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Title/Qualifications: Ph.D
Department/Unit/Section: Pathology
Contact Address: P.O. Box 43844 Nairobi, Kenya
Position: Chairperson & Lecturer
Area of Specialization: Immunology 

View Full CV

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research is centered on exploring the intricate relationship between the human immune system, infectious diseases, co-infections and drug resistance. Previously, I have delved into studying the impact of mass praziquantel treatment on anti-schistosome immune responses in school children, as well as the effects of schistosomiasis mansoni infection on vaccine responses.

My research endeavors in schistosomiasis control are primarily based at the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s Centre for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR) campus, where I oversee a well-equipped snail and hamster rearing facility to support field activities in a schistosomiasis-endemic area near Lake Victoria. I am currently leading an NIAID-NIH funded study investigating drug resistance in fieldcollected schistosomes in western Kenya.

Moving forward, my goal is to establish a proficient research team in the area of infectious diseases, while enhancing my expertise in research ethics, population genetics, genomics, and computational biology. I am deeply dedicated to advancing the field of schistosomiasis control, with a current focus on studying praziquantel resistance in schistosomes. Additionally, I am actively involved in collaborative research on Covid-19 epidemiology, persistence, and immunity with colleagues from
Kenyatta University, KEMRI, and Kenyatta National Hospital.

My international collaborators include colleagues from Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Texas Health Science Center, both in San Antonio, Texas, USA

GRANTS

  1. 2021-2022: MERCK Schistosomiasis Research Grant Initiative
    Project Title: Molecular Surveillance of Praziquantel Resistance
    Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
    Collaborations: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Texas Biomedical Research Institute
    Overall Goal: The objectives of this study will be to (i) screen for TRPM-PZQ sequence variation in
    field collected schistosome populations in Western Kenya, and (ii) identify potential key mutation(s)
    in TRPM-PZQ gene which might play a role in PZQ treatment failure in ‘persistent hotspots’,
    Kenyan high schistosome transmission area.
    Grant Value: EURO 30,000

  2. 2021-2026: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-National Institute of Health
    (NIAID-NIH)
    Award number: 1R01AI160433-01
    Project Title: Characterisation of drug resistance in field-collected schistosomes
    Role: Principal Investigator (PI)
    Collaborations: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Texas Biomedical Research Institute
    Overall goal: The objective of this five-year research study is to investigate praziquantel drug
    resistance in field collected schistosome parasites in order to understand mode of action of the
    drugs, and mechanism of resistance. We also hope to establish a novel platform for investigating
    phenotypic and genotypic variation in schistosome responses to anti-schistosomal compounds
    under development.
    Value of award: US$ 785,622

  3. 2021-2022: National Research Fund (NRF) South Africa
    Covid-19 Africa Rapid Grant Fund
    Project Title: Uptake of Preventive Measures, Sero-Surveillance and Complementary
    Management of Covid-19 in Kenya.
    PI: Professor Paul Okemo
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Value of award: US$ 100,000

  4. 2016-2021: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Research grant
    Timothy Anderson (PI)
    Project Title: Genetic basis of praziquantel resistance
    Overall goal: The objective of this preliminary study was to establish unique platform that can be
    used to study genetic basis of drug resistance in schistosome parasites in order to understand mode
    of action of the drugs, and mechanism of resistance.
    Role: Collaborator and Field-coordinator

  5. 2013-2015: National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI),
    Kenya PhD Research Grant
    Eric M. Ndombi (PI)
    Overall Goal: To understand the effect of treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection with
    praziquantel on immune correlates of protection against reinfection. This study was conducted in
    school children at a time of massive roll out of mass praziquantel treatment programs in regions
    endemic for schistosomiasis for control of morbidity

AWARDS / FELLOWSHIPS / PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  1. Member, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Professionals society of Kenya (BBPSK)

  2. Kenya Medical Research Institute-University of Georgia, Athens collaboration: Post-doctoral
    fellowship (2015-2017)

  3. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: Member (2020-)

  4. Africa Research Excellence Fund: Towards Leadership program award recipient (2022-2023)

EDITORIAL APPOINTMENTS

  • Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Antiparasitic Drugs and Drug Resistance (specialty section
    of Frontiers in Parasitology) (2024)

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Chairman, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University (April 2024-)

  2. Member, Kenyatta University Endowment and Alumni Programmes Board

  3. Coordinator, Research, Innovation and Product Development Board, department of Medical
    Microbiology and Parasitology (Jan 2024-April 2024)

