Renovations at Ganjoni Health Center including tiling floors, replacing plumbing and fixtures, wiring, painting, and development of the seminar room (2009)
  • Installation of underground water tank and pump system to improve access to the municipal water supply at Ganjoni Health Center
  • Installation of a generator and three-phase electrical wiring to provide a reliable electrical supply at Ganjoni Clinic (2005)