Research Team
Dr. Mercy Akinyi
Kenyan Primate Veterinarian and Disease Ecologist
Dr. Mercy Akinyi is a Kenyan primate veterinarian and disease ecologist leading a One Health zoonotic disease-surveillance project integrating human, wildlife, livestock, and environmental health in Kenya. With 19 years of clinical and field experience in natural and captive primate populations, she has led epidemiological surveillance programmes on zoonotic helminths, viruses, and protozoans. Her research focuses on disease-risk drivers in wild primates using parasitology, nucleic-acid extraction, PCR, and sequencing to support zoonosis control and primate conservation. As an African woman in STEM, she advances primatology while mentoring the next generation of women scientists in Africa.
Mr. Arthur Israel Wafula MSc. Microbiology
Mr. Wafula is a microbiologist and emerging research scientist specializing in molecular biology, microbiology, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). He serves as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), a WHO collaborating center under the Department of Reproductive Health & Biology. His expertise includes laboratory research, mentorship, scientific writing, proposal development, experimental design, microbial culturing, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, and field sample analysis. Adaptable and results-driven, he is committed to advancing knowledge in AMR, bacteriology, and genetic research through innovation, precision, teamwork, and continuous learning.
Maina Ashley Wendy Veterinary Medicine Professional
Maina Ashley Wendy Wambui is a veterinary medicine professional specializing in laboratory animal science at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. She contributes to clinical veterinary services, surgical support, and evidence-based animal care programs. Her expertise includes developing integrated welfare systems involving environmental enrichment, behavioral monitoring, and nutritionally balanced feeding for baboons, vervet monkeys, rodents, and reptiles. Ashley is an active member of the Kenya Laboratory Animal Science Association (KELASA), reflecting her commitment to best practices in laboratory animal care and use. She is dedicated to advancing ethical standards, scientific excellence, and global progress in animal health and welfare.
Caroline Jerono, Parasitologist, Entomologist & Biomedical/Molecular Biologist
Caroline Jerono is a Parasitologist, Entomologist, and Biomedical/Molecular Biologist serving as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), Nairobi, with over ten years of experience in parasitology, vector entomology, and biotechnology. Using a One Health approach, she specializes in molecular biology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, vector identification, parasite diagnosis, environmental sampling, and pathogen detection. Her work focuses on gastrointestinal parasite surveillance, sandfly mapping, and host-vector disease dynamics. An internationally certified biosafety professional, ISO35001 Lead Auditor, and member of professional biosafety and entomology bodies, she also contributes to mentorship, training, and institutional capacity building.
Gift Thoya Katana
Principal Laboratory Technologist
Gift Thoya Katana Gift Thoya Katana is the Principal Laboratory Technologist and Lab Manager at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). Holding a background in Industrial and Applied Biology from the Technical University of Kenya, he specializes in zoonotic research. His work includes studies on gastrointestinal nematodes in urban non-human primates, baboon models for childhood cryptosporidiosis, COVID-19 biobanking, and the Tana River Ecosystem Conservation and One Health Program. He also oversees laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, procurement, SOP development, and mentorship of laboratory students and interns.
Mary N. Chege, MSc, Ph.D. Research Fellow
Mary N. Chege, MSc, is a Ph.D. Research Fellow at the One Health Centre, Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). She holds degrees in Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry and is completing her Ph.D. in Bioinformatics at the University of Nairobi with affiliation to the University of Notre Dame’s Archie Lab. Her research uses shotgun metagenomics to study host-microbe interactions, antimicrobial resistance, and gut microbiome stability in baboons and livestock. She has contributed to SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, pathogen detection workflows, and bioinformatics capacity building. Skilled in molecular diagnostics, R, Python, and Unix workflows, she is IFBA-certified in Biorisk Management.
Purity Oreng’ Biomedical researcher and public health scientist
Purity Oreng’ is a biomedical researcher and public health scientist based in Nairobi, Kenya, currently pursuing an MPH in Reproductive Health at Kenyatta University and serving as an Assistant Research Scientist at KIPRE. Her work focuses on infectious diseases, reproductive health, and environmental exposures, with experience handling over 45,000 samples involving COVID-19, ASFV, CCHFV, herpesvirus, malaria, and baboon gastrointestinal parasites. She has also researched endometriosis and dysmenorrhea. Her current study assesses Muguka safety, microbial contamination, and male reproductive effects in rat models. Her interests center on genomic epidemiology, disease ecology, One Health, and Global Health Equity in Africa.
Sam Momanyi Biomedical research professional
Sam Momanyi is a biomedical research professional with a background in Medical Microbiology and serves as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. He integrates human, animal, and environmental health through field- and laboratory-based studies on infectious and zoonotic diseases. His expertise includes PCR, DNA extraction, PBMC isolation, flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping, physiological monitoring, data collection, and biobanking. He is also a trained phlebotomist and supports mentorship of laboratory students and interns. Sam has contributed to cardiac monitoring in baboons, SARS-CoV-2 immunological surveillance, and the Tana River One Health Program, advancing ecological and public health research.
David Kiragu Mwaura PhD Candidate and Assistant Research Scientist in Genomics, Bioinformatics, and One Health Research
David Kiragu Mwaura is a biomedical research professional with a background in Medical Microbiology and serves as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. He integrates human, animal, and environmental health through field- and laboratory-based studies on infectious and zoonotic diseases. His is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. He holds a BSc in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Nairobi and an MSc in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology from JKUAT, completed with the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Duke University. He developed DadApp, a Shiny application for paternity assignment in wild animal populations. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow (Leverhulme Programme), studying rodent–virus ecology in Uganda using satellite data, environmental surveys, and metaviromics. His expertise includes genomics, HPC, metagenomics, phylogenetics, and mentorship in One Health research.
Kelly Kanoe
GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist (MSc Candidate)
Kelly is a Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing professional currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Dedan Kimathi University. She specializes in spatial analysis and environmental modeling to address environmental and development challenges. She is proficient in ArcMap and QGIS, with a growing interest in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. She focuses on integrating these technologies with GIS to understand complex systems and support sustainable decision-making. Her work is driven by a commitment to developing practical, data-driven solutions that improve resource management and help build more resilient communities.
Pauline Muranditsi Otoli
Assistant Research Scientist, Conservation Biologist & Primatologist
Pauline is an Assistant Research Scientist, Conservation Biologist, and Primatologist at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), and Assistant Seminar Coordinator. She is pursuing an MSc in Biology of Conservation at the University of Embu and holds a BSc in Natural Resource Management from Karatina University. With over five years of experience, she has worked in botanical garden management, biodiversity monitoring, and captive animal care. Her work focuses on primate ecology, human–wildlife coexistence, climate change, and zoonotic disease ecology. She has contributed to national conservation policies and was awarded the 2025 Fonseca Species Conservation Grant for research on bushmeat trade in the lower Tana River.
