CEBIB Annual Report
2015
Submitted design towards maximizing office space utilization
Cost Ksh 1,436,890 (about GBP11,000)
Director
Centre for Biotechnology
& Bioinformatics
Message from the Director
The Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, is a shared research facility to
facilitate and strengthen research, capacity building and generate marketable
products through exploitation of biotechnology and bioinformatics.
The admission level is programmed to gradually expand, as the centre strengthens
its research facilities. It is important to note that CEBIB is the only institution of its
kind currently offering post-graduate training in biotechnology and bioinformatics
in the Eastern and Central African Region. The center’s facilities contain basic
necessities such as Molecular Biology Laboratory, Bioinformatics Unit and
Genomics platforms among other laboratory and office spaces. Currently, the
Centre has embarked on a major program to improve its research facilities through the support of a number
of development partners.
The Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics operates under the guidance of An Advisory Board and a
Centre Director with both academic and non academic staff members offering support.
The future growth plan for the centre is bright, and we look forward to expansion of our research facilities to
cater for the planned development of marketable products, among other goals. In the meantime, we wish to
assure our clients that we are fully committed to achieve our set goals and objectives of delivering quality
academic programs as well as venturing into the development of marketable products to enhance – socioeconomic development in our society.
i
Table of Contents
Message from the Director ............................................................................................................................ i
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... ii
Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics .............................................................................................. 1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Programmes Offered ....................................................................................................................... 1
Student Enrolment ........................................................................................................................................ 2
International Student Component................................................................................................... 2
CEBIB Masters students Population Growth ................................................................................... 3
Research Resources at CEBIB ........................................................................................................................ 3
Laboratory Resource ........................................................................................................................ 3
Conducive Teaching/Learning and Research Environment ............................................................. 4
Research Activities Undertaken .................................................................................................................... 4
Research Grants and Scholarships ................................................................................................... 4
New Research Grants....................................................................................................................... 5
Selected Research Activities for the year 2014/2015 ...................................................................... 6
International Links and Collaborations ......................................................................................................... 7
Publications for the Year ............................................................................................................................. 10
Number of Staff and their respective designations .................................................................................... 11
Number of Graduands in 2015 ................................................................................................................... 11
Papers presented at Conferences ............................................................................................................... 12
Corporate Social Responsibility Projects .................................................................................................... 13
Any Other Events ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Appendices.................................................................................................................................................. 18
Appendix I: List of ongoing Research at CEBIB .............................................................................. 18
ii
Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
Introduction
The Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (CEBIB), located at the College of Biological and Physical
Sciences, was founded in 2005 as a virtual centre for Research and Postgraduate Training at MSc and PhD
levels in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics to increase capacity and develop manpower for health;
agriculture; industry, environmental management and related fields.
The Centre’s academic and research programmes have expanded in recent years and include the
participation of visiting academics from international links and collaborating institutions. CEBIB currently
houses four advanced modern laboratory facilities that comprise of three Biotechnology Laboratories and
a state of the art Bioinformatics Laboratory.
Programmes Offered
CEBIB offers MSc and PhD degree programmes in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. Students enrolled for
Biotechnology major in Agricultural Biotechnology, Health Biotechnology, Environmental or Industrial
Biotechnology. The following degree programmes are offered at the Centre:
-
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOINFORMATICS
PhD IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
PhD IN BIOINFORMATICS
Agricultural & Environmental Biotechnology
Health & Environmental Biotechnology
Pharmacology Drug Delivery & Pharmacogenomics
Plant and Crop Biotechnology
Biosignaling & Molecular Transduction
Molecular Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
Molecular Epidemiology and Dynamics of disease
Food and Feed Safety
Emerging Infections and Poverty Related Diseases
Plant and Animal Breeding
Forensic Sciences
Molecular Phenotyping and Model Systems
Bioinformatics
Immunotechnology and Molecular Diagnostics
Biopolicy, Biosafety and Intellectual Property
Applied Bioinformatics in Breeding, Genomics and
Proteomics
Industrial & Environmental Biotechnology
Environmental Microbial Bioremediation
Food and Fermentation Technologies
Industrial Enzymes Technologies
Biomaterial Technologies
Natural Products and drug Discovery
Designs of Microarrays Experiments
Computational Methods in Biosciences
Student Enrolment
In the year 2015, the student admission number grew from 12 in the previous year to 15 in the academic
year 2015/2016. This was mainly due to an aggressive marketing towards increased student admission.