  4. Departmental Examination coordinator, department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kenyatta University (2014-2019)

  5. Examination Coordinator, School of medicine, Kenyatta University (2019-2023)

  6. Better Evidence for Training, UpToDate Champion for Kenyatta University Medical School

  7. Member, School of Health Sciences Programmes Committee

COMMUNITY SERVICE

  1. Member, Board of Trustees, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (2020-Present)

  2. Chairman, Board of Management, Namagara Secondary School (2016-2022)

  3. Chairman, Board of Management, Tande Secondary School (2016-2019)

  4. Chairman, Board of Management, Fubuye Primary School (2016-2022)

Awards/Fellowships/Professional affiliations

  1. Associate Faculty member, Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024-)
  2. Member, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Professionals society of Kenya (BBPSK) (2024-
  3. Kenya Medical Research Institute-University of Georgia, Athens collaboration: Post-doctoral fellowship (2015-2017)
  4. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: Member (2020-)
  5. Africa Research Excellence Fund: Towards Leadership program award recipient (2022-2023)

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

1.     Theuri M, Ndombi EM, Thamaini P, Ogutu JO, Onsongo L, Madete JK, Ofula V, Gitau S, Mwangi G, Okemo P. 2024. Clinical characteristics, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, and inflammatory markers in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition in Kenya: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 12:e17723 DOI 10.7717/peerj.17723

 

2.     Lugonzo, G.O., Njeru, E., Songock, W., Okumu, A.A., Ndombi, E.M. Epidemiology of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis in the western region of Kenya[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(2): 273-287. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024014

3.     Mulakoli, F., Gachara, G., Ndombi, E., & Khamadi. S. (2024). Prevalence of Dengue virus among healthy blood donors in Mombasa County, Kenya. PAMJ-OH. 13:6. 10.11604/pamj-oh.2024.13.6.42602

4.     Ombeni, A., Kanoi, B.N., Kamath, S., Shiluli, C., Ndombi, E.M., Odiere, M., Nyanjom, S.G., Misinzo, G., Raju, S.L., Ochola, L., Gitaka, J. (2024). Development of a Rapid and Highly Sensitive Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostic Test for Schistosomes, leveraging on Identical Multi-Repeat Sequences (IMRS). Front. Parasitol. Sec. Parasite Diagnostics. 3 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpara.2024.1361493

5.     Wambua, R. T., Onsongo, L. N., & Ndombi, E. M. (2023). Determinants of male involvement in partner’s cervical cancer screening in Makueni County, Kenya. Int J Community Med Public Health, 10(10), 3421–3429. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20232838

6.     Okinyo AO, Okeyo I, Oguya F, Olila P, Mbata M, Ndombi E, Muok EO. (20230. Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosomiasis in Endemic Parts of Siaya County after Mass Deworming With Praziquantel; Understanding Community Perception on the Associated Factors. Int J Biomed Res Prac. 3(1); 1-5.

7.     Schlosser-Brandenburg J, Midha A, Mugo RM, Ndombi EM, Gachara G, Njomo D, Rausch S and Hartmann S (2023) Infection with soil-transmitted helminths and their impact on coinfections. Front. Parasitol. 2:1197956. doi: 10.3389/fpara.2023.1197956

8.     Mulakoli, F., Gachara, G., Ndombi, E., & Khamadi, S. (2023). Dengue Virus Surveillance and Blood Safety: A One Health Perspective. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.109413

9.     Fidelis Toloyi Ndombera, Juliet Elusah, Eric Ndombi. (2020) Revisiting Cheminformatics and Mechanisms of Action of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Targeting Covid-19. J Bioinfo Comp Genom 3:1-11.

10.  Abudho BO, Guyah B, Ondigo BN, Ndombi EM, Ireri E, Carter JM, Riner DK, Kittur N, Karanja DMS, Colley DG. Evaluation of morbidity in Schistosoma mansoni-positive primary and secondary school children after four years of mass drug administration of praziquantel in western Kenya. Infect Dis Poverty. 2020 Jun 15;9(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s40249-020-00690-7. PubMed PMID: 32539826

11.  Harrison K. Korir, Diana K. Riner, Emmy Kavere, Amos Omondi, Jasmine Landry, Nupur Kittur, Eric M. Ndombi, Bartholomew N. Ondigo, W. Evan Secor, Diana M. S. Karanja and Daniel G. Colley. Young Adults in Endemic Areas: An Untreated Group in Need of School-Based Preventive Chemotherapy for Schistosomiasis Control and Elimination. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2018, 3, 100; doi:10.3390/tropicalmed3030100

