Employing (Home) Organisation: Mount Kenya University
Project title: Immiscible filtration assisted by surface tension (IFAST) Assay and isothermal amplification for colorimetric detection of malaria in pregnant women
Dr. Clement Likhovole is a Postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Mount Kenya University. His research is focused on developing point of care diagnostics for malaria, Tuberculosis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV and Leishmaniasis. He uses deep genome mining approaches to design primers specific to multiple targets on pathogen genomes thereby improving the sensitivity and specificity of molecular detection assays. Dr. Likhovole has also worked as the Head of the Microbiology Department of UZIMA University.
Summary of Project Destination
Malaria remains a serious health burden that significantly affects residents of sub saharan Africa (SSA). Globally, in 2023, 263 million malaria cases were reported and of all malaria-related deaths, >90% occurred in SSA. Malaria in pregnancy is associated with severe maternal anemia, infant mortality, preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Pregnant mothers with asymptomatic malaria provide a reservoir for malaria transmission and are at increased risk of progressing to symptomatic malaria. In the proposed study, we will use the novel IFAST identical multi repeat sequence point of care test to screen for asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women in low transmission settings. We hypothesise that the novel assay has the ability of identifying Plasmodium falciparum in women with asymptomatic malaria.
Summary of Fellowship Plan
AREF Fellowship grant will provide me with an opportunity to be placed at Prof. Nicole Pamme laboratory at Stockholm University in Sweden. During this period, I will gain hands-on skills on the development of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in resource limited settings. Mount Kenya University will provide me with access to equipment, laboratory space, clinical samples, office space and weekly journal clubs and work-in-progress meetings. After the placement, Prof Jesse Gitaka, my mentor at Mount Kenya University will offer support as an expert in malaria research including a Research Officer position upon completion of the fellowship.
Quote
“The placement will enhance my skills in developing microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices that will improve the accurate and prompt diagnosis of asymptomatic malaria during pregnancy. “
Proposed start date of the Fellowship is May 2026