Programme
2014/2015
M
Post Graduate 6
Students
2015/2016
F
M
F
6
10
5
The above table reflects an increase in admission number by 25% in the New Year
International Student Component
Apart from national students, the Centre has also registered international enrollment of three students
from Mali, Liberia and Malawi. Mounirou Camara (Mali), Nathaniel Leesolee (Liberia) and Samuel
Mwafulirwa (Malawi) are sponsored by the Borlaug Higher Education for Agricultural Research and
Development (BHEARD). Ms.Tania Bishola, a 2nd year MSc. Biotechnology student from Democratic
Republic of Congo is sponsorship by DFG Fund Project. One other local student is sponsored by The African
Union.
CEBIB Growth in MSc. students Enrolment
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2012/2013
2013/2014
Male
2014/2015
Female
2015/2016
Total
2016/2017
International
Figure 1 illustrates the comparison of CEBIB MSc. students’ enrolment in the Academic Year (AY) 2015/2016 with previous three
AYs by gender, international students composition and a projected enrolment for AY 2016/2017.
2
CEBIB Masters students Population Growth



Growth in the overall student enrolment: In the Academic Year 2015/2016, CEBIB surpassed the
University strategy of increasing the institution’s postgraduate student enrolment by 10% each
academic year. The centre registered an increase in the number of postgraduate admissions by
16.67%, as compared to enrolment in the previous Academic Year, 2014/ 2015.
Gender Parity: It can be observed from Figure 1 that during the period between the Academic
Years 2012/2013 and 2015/2016, preference for the biosciences programmes by male students
has steadily increased. Although a similar trend can be observed amongst their female colleagues,
enrolment was at par in the year 2014/2015 and a slight decline in the number of female students
admitted in the current academic year is evident.
Increase in International student composition: In the Academic Year 2015/2016, CEBIB enrolled
the highest number of International students in comparison to the cumulative number of
international students registered consecutively in the previous five academic years.
Research Resources at CEBIB
This year, research at CEBIB received a major boost through the endorsement of two Memoranda. The
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the UON’s CEBIB and United States International
University (USIU) is aimed at enhancing support for scientific research, capacity building and outreach
activities. Postgraduates in both institutions will benefit from exchange programmes, use of learning/
research facilities and engage in sharing of information.
The UON’s CEBIB also reached at an MOU with a long-standing industrial partner, Biozeq Limited. CEBIB
will benefit from the collaboration through placement of laboratory equipment worth USD298,093.
According to the contract endorsed by the UON Vice-Chancellor and the company Director, some of the
equipment scheduled for placement include a QIAcube HT system robotic workstation, Rotor-Gene Q6plex system real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) instrument, QIAxcel system and a PyroMark Q24
system instrument. The centre will have the capacity to conduct computerised DNA extraction, PCR, Gel
electrophoresis and purification of PCR products among other molecular biology techniques.
Laboratory Resource
CEBIB has six (6) research laboratories comprising of a bioinformatics lab and five wet-labs (two molecular
biology labs, one Gel-electrophoresis & Protein chemistry labs and two general wet-labs). These labs are
managed by two senior laboratory technicians and a laboratory technologist.
Table 1 CEBIB Wet-Lab Equipment
CEBIB Wet-Lab Equipment
Specialized laboratories with lamina hood
Shaking incubator(shaker),UV Spectrophotometer
Gel Doc,Electrophoresis equipment,Thermocyclers, Elisa Plate Readers
Freeze Drier(Lyophilizer),Centrifuges, Fridges/Freezers(-20⁰C and -80⁰C)
Microscopes, Bioreactors
3
QIAcube
Rotor-Gene Q
Conducive Teaching/Learning and Research Environment
In the academic year 2015/2016, CEBIB teaching/learning facilities were upgraded to maximise utilization
of the limited available space, to improve on mode of delivery of lectures, to enhance the learners’
comfort and to embrace ICT in training of postgraduates. The centre procured forty (40) new
lecture/seminar room chairs-with-cushion, installed an overhead multimedia LCD projector, mounted a
9”×9” projector-screen and replaced the window curtains with modern vertical window blinds. These
lecture/seminar room furnishings and equipment has created an ambience favourable for learning. This
upgrades were facilitated through seed-grant from Malaria Capacity Development Consortium (MCDC)
Research Activities Undertaken
Multiple research activities, covering agricultural, health, industrial and environmental biotechnology are
carried out at CEBIB. Research activities by staff and affiliates of the centre are implemented both within
CEBIB laboratories and in laboratories of collaborating institutions through national and international
links. Most of these activities are done with a training component, as such, research students form an
integral part of most research activities.