12.  Bartholomew N. Ondigo, Erick M. O. Muok1, John K. Oguso, Sammy M. Njenga, Henry M. Kanyi, Eric M. Ndombi, Jeffrey W. Priest, Nupur Kittur, William Evan Secor, Diana M. S. Karanja and Daniel G. Colley. Impact of Mothers’ Schistosomiasis Status During Gestation on Children’s IgG Antibody Responses to Routine Vaccines 2 Years Later and Anti-Schistosome and Anti-Malarial Responses by Neonates in Western Kenya.  Front. Immunol., 18 June 2018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01402

13.  Bernard O. Abudho, Eric M. Ndombi, Bernard Guya, Jennifer M. Carter, Diana K. Riner, Nupur Kittur, Diana M. S.Karanja, W. Evan Secor and Daniel G.Colley. Impact of Four Years of Annual Mass Drug Administration on Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosomiasis among Primary and High School Children in Western Kenya: A Repeated Cross-sectional Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018.17-0908. Doi:10.4269/ajtmh

14.  Eric M. Ndombi, Bernard Abudho, Nupur Kittur, Harrison Korir, Diana K. Riner, W. Evan Secor, Diana Karanja and Daniel G. Colley; Effect of Rour Rounds of Annual School-Wide Mass Praziquantel Treatment for Schistosoma Mansoni Control on Schistosome-Specific Immune Responses. Parasite Immunol.  31 March 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/pim.12530

15.  Bartholomew N. Ondigo, Eric M. Ndombi, Sarah C. Nicholson, John K. Oguso, Jennifer M. Carter, Nupur Kittur, W. Evan Secor, Diana M.S. Karanja and Daniel G. Colley. Functional studies of T regulatory lymphocytes in human schistosomiasis in western Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 98:6, Jun 2018, 1770 – 1781. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0966

16.  Diana K. Riner, Eric M. Ndombi, Jennifer M. Carter, Amos Omondi, Nupur Kittur, Emmy Kavere, Harrison K. Korir, Briana Flaherty, Diana Karanja, Daniel G. Colley; Schistosoma mansoni infection can jeopardize the duration of protective levels of antibody responses to immunizations against hepatitis B and tetanus toxoid. PLOS NTDs 2016. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005180

 

17.  Eric M. Ndombi, Budambula Valentine, Mark W. Kilongosi, Francis O. Musumba, Joseph Karanja, Jesca O. Wesongah, Samwel A. Bonuke, Aabid A Ahmed, Raphael Lihana, and Tom Were; Plasma Adiponectin Levels in Hepatitis C and HIV-1 Mono- and Co-Infected Antiretroviral Treatment Naive and Exposed Injection Drug Users from Coastal Kenya. Endocrine connections journal 2015. doi:  10.1530/EC-15-0071

18. Otindo AM., Ndombi E.M., Theuri M., Muturi M., Thamaini P., Ogutu J.O., Onsongo L., Madete J., Ofula V., Gitau S., Mwangi G. & Okemo P. (2024). Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, and IgG and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in healthy volunteers in Nairobi, Kenya: A cross-sectional study. Front. Virol. Sec. Virus and Host Immunity. Volume 4 - 2024  doi: 10.3389/fviro.2024.1479645

1.     19.  Theuri M, Ndombi EM, Thamaini P, Ogutu JO, Onsongo L, Madete JK, Ofula V, Gitau S, Mwangi G, Okemo P. 2024. Clinical characteristics, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, and inflammatory markers in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition in Kenya: a cross-sectional study. PeerJ 12:e17723 DOI 10.7717/peerj.17723

2.      20. Lugonzo, G.O., Njeru, E., Songock, W., Okumu, A.A., Ndombi, E.M. Epidemiology of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis in the western region of Kenya[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2024, 10(2): 273-287. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2024014

           21.  Mulakoli, F., Gachara, G., Ndombi, E., & Khamadi. S. (2024). Prevalence of Dengue virus among healthy blood donors in Mombasa County, Kenya. PAMJ-OH. 13:6. 10.11604/pamj-oh.2024.13.6.42602

