Employing (Home) Organisation: University of Mbujimayi
Project title: Advancing malaria genomic surveillance through Oxford Nanopore sequencing solutions in Kasai, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MalariOmic Project).
I am a medical epidemiologist trained at the University of Mbujimayi in the DRC, as well as from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. I earned a PhD in Public Health in 2021 and completed postdoctoral training at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan. My research focuses on molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant malaria. Prof. Joris Likwela’s dedication to public health and malaria research has greatly inspired me. I completed the AREF’s Writing Skills training in 2024. My work : https://nadinekayiba.pro/.
Summary of Project Destination
Malaria remains a major public health challenge in the DRC, particularly in the Kasai region. This fellowship aims to develop a practical framework for monitoring molecular markers of drug-resistant malaria in remote areas, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ (ONT) real-time genetic sequencing. This can enable exploring known drug resistance genes and identify novel resistance mechanisms. This is particularly relevant for Kasai, a region suspected of being a hotspot of artemisinin-resistant malaria involving yet unknown genetic mechanisms. At the end of this fellowship, I will establish a malaria research center in the region to equip local scientists with molecular tools, foster collaborations, and implement malaria control strategies. This initiative will strengthen malaria surveillance and contribute to its sustainable elimination.
Summary of Fellowship Plan
I will be placed at the Mount Kenya University’s Malaria Elimination Center to gain hands-on experience in ONT-based sequencing and bioinformatics under Prof. Jesse Gitaka and Bernard Kanoi. Clinical samples from the DRC will be analyzed, and a partnership between my home university and MKU will be formalized. Upon returning to my home university, I will establish a malaria research unit within a developing pathogen sequencing laboratory, laying a strong foundation for securing future grants and driving new projects forward.
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“This internship will enhance my expertise in advanced malaria sequencing, enabling real-time resistance monitoring and guiding targeted malaria control strategies within the DRC.”
Dr. KAYIBA KALENDA Nadine expects to start her fellowship in December 2025