CEBIB has also enhanced its collaboration with local research institutions where we have student doing
part of their project with various institutions. In this way we enhance our Appropriations in aid. Already a
total of five of our research students are doing/to do their projects with such Institutions using their
facilities.
Research Grants and Scholarships
CEBIB researchers and collaborators endeavor to source for grants to support research activities and
scholarship to support postgraduate students enrolled at the centre.
4
New Research Grants
In 2014, the Centre managed to secure one new research grant to the tune of USD 64,978 from The
Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). The PI for this grant is Dr
Benard Kulohoma who is a lecturer at CEBIB. Through this grant an amount will go towards partial
scholarship of two Masters students and the rest towards carrying out the research component.
5
Selected Research Activities for the year 2014/2015
NAME
MSC. DEGREE
PROJECT TITLE
KARIUKI HELLEN F
WAMBUI
MSc.
Biotechnology
Molecular Characterization of Phytoene December,
desaturase (Crtl) Gene from Paracoccus 2014
bogoriensis
OGOLA
CHRISTABEL
AWUOR
F
MSc.
Biotechnology
Molecular Characterisation of erythrocyte December,
receptor genes, CRI, DARC and Band 3 required 2014
for malaria parasite invasion
OTADOH
AKINYI
JANE F
MSc.
Biotechnology
Characterization and Determination of Efficacy of December,
local Trichoderma isolates as a Biocontrol Agent 2014
(BCA) on Fusarium wilt on Beans (Phaseolus
vulgaris L)
WAMAE
KARIUKI
KEVIN M
MSc.
Bioinformatics
In Silico Prediction of B-Cell and T-Cell Epitopes in December,
Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Invasion 2014
Proteins (EBA175, RH5 AND RIPR)
STEVEN M
MSc.
Bioinformatics
The genetic diversity of CbpA gene in Streptococcus September,
pneumonia.
2015
IRENE F
MSc.
Biotechnology
Screening and Isolation of ϒ-Hexachlorocyclohexane September,
Degrading Bacteria from contaminated soil in Kenya. 2015
KAMAKIA RODAH F
SELEYIAN
MSc.
Biotechnology
“T-Helper 17 cells responses among TB/HIV co- September,
infected subjects in Nairobi, Kenya.
2015
MUSAMBYIMANA
JEAN PIERRE
MSc.
Biotechnology
Polymorphism analysis of Plasmodium falciparum September,
merozoite EBL1, Rh4 AND MSP1 ligands in severe 2015
malaria population in Kilifi.
AKISO MATRONA F
MBENDO
MSc.
Biotechnology
Association of HIV-1 highly-exposed seronegative December,
persons in Nairobi, Kenya.
2015
WACHIURI KELVIN M
MWANGI
MSc.
Biotechnology
Longitudinal Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum December,
Merozoite Antigenic Profiles and Antibody Profiles of 2015
Children with Multiple Malaria episodes in Kilifi,
Kenya.
SEWE
OKINYI
GITHINJI
NJERI
GENDER
M
6
GRADUATED
KIULUKI
KILIKO
DAVID M
MSc.
Biotechnology
Development of Mycobacterium tuberculosis’s December,
ribosomal RNA (rRNA) as a possible drug target.
2015
CEBIB currently has a population of thirty (30) postgraduates on 6 – 12 months research projects. Given
the limited capacity of the research lab space which accommodate all these students, the centre relies on
the collaborating research institutions. These collaborating institutions include International Livestock
Research Institute (ILRI), International Centre for Insect Psychology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya Medical
Research Institute (KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, KEMRI-CDC), Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). Some
of the ongoing research projects by CEBIB students and supervised in conjunction with researchers from
collaborating institutions are indicated in Error! Reference source not found.
Generally, research at CEBIB covers a wide spectrum of themes which can be classified into for broad
categories namely, animal health, plant health, environmental health and human health.
