CENTRE FOR VIRUS RESEARCH (CVR) NAIROBI
Overview
- Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is the oldest of the centers in KEMRI. This center has eight laboratories/Units located within KEMRI Headquarters and KEMRI research campuses within Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) compound.Key facilities include:
- Arbovirus & Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
- HIV and AIDS
- HIV (Annex site)
- Viral Hepatitis
- Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Diseases (Polio & Measles Eradication)
- Viral Diarrhea
- Human Papilloma Viruses
- Influenza and other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs)
- Level 3 Containment Facility (BSL3)
- Cold Room
The Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is responsible for conducting research, capacity build and deliver service to relevant partners and stakeholders on viral diseases affecting populations in Kenya and some countries in the region, towards improved knowledge, understanding operations on; epidemiology, diagnosis, aetiology, pathogenesis, pathogen characteristics; disease surveillance, outbreak investigations prevention and control.
Mission
To improve human health and quality of life through virology research, surveillance, outbreak investigations and response and inform policy, service delivery and capacity building.
Vision
To be a leading Centre of excellence in virology research, surveillance, response to viral disease outbreaks, service delivery and capacity building.
Mandates
- Acute arboviruses & hemorrhagic fevers: epidemiology, surveillance, outbreak investigations and control.
- Influenza and other Influenza and other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), epidemiology, diagnosis, etiology, management, outbreak investigations and control.
- Viral diarrhea: studies on etiology, epidemiology, management and control; vaccine trials and molecular characterization.
- Viral hepatitis: epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, outbreak investigations and control.
- Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) diseases (Polio and Measles: Support AFP-Polio and measles surveillance and eradication programs, vaccine potency evaluation, Polio environmental surveillance.
- HIV and AIDS: Epidemiology, Phenotypic and Genotypic characterization, Prevention and Control, Drug resistance surveillance, QA/QC in HIV programs, Window period and transfusion safety studies, HIV Diagnostic services: Viral Load, EID, PCR, Operational Research in HIV/AIDS and Training.
Achievements
The center is responsible for the following key functions;
- Coordination of research, training and service delivery activities, project implementation and management and laboratory processes.
- Conduct research, train and provide service on arbovirus & haemorrhagic fever diseases: epidemiology, surveillance, provide diagnostic service, outbreak investigations and disease control.
- Conduct research, build capacity and support diagnostic service and outbreak response for Influenza and other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) to cover epidemiology, virus evolution drug resistance, disease management and control.
- Conduct viral diarrhoea: studies etiology, epidemiology, management and control; vaccine trials and molecular characterization.
- Conduct research, capacity build on viral hepatitis including: epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, outbreak investigations and control.
- Support expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) diseases (Polio and Measles) activities, support AFP-Polio and measles surveillance and eradication programs, vaccine potency evaluation, Polio environmental surveillance.
- Conduct HIV and AIDS research in epidemiology, virus evolution, Prevention and Control, Drug resistance surveillance; provide HIV Diagnostic services including Viral Load, EID, PCR, Operational Research in HIV/AIDS and Training.
- Conduct research on Human papilloma and other DNA viruses.
Ongoing Projects
COMING SOON
Ongoing Projects
COMING SOON
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS DIVISION
The division is responsible for research, capacity building and service provision around HIV and AIDS, Epidemiology, Virology, Drug Resistance Surveillance, Prevention and Control. It also provides HIV Diagnostic services for Viral Load, Early Infant Diagnosis and support Operational Research in HIV/AIDS.
Function
(i) Conduct research and capacity building in Epidemiology, virus evolution.
(ii) Drug resistance surveillance
(iii) Prevention and Control initiative including blood safety initiatives of the Ministry of Health
(iv) To provide HIV Diagnostic services including Viral Load, Early Infant Diagnosis and support Operational Research in HIV/AIDS.
ARBOVIRUSES & HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS VIRUSES DIVISION
Responsible for conducting research, training and provide service on arbovirus & haemorrhagic fever diseases: epidemiology, surveillance, provide diagnostic service, outbreak investigations and disease control
Function
(i) Conduct research and capacity building in virus epidemiology and ecology.
(ii) Conduct disease and vector surveillance
(iii) Support prevention and control initiatives.
(iv) To provide disease diagnostic services and support outbreak response
INFLUENZA AND OTHER ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISEASE DIVISION
Responsible for conducting research, building capacity and supporting diagnostic service and outbreak response for Influenza and other Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) to cover epidemiology, virus evolution drug resistance, disease management and control.
Function
(i) Conduct research and capacity building in virus epidemiology and ecology.
(ii) Conduct virus characterisation and drug resistance
(iii) Support prevention and control initiatives (vaccine composition).
(iv) To provide disease diagnostic services and support outbreak response
VIRAL DIARRHEAL DIVISION
Responsible for conducting research, building capacity and supporting diagnostic service and outbreak response for Rotaviruses and other viral diarrhoeal infections, covering disease epidemiology, virus evolution, disease management and control.
Function
(i) Conduct research and capacity building in virus epidemiology.
(ii) Conduct virus characterisation and monitor evolution
(iii) Support prevention and control initiatives (vaccine development and improvement).
(iv) To provide disease diagnostic services and support outbreak response
VIRAL HEPATITIS DIVISION
Responsible for conducting research, building capacity and supporting diagnostic service and outbreak response for hepatitis virus diseases, covering disease epidemiology, virus evolution, disease management and control.
Function
i) Conduct research and capacity building in virus epidemiology, control and prevention.
ii) Conduct virus surveillance, characterisation and pathogenesis
iii) Support blood safety initiatives of the MOH
iv) Support prevention and control initiatives (vaccines)
v) To provide disease diagnostic services and support outbreak response
POLIO MEASLES (EPI DISEASES) DIVISION
Responsible for supporting the expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) diseases (Polio and Measles) activities nationally and regionally and for Enteric viruses research and disease prevention and control activities.
Function
i) AFP-Polio surveillance; diagnostics and reporting
ii) Measles surveillance
iii) Vaccination activities and potency evaluation,
iv) Polio environmental surveillance and related eradication program activities.
v) Sample handling (logging, shipping and/or biobanking)
vi) Ensuring compliance to annual WHO accreditation requirements.
HUMAN PAPILLOMA AND OTHER DNA VIRUSES DIVISION
Responsible for conducting research on Human papilloma viruses and other DNA viruses and expand capacity to including other viruses like Herpes viruses of medical importance.
b) Function
i) Conduct research on human papilloma viruses and other DNA viruses to expand knowledge base for epidemiology, pathogenesis, surveillance and control
ii) Support diagnostic service for HPV and reproductive health programs
iii) Support vaccination programs against HPV
iv) Expand research coverage to include other DNA viruses of health importance
Dr Joel Lutomiah
– Academic and professional qualifications, PhD
– Professional/work /research experience
– Selected Publications /papers presented
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Joel+Lutomiah
View All Staff Profiles
Dr. Joel Lutomiah, PhD
Kenya
joel.lutomiah@usamru-k.org