SEMINARS / CONFERENCES / WORKSHOPS

14th March 2024 Illumina Genomics Workshop (Human Health genomics), International Livestock
Research Institute, Nairobi 
 14th-16th Feb 2024 14th Kenya medical Research Institute Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference, Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi (Poster and Oral presentation)
26-29 Oct 2023 Africa Research Excellence Fund-Medical Research Council (AREF-MRC) Towards Leadership Programme workshop 3 Johannesburg, South Africa
16-20th Oct 2023 17th Congress of The Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) Conference and workshops Gaborone, Botswana
6-10th March 2023 Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies: Faculty Development Workshop for Kenyatta University Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
2-4 Nov 2022 Africa Research Excellence Fund-Medical Research Council (AREF-MRC) Towards Leadership Programme workshop Nairobi, Kenya
Oct-Dec 2021 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) - University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Digital Campus (SARIMA Programme Evaluation Course)
Aug-Oct 2021 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA)- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Digital Campus (SARIMA Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer & Commercialization Course)
June - August 2021 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) - University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Digital Campus (Research Grants and Contracts Management online course)
8 - 9 June 2021 Global Schistosomiasis Alliance: Schistosomiasis Research 2021 Virtual Meeting
21 - 24 May 2021 International Network Of Research Management Societies (INORMS) Conference, South Korea 2021 (Virtual Attendee)
April 2021 International Day of Immunology Webinar: Immunology in the time of Covid-19: Achievements, Challenges and Opportunities
April - May 2021 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA)- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Digital Campus. (Fundamentals of Research Management online course)
July/October 2020 Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) - University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, Digital Campus (Research Ethics online course)
June/July 2020 SARIMA Virtual Grants Management course; Southern African Research Innovation Management Association. (Gender in Science, Technology and Innovation Course)
Feb/March 2019 Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Training in laboratory methods on hamster handling, euthanasia, infection with schistosomes, and perfusion and lactate assay, San Antonio, Texas, USA
March 2018 14th Spring School on Immunology in Ettal, Bavaria, Germany (Travel award)
January 2018 10th Center For AIDS Research (CFAR) East Africa Collaborative Scientific Symposium, Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala. (Oral Presentation titled: Effect of four rounds of annual praziquantel mass drug administration on anti-schistosome immune responses in
school children in Western Kenya)
October 2015 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) annual meeting 2015, The Marriott Philadelphia downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. (Oral Presentation titled: Effect of Mass Drug Administration with Praziquantel on Anti-Schistosome Immune Responses in School Children from Western Kenya)
June 2015 Federation of Clinical Immunological Societies (FOCIS) Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA. (Oral Presentation titled: Effect of one round of mass drug administration on immune correlates of protection against schistosomiasis in school children from western Kenya)
June 2015 Basics of Clinical Immunology Course, Federation of Clinical Immunological Societies (FOCIS), Hilton Bayfront, San Diego, California, USA. (Travel award)
June 2015 Federation of Clinical Immunological Societies Annual meeting (FOCIS 2015) (Oral presentation)
Dec 2014 Ruggero Ceppellini Advanced School of Immunology; Maternal immune system in pregnancy course; Castellammare di Stabia (Naples), Italy. (Travel award)

 

GRADUATE STUDENT SUPERVISION

  1. Joan Kaburia Ntinyari: Master of Science in Environmental Health. Thesis: PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY OF SALMONELLA AND CAMPYLOBACTER SPECIES IN CHICKEN WASTE, BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA.
    Status: Graduated in 2020

  2. George Odongo: Master of Science (Microbiology)-Kenyatta University Thesis: MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS IN WESTERN KENYA.
    Status: Graduated in 2022

  3. Chepchirchir Deborah: Master of Science (Microbiology)-Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing

  4. Maureen Jebichii: PhD (Microbiology)-Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing

  5. Joseph Ajwang: PhD (Parasitology)-Maseno University
    Status: Ongoing

  6. David M. Muthama: Master of Science in Chemistry-Egerton University
    Status: Ongoing

  7. Dalmas Odhiambo: Master of Science (Microbiology)-Kenyatta University
    Status: ongoing

  8. Festus Mulakoli: PhD (Immunology)- Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing

  9. Ruth Taabu Wambua: Master of Science (Nursing) – Kenyatta University
    Status: Completed

  10. Peter Olila: Master of Science (Medical Biochemistry)- Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing

  11. Austin Okinyo: Master of Public Health, Technical University of Kenya
    Status: Completed
  12. Agnes Muhonja: Master of Science (Medical Laboratory Science), Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing
  13. Martin Theuri: Master of Science (Medical Laboratory Science), Kenyatta University
    Status: Ongoing
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Chairperson Medical Microbiology and Parasitology

Dr. Eric Makuto Ndombi,

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology

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