International Links and Collaborations
CEBIB has relied on various forms of collaborations and networking arrangements in order to fulfill its core
vision and mission in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics research and capacity development. Various
forms of Linkages and Collaborations have been developed with international research institutions,
regional and national Research and Development systems, advanced laboratories as well as universities.
To enhance research and capacity development, CEBIB is currently working with the following networks
and partner institutions who have provided grants, staff exchange, student exchange, equipment, subawards, and joint grant applications:
INSTITUTION
TYPE OF
BENEFIT TO UON
No of Students
LINKAGE
KEMRI/WELCOME TRUST
trained
Collaboration
Sub-Award, Staff support 8
(APO),
Provision
of
and
Staff 6
equipment
University of Manitoba-KEMRI- Collaboration
Student
UNITID-CEBIB
exchange, Training of CEBIB
Students,
Use
of
Collaborator labs.
African Biomedical Centre (ABC)
Collaboration
Provision
equipment
7
of
laboratory 2
Ben Gurion University, Israel
Collaboration
Molecular Diagnostics and 1 (Staff)
antibody
research
and
training
Denver
Foundation, Collaboration,
USA/University of Colorado
Sub-Award
Full Research costs for 2
Training 2 MSc students
covered
University of Melbourne, Australia Collaboration
Joint Grant applications,
student and staff exchange
Centres for Disease Control (CDC)
Collaboration
Student
and
Staff 1
exchange, Training of CEBIB
Students,
Use
of
Collaborator labs.
Inqaba biotech, South Africa
Collaboration
Joint implementation of 44
Short
term
Hands-on
training
ILRI BecA
Collaboration
Student
and
Staff 1
exchange, Training of CEBIB
Students,
Use
of
Collaborator labs.
Biozeq-Kenya Ltd
MoU
Equipment placement
Development
MCDC
Collaboration
Capacity Development
The Centre has also initiated collaboration through the MCDC-KEMRI-Wellcome Trust held at CEBIB. So
far through this collaboration CEBIB has gained in terms of appropriations in aid through the following;

Employment of a contract Post Graduate Research coordinator on a one year contract with a one
year salary to the tune of Ksh 581,580 already transferred to the University account in the month
of December 2014

Facilitation of a Brain storming session for key CEBIB staff (4) at Lenana Conference Facility in the
month of November 2014 at a cost of approximately Ksh.10,000

Sponsoring of CEBIB space design reorganization completion to the tune of Ksh 20,000

Facilitation of CEBIB team building activity held at Lukenya Getaway to the tune of Ksh 20,000 in
the month of December 2014
8

Catering for travelling expenses for Dr Isabella Oyier who is a visiting lecturer to attend a
conference in the USA and Tanzania leading to appropriations in Aid to the tune of over Ksh
250,000
The Centre is also in the process of establishing collaboration network with TAU through Prof Fuad. So far
the Centre has written a motivation that Prof Fuad be given a position as a Visiting Professor at the Centre
and he has agreed in principal to facilitate the shipment of special experimental rats at a cost of 10,000
US dollars. The conditions for this initiative to successfully take off however include;

CEBIB has through the University of Nairobi has to refurbish and provide an experimental animal
house (infrastructural support to house the animal house). An initial approximate costing done
through the Universities internal maintenance team is gave an approximate value of Ksh. 2.4
million as the amount of money required to refurbish one of the old dilapidated buildings. The
other alternative would be to use one of the buildings around the CEBIB premises which are
currently not fully utilized. If this were to be done, the cost for the refurbishment would be
approximately one million or less which would be more affordable. CEBIB is in the process of
motivating to the Central administration, through the Principal, CBPS to support this initiative

CEBIB is also in the process of partnering with other renowned Scientist by engaging them as
Adjunct professors. Already three appointments letters have been processed to have on board
world renowned who are willing to collaborate with CEBIB and mentor both staff and students.
With this strategy, CEBIB will be in a better position to apply for meaningful research grants which
is a critical means of revenue collection. This process in ongoing.
9
Publications for the Year








Wairagu PM, Han JW, Phan AN, Kim HW, Choi JW, Kim KW, Cha SK, Park KH, Jeong Y (2015) Insulin
priming effect on estradiol-induced breast cancer metabolism and growth. Cancer Biol Ther.
16(3):484-92.
Wairagu PM, Park KH, Kim J, Choi JW, Kim HW, Yeh BI, Jung SH, Yong SJ, Jeong Y. (2014) Combined
therapeutic potential of nuclear receptors with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer.
