Projects
Modelling to support malaria strategy and portfolio management
This project forms a program of modelling to inform the Gate's Foundation’s malaria product development portfolio, otherwise known as the Integrated Portfolio Management (IPM) project.
Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium (VIMC) supporting Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
In this project, our team provides malaria vaccine impact predictions to inform vaccine investment strategies for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and their partners.
Reimagining OpenMalaria and Supporting Novel Tools
This project consists of two linked research programs, working to support malaria control and elimination using OpenMalaria: our in-house, open-source, malaria simulation tool.
Published research
Performance characteristics and potential public health impact of improved pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccines targeting childhood burden
New malaria vaccine development builds on groundbreaking recommendations and roll-out of two approved pre-erythrocytic vaccines (PEVs); RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M. Whilst these vaccines are effective in reducing childhood malaria within yearly routine immunization programs or seasonal vaccination, there is little evidence on how different PEV efficacies, durations of protection, and spacing between doses influence the potential to avert uncomplicated and severe childhood malaria.
Public health impact of current and proposed age-expanded perennial malaria chemoprevention: a modelling study
In 2022, the World Health Organization extended their guidelines for perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) from infants to children up to 24 months old. However, evidence for PMC's public health impact is primarily limited to children under 15 months. Further research is needed to assess the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of PMC, and the added benefit of further age-expansion. We integrated an individual-based model of malaria with pharmacological models of drug action to address these questions for PMC and a proposed age-expanded schedule (referred as PMC+, for children 03-36 months).
Therapeutic development to accelerate malaria control through intentional intervention layering
The clinical development of novel vaccines, injectable therapeutics, and oral chemoprevention drugs has the potential to deliver significant advancements in the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These innovations could support regions in accelerating malaria control, transforming existing intervention packages by supplementing interventions with imperfect effectiveness or offering an entirely new tool.
Education and Qualifications
- 2024: Postdoctoral Scientific Collaborator - Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland
- 2022: Science of Eradication: Malaria - Harvard University (partners Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Barcelona Institute of Global Health)
- 2021: Postdoctoral Research Associate - Duke Global Health Institute, Kenya
- 2019: PhD (Epidemiology) - Universität Basel, Switzerland
- 2015: MSc (Biostatistics) - University of Nairobi, Kenya
- 2012: BSc (Applied Statistics with Information Technology (IT)) - Maseno University, Kenya
Awards/Honours
- 2022: Science of Eradication: Malaria, leadership course
- 2018: Antelope Mentorship and Leadership Program for female doctoral students for career development from Universität Basel, Switzerland
Active Collaborations
- KEMRI/Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
- Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium (VIMC)
- Applied Malaria Modelling Network (AMMnet)
- The World Health Organization