Training, Technology Transfer and Infrastructure Development

Capacity building through collaborative research, training, infrastructure development, and technology transfer are top priorities for the site. To this end, we have worked closely with the UW’s International AIDS Research and Training Program (IARTP) and the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) to support the development of a highly productive collaborative HIV research program linking investigators from Kenya and the United States.

Training

 

Since the Mombasa HIV/STD Research Site was established over 50 IARTP training appointments have been awarded to Kenyan investigators and key collaborators.  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 IRB exchanges
  • 1 Fogarty postdoctoral grant to conduct a study on HPV vaccine preparedness among youth in Mombasa County.

 

Workshops, Seminars, and Certificate Courses:

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:

  • Journal Club
    • A monthly session to discuss recent publications in the field of HIV & STD.
  • Teaching Conference
    • 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.
  • Principles of STI and HIV Research
    • Annually we send staff members to the training in Seattle every July.
    • Staff members who have attended include: Fatma Mwidadi, Khamisi Mwinyikai, Esther Mutunga, Juma Shafi, Lucy Adala, Sarah Nteka, and Caroline Ngacha.
    • Beginning in 2014, we have offered an asynchronous, hosted webcast of this course to Mombasa County health professionals.
  • Clinical management of HIV and STIs (MED 553)
    • During the first quarter of 2017, we hosted for the sixth time this free University of Washington graduate certificate course
    • We have previously offered the course in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
    • Participants have included >130 doctors, nurses, counselors, and COs from Mombasa and elsewhere.
  • Leadership and Management in Health
    • In 2014, twice in 2015, 2016, and 2017 we offered this course from the University of Washington.
    • This course has trained >130 participants from diverse backgrounds including doctors in both private and public hospitals, nurses and administrators.
  • Fundamentals of Implementation Science
    • In the first quarter of 2016, we offered this 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.
  • Introduction to Epidemiology
    • For the first time in 2018, this course from the Department of Global Health, University of Washington will be offered to 30 selected health professionals. This highly sought after course attracted over 90 applicants.
  • Principles of HIV Research Course
    • This week-long course focused on HIV care, research, and clinical trials.
    • The course has been held in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
  • Bioethical Review Workshop in July of 2002 and the Ethics and Research Workshop in May of 2004
    • The two workshops addressed human subjects’ research ethics.
    • The primary objective of these workshops was to stimulate discussion on ethical issues and research practices.
  • Pambazuko Nurses Training Workshop
    • In 2006, the 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, the Kenyan military, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 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, 2017.  We look forward to scaling up our HIV viral load testing in the coming months.
  • We will be screening patients for high-risk HPV sub-types 16 and 18 using Arbor Vita OncoE6 assay on urine and genital specimens as a means of triage to additional cervical screening procedures. We are also validating the use of a novel portable miniature colposcope (Trans Vaginal Digital Colposcope) in screening for cervical lesions.
  • 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 O. Ndinya-Achola Building (pictured below). 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)