Biochem Biophy Res Commun. 447(3):490-5.
Itaba N, Wairagu PM, Aramaki N, Yasui T, Matsumi Y, Kono Y, Phan AN, Otsu M, Kunisada T,
Nakamura Y, Okano H, Jeong Y, Shiota G. (2014) Nuclear receptor gene alteration in human
induced pluripotent stem cells with differentiation propensity. Hepatol Res. 44 (14): E408-19.
Ochola-Oyier LI, Okombo J, Mwai L, Kiara S, Pole L, Tetteh KK, Nzila A, Marsh K. The MSPDBL2
codon 591 polymorphism is associated with lumefantrinein vitro drug responses in Plasmodium
falciparum isolates from Kilifi, Kenya. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2014. In press.
Kiboi D, Irungu B, Orwa J, Kamau L, Ochola-Oyier LI, Ngángá J, Nzila A. Piperaquine and
Lumefantrine Resistance in Plasmodium berghei ANKA associated with Increased Expression of
Ca2+/H+ antiporter and Glutathione Associated Enzymes. ExpParasitol, 2014; 147:23–32
Okombo J, Kamau AW, Marsh K, Sutherland CJ, Ochola-Oyier LI. Temporal Trends in Prevalence
of Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance Alleles over Two Decades of Changing Antimalarial
Policy in Coastal Kenya. Int J. Parasitol, 2014; 4:152–163.
Busibwa N, Chiyanzu I, Obiero, G, Sanette M. Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas
mobilis on the co-fermentation of sweet sorghum bagasse hydrolysates pretreated under varying
conditions, Biomass and Bioenergy (2014).
Macharia RW, Ombura FL, Aroko EO. (2015). Insects’ RNA Profiling Reveals Absence of “Hidden
Break” in 28S Ribosomal RNA Molecule of Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci,”Journal of Nucleic Acids,
vol. 2015, Article ID 965294, 8 pages, 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/965294
10
Number of Staff and their respective designations
CEBIB being a virtual centre has got no direct staff establishment for the academic and non-academic
staff. The current staff working at the centre for various positions have been employed on positions
borrowed from other departments and their designations are listed below ;
DESIGNATIONS
MALE
FEMALE
TOTAL
Professor
0
0
0
Associate Professor
Senior Lecturer
1
1
0
0
1
1
Lecturer
1
0
1
Visiting Lecturer
0
1
1
Assistant Lecturer
0
0
0
Senior Technician
1
1
2
Technician
1
0
1
Office Administrator
1
0
1
Secretary
0
0
0
Messenger
0
0
0
TOTAL
6
2
8
Number of Graduands in 2015
Postgraduate students -
7
11
Papers presented at Conferences
1
2
3
4
Title of the Paper
Evidence of selection in Rh5, MSP142 and EBA181
P. falciparummerozoite antigens after drug
treatment of children with uncomplicated
malaria
Using population genetic approaches to
understand and estimate malaria transmission
in the context of malaria elimination activities in
Siaya County, Western Kenya
Evidence of selection in polymorphic P.
falciparummerozoite antigens during the
recovery of children from malaria
Genomic diversity of polydna viruses in tsetse fly
species from East Africa
Date Presented
1st November,
2014
Location
Malaria
Capacity
Development
Consortium meeting; New Orleans, USA.
1st November,
2014
Malaria
Capacity
Development
Consortium meeting; New Orleans, USA.
2nd-6th November, American Society of Tropical Medicine
2014
and Hygiene.
8th–10th
November,
2014
The 5th Human Heredity and Health in
Africa (H3Africa) Consortiumhe H3Africa
consortium meeting, Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania.
st
26th
-31 Next Generation Sequencing’ workshop
October,
at the European Bioinformatics Institute
2014
(EBI), Wellcome Trust Genome Campus,
Cambridge, UK.
25th - 31st May, DFG/ICSU/ISSC
Young
Scientists
2014
Networking Conference on Integrated
Science: Ecosystems and human
wellbeing in the green economy, Villa
Vigoni - Lake Como, Italy.
th
th
16
–
17
3rd MVVR Symposium, Hilton Hotel,
October, 2014
Nairobi
th
th
16
–
17
3rd MVVR Symposium, Hilton Hotel,
October, 2014
Nairobi.
