JOOTRH partner with KEMRI Walter Reed to advance medical research

KENYA — The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has hosted a team from the KEMRI Walter Reed Project, led by Martin Evans, the new station chief and Military Director at Kombewa Clinical Research Center.

The visit aimed to strengthen collaborations in medical research, particularly around sepsis, and opened doors to discussions on expanding research areas to include mental health, infectious diseases, malaria, COVID-19, and pneumonia.

The visiting delegation, which included Janet Oyieko, Doris Njoroge, Dr. Mikal Mbinji, and Dennis Juma, engaged JOOTRH’s leadership in strategic discussions about future joint research projects.

A major focus was on pursuing grant funding to support sepsis research, as well as optimizing the hospital’s robust infrastructure to support advanced studies.

As the region’s largest referral hospital, JOOTRH serves approximately 10 million people across 10 counties, underscoring its role as a valuable hub for innovative research partnerships.

Dr. Dedan Ong’ong’a, Deputy CEO of JOOTRH, welcomed the KEMRI team along with Dr. Mitchel Okumu, Director of Training and Research, Elizabeth Oyieko from the Directorate of Nursing, and John Jananga, an Internal Medicine Registrar.

Dr. Ong’ong’a commended the visiting team for their dedication to fighting infectious diseases and addressing the pressing health challenges faced by the region, particularly the high prevalence of both infectious and non-communicable diseases.

He highlighted the critical role of the hospital’s molecular biology laboratory in supporting these research initiatives.

In addition to infectious disease research, the KEMRI Walter Reed delegation expressed a strong interest in advancing studies on brain health, green health (psychiatry), and mental health, reflecting JOOTRH’s efforts to provide comprehensive psychiatric and psychosocial support.

 Dr. Mikal Mbinji, part of the delegation, shared insights on their plans to conduct a phase 1 clinical study in 2026 to address growing malaria resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), a major concern in combating malaria’s resilience.

Further discussions delved into JOOTRH’s initiatives to curb antimicrobial resistance through a dedicated antimicrobial stewardship program, which prioritizes surveillance and monitoring.

Dr. Okumu emphasized that effective antimicrobial stewardship is essential in reducing drug resistance, and the hospital’s ongoing efforts in monitoring infections play a crucial role in patient safety and public health.