5
Genomic diversity of polydna viruses in tsetse fly
species from East Africa
6
Genomic diversity of polydna viruses in tsetse fly
species from East Africa
7
Genome Sequence of tsetse polydna virus (PDV);
Insights into symbiotic virus evolution
Molecular
Epidemiology
of
simian
immunodeficiency virus in wild populations of
non-human primates in Kenya
Natural History and evolutionary considerations 16th
–
17th 3rd MVVR Symposium, Hilton Hotel,
of simian immunodeficiency virus in Kenyan October, 2014
Nairobi.
non-human primates
8
9
12
Corporate Social Responsibility Projects
CEBIB staff participated in the Nairobi
International Trade Fair
CEBIB staff, among them Edwin Rono,
Ann Owiti and Catherine Kamau – a
CEBIB student, participated in this
year’s Nairobi International Trade Fair.
They exhibited a Biofertiliser which was
in line with this year’s theme:
Enhancing technology in agriculture
and industry for food security and
national growth.
Any Other Events


Short-course in Bioinformatics Approaches for Next Generation Sequencing Analysis, ICIPE:
On 30th November - 5th December, 2015 CEBIB Lecturer, Dr. Benard Kulohoma and eight CEBIB
students attended a “Bioinformatics approaches for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)” course
hosted at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE). The course was
organized by ICIPE and TReND (Teaching and Research in Natural Sciences for Development in
Africa) volunteers and comprised of participants from 45 universities across Africa. NGS analysis
topics including de novo genome and transcriptome assembly, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq, rare variant
calling and population genetics were taught. Other topics included introduction to R statistical
programming language and software development concepts such as databases and version
control. The main focus was on the use of freely available data and open source technologies, and
encouraging open reproducible research. More information on the annual short course is
available at; http://www.icipe.org/index.php/news/971-bioinformatics-training-workshop-nextgeneration-sequencing-analysis-nov-30-dec-5-2015-icipe-nairobi-kenya.html
CEBIB's Bioinformatics Lecturer, Dr. BW Kulohoma won the Unesco-Merck 2015 Award:
This year’s UNESCO MERCK Africa Research Summit (UNESCO-MARS)
had a special focus on Ebola and emergent infectious diseases. Up to
100 scientist/researchers from all over Africa, were selected to attend
the Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Merck Living Innovation
recognised Dr. Benard W. Kulohoma as the best amongst the five
awardees for Emergent Young African Researchers. Dr. Kulohoma, a
Bioinformatics lecturer at CEBIB was awarded the 1st prize/award in
recognition of his work in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The award was presented to him
at the 2015 UNESCO-MARS held on the 19th and 20th October 2015 in Geneva,
13
Switzerland. The annual Summit aims to contribute to building research capacity in the
African research community with special focus on Ebola and emergent infectious
diseases. Source: http://africa-newsroom.com/press/unescomerck-africa-researchsummit-mars-special-focus-on-ebola-and-emergent-infectious-diseases-ask-yourquestions-live



Malaria Capacity Development Consortium (MCDC) supporting the development career
development group which has been established at CEBIB to embed postgraduate research
support for our MSc and PhD students. CEBIB has a well-established three-tier career
development (CD) programme tailored for the postgraduates and staff. The CD programmes
include mentorship, personal development planning (PDP) and supervision. The programmes are
steered by a Career Development Group (CDG) whose activities have been supported by a seedgrant from Malaria Capacity Development Consortium (MCDC) for the past fifteen (15) months.
CEBIB Staff participated in 3rd Malaria Capacity Development Consortium (MDC) – Career
Development Groups (CDG) meeting held in London, UK:
Five Centre CEBIB members of staff participated in the 3rd MCDC-CDG meeting which was held at
the Thistle Euston Hotel, Cardington Street, Euston, London on Thursday, June 25 to Friday June
26, 2015. The theme of the workshop was 'Developing Sustainable Career Development support
for African Researchers.' The meeting brought together four other CDGs from Makerere
University (Uganda), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), University
of Malawi (Malawi), Universite Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal) and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical
Centre (Tanzania). CEBIB was represented by Dr. George Obiero (Director, CEBIB), Dr. Benard
Kulohoma (CDG Lead for Mentoring), Dr. Isabella Oyier (CDG Lead for Supervision), Dr. Harold
Ocholla (CDG Lead for PDP) and Mr. Parwos Abraham (Postgraduate Coordinator). All costs for
attendance at the workshop which included air fares, travel insurance, accommodation and meals
were met by MCDC funds held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
CEBIB Student wins the award of Best Poster Presentation in the 2nd Africa International
Biotechnology and Biomedical Conference:
Two CEBIB students, Faith A. Obange and Reuben Mangi Yaa, represented CEBIB at the 2nd Africa
International Biotechnology and Biomedical Conference that was held at the Africa Population
and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in Nairobi from 16th to 19th September 2015.
This was an outstanding platform for multidisciplinary interactions and scientific exchanges in the
increasingly important fields of biotechnology and biomedicine. The students had the opportunity
to present their current research to industry leaders. Mr. Reuben Mangi Yaa was awarded for
giving the best poster presentation on his MSc. research project entitled, ‘Identification of
Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1 variants in Malaria Sequential infections.’
Topics discussed included Ethical Principles in Biomedical Research, Cellular and Molecular
mechanisms of infections & disease, Cellular Imaging, Genomic & Proteomic-based technologies,
Emerging trends in clinical diagnosis and drug development, Food and environmental
biotechnology, Fighting infections and disease: Opportunities, Challenges and biotechnological
options and Analytical/ Diagnostics & Therapeutic Approaches.
14


Vitae Researcher Development International Conference 2015:
CEBIB’s Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Mr. Abraham Pkiror Parwos, represented the
Centre’s Career Development Group (CDG) in the Vitae Researcher Development International
Conference 2015 held on 8th and 9th September, 2015 at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, UK.
The conference brought together all those with a strategic plan and practical role in developing
researchers and followed on from the Career Development Group (CDG) meetings organised by
the Malaria Capacity Development Consortium. The conference addressed the strategic and
practical implications of the following themes:
Policy development relating to doctoral education and employing researchers
Building institutional capacity for researchers’ professional development to maintain
research excellence.
Demonstrating the value of researcher development on research outputs, researcher
careers, economic prosperity and society.
Sustainable practice to support researcher skills, professional and career development.
All costs for attendance were sponsored through funds from MCDC.
CEBIB students sponsored to attend International training/events:
Ms Nduta Mwangi, MSc. Biotechnology, was invited to an all expenses paid trip to attend
an international Summer Academy on Spartial Ecotoxicology and Ecotoxicological Risk
Assessment-using an open Community Approach held at the University Koblenz-Landau,
in Germany. The event took place from the 8th September to the 21st September 2014.
Ms Nduta graduated with a Masters Degree in Biotechnology (Health and Environmental
option), 2014.
Ms. Tania Bishola, MSc. Biotechnology student at CEBIB was invited to the ZIBI Summer
School 2015 on host-pathogen interplay in Berlin, Germany. The All-expense paid ZIBI
Summer Symposium and Practical courses were facilitated by DAAD-funded fellowship
and the ZIBI Graduate School.
Mr. Kataka Evans Sioma, MSc. Bioinformatics was invited to an all expense paid trip to
attend a Norvartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) in Basel,
Switzerland. The BioCamp is a seminar that brings the Biotechnology sector closer to
talented students from top universities around the world. The event was held at the
Norvartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerland from the 24thth August- 28th August,
2014.The program offered participants an opportunity to interact with key Novartis
Scientists, understand trends and challenges in the Biotechnology sector as well
as Network with talented students from other countries. Mr Evans Kataka graduated with
a Masters Degree in Bioinformatics, 2014. Kataka’s trip was funded by Norvartis. He is to
pursue his PhD under a DAAD Scholarship.
15
Pictorials: Transforming CEBIB
The centre lecture/seminar room before and after renovation
The revamped CEBIB lecture room has a sitting capacity for 40 people.
The DVC-RPE addressing participants during a CEBIB stakeholders meeting held on May 26, 2015
Part of CEBIB Electrophoresis and Protein chemistry lab 4
Students follow lectures conducted in CEBIB Bioinformatics lab
16
A postgraduate student using the lamina hood in CEBIB Molecular
Biology lab
Masters students working in CEBIB Molecular Biology
lab-2
Part of Electrophoresis & Protein Chemistry lab 5
Participants engage students in discussions during this year’s Annual poster presentations day held a section of CEBIB
Bioinformatics lab
17
Appendices
Error! Reference source not found.
Name
Kihara Absolomon
Wangoru
SEX
M
PROJECT TITLE
Genomic Variation in African Trypanosome Populations.
Amady Elizabeth
Adhiambo
Sarah Akinyi O.
Wamwenje
Kerubo Betty Isaac
F
Tania
Bishola
Tshitenge
Wangwe Ibrahim
Inertia
Kamau Catherine
Wambui
F
Use of Polymorphic Microsatellite loci to trace gene flow of the Larger Grain Borer,
Prostephanus trucantus.
Genetic Characterisation of Multi-Drug Resistant Trypanosome variants in Endemic Regions of
Kenya
High Performance Liquid Chromatography Antibiotic Residue Analysis in Kidney, Liver and Edible
Meat Tissues.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of Olfactory Receptor Or67d in Tsetse Fly Glossina
fuscipes fuscipes.
Application of Mathematical Models to show and Resolve the Effect of Multi-Drug Resistance in
Trypanosomes.
Determination of the spatial genetic structuring and distribution of diploid and tetraploid
Baobab (Adansonia spp) species in East Africa.
De Laurent Zaydah
Rolande
9. Gunga
Apando
Patrick
10. Towett
Chepkemoi
Sharon
11. Obange
Akinyi
Faith
F
F
¹Molecular Characterization of the co-Infections of African swine fever in Western Kenya.
²Host Cell Surface Receptor Molecule(s) for Deformed Wing Virus that mediate Host-Pathogen
Interactions in Honeybees.
12. Muna Abry Fuad
F
13. Osowo Odhiambo
Fredrick
M
Identification and characterization of Accessory gland proteins in the Glossina (Tsetse Fly)
Genus.
Modeling the Impact of Land use change (Irrigation) on the Transmission Dynamics of West Nile
Virus (WNV) in Tana River County, Kenya.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
F
F
M
F
M
F
¹Molecular detection of Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte in areas of declining malaria
transmission. ²
Development of sensitive and rapid genetic methods for the detection of antimicrobial resistant
Staphylococcus aureu.
A characterization of Spiroplasma from wild mosquitoes collected in Kenya.
18
SUPERVISORS
Prof. S. Kemp
Dr. A. Jackson
Dr. G. Obiero
Dr. G. Ong’amo
Dr. G. Aboge
Dr. B. Kulohoma
Dr. L.Wambua
Dr. G. Aboge
Dr. G. Obiero
Dr. D. Masiga
Dr. J. Herren
Dr. B. Kulohoma
Dr. L. Wambua
Dr. Alice Muchugi
Dr.Edward Muge
Dr.G. O. Obiero
Dr.M. Kapulu(KEMRI)
Dr. Isabella L. Oyier
Dr.Gabriel Aboge
Dr.George O. Obiero
Dr. Jeremy Herren
Dr.Isabella Oyier
Dr.Martin Rono
¹Dr.E. Okoth(ILRI)
Dr.George O. Obiero
²Dr. J. Ongus
Dr. C. Adhiambo
Dr.Benard Kulohoma
Dr.Daniel Masiga(ICIPE)
Dr. Bernard Bett(ILRI)
Dr.George O. Obiero
14. Kimenyi
Muteru
Kelvin
M
Genome sequence of tsetse polydnavirus (PDVs): Insights into symbiotic virus evolution.
15. Odhiambo
Willingtone
Otieno
M
In-Silico Analysis of Rift Valley Fever virus Proteomic and Genomic Sequences and Immunotherapeutic peptide Design and Validation.
16. Kimani
Titus
Watitu
17. Yaa Reuben Mangi
M
Understanding Complexity of Malaria Plasmodium falciparum infection in African population.
M
Identification of Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1 Variants in Malaria sequential infections.
18. Omia Johnstone
Otieno
M
Characterization of Cocksackievirus strains that circulated Kenya's Nyanza province in 2007
19
Prof. Enoch Matovu (Makerere
University)
Dr. Daniel Masiga (ICIPE)
Dr.Benard Kulohoma
Dr. D. Achinko
(Pepvax Inc.)
Dr. Anton Dormer
(Pepvax Inc.)
Dr. Isabella Oyier
Dr. Harold Ochola
Dr.George O. Obiero
Dr. Isabella Oyier
Dr. George Obiero
Prof. Wallace Bulimo
Dr.Edward Muge
Dr.George O. Obiero