15TH KEMRI ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTH CONFERENCE

1. All the oral presentations should be prepared using PowerPoint software.
2. The maximum time allowed will be 10 minutes per presentation. You should plan to speak for 10 minutes. There will be a Q & A session at the end of each presentation or at the end of all presentations, at the discretion of the session chair.
3. It is advisable that authors should have a maximum of 8 slides for a 10-minute presentation.
4. We recommend a presentation format of 16:9 (screen size format).
5. Make the letters on your slides BIG ENOUGH. The suggested minimum font size is 14.
6. Try and put no more than 4 lines of text or 2 images on any one slide.
7. Video recording and related media files should be AVOIDED.
8. Avoid slideshow animations and effects It detracts from the quality of the presentation to flash numerous graphs, equations, or tables on the screen in rapid sequence to squeeze a presentation into its allotted time.
9. The slides should use the slide template provided by the KASH committee on the website https://www.kemri.go.ke/kash-15/ .

1. The 15^th KASH Conference 2025 will have all poster presentations will be displayed electronically (e-posters).
2. E-posters provide viewers with a high-quality resolution of images and text. Like traditional posters, e-posters provide a concise snapshot of your work, but instead of a physical poster pinned to a board, e-posters are a single slide presentation that is viewed on a computer.
3. E-poster should be submitted as a PowerPoint File (pptx) with an audio narration of a maximum of 5 minutes to accompany it. The narration is captured using the inbuilt recording feature in PowerPoint.
4. Your e-poster should be created on a single slide (one slide only) composed in 16:9 ratio (widescreen) using PowerPoint.
5. No animations or embedded videos will be permitted.
6. Include title, authors, and institutional affiliation at the top of your e-Poster.
7. All major sections of your posters should be clearly labeled or highlighted
8. Text and legends for figures should be short. Make sure to use large, clear, easy-to-read print for text and legends.
9. The use of color adds emphasis and draws interest to the presentation.

Please submit your PowerPoint presentations and E-Posters by 2nd February 2025 to the abstract submission portal.

Please DO NOT email your presentation to the organizers submit it via the abstract submission portal by 2nd February 2025.

NOTE presenters will NOT be allowed to load their presentations at the conference venue. submit it via the abstract submission portal by 2nd February 2025/

At the end of the session/conference, all slides will be stored by the KASH Secretariat for future reference. If you have any questions, please contact kash@kemri.go.ke and copy to mmongare@kemri.go.ke

KASH 10 BOOK OF ABSTRACT

KASH 10 PROGRAMME AT GLANCE

KASH 10 FULL PROGRAMME

To help you with your abstract submission, kindly note the following guidelines

• All abstracts must be submitted in English language.
• Abstracts can only be submitted on line via the link provided on the KEMRI web site 
• The abstract text should not exceed 3000 characters, use the following format (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion)
• Tables and graphs may be included as attachments. 
• It is the author’s responsibility to submit a correct abstract. Any errors in spelling, grammar or scientific facts will be reproduced as typed by the author. 
• Abstracts must not have been published or submitted for presentation to any other national or international meeting.

Choosing Abstract Sub-themes Categories
The abstract sub-themes categories are the general heading under which your abstract will be reviewed and later published in the conference printed matters if accepted. Please choose the sub-themes which best describes the subject of your abstract.

Notification of Acceptance or Rejection
Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent to the corresponding author. Please note that only the corresponding author will receive mail concerning the abstract and is responsible for informing all co-authors of the status of their abstract. Authors whose abstracts have been accepted will receive instructions for the presentation of their abstract.

Abstract Blinding and Review
All submitted abstracts will go through a blind peer-review process carried out by an independent reviewing committee. The Scientific Sub-committee will post reviewer’s comments to the corresponding authors through emails.  

KASH Conference Abstract Policy

An abstract cannot be submitted if it has been previously published or presented, unless there are major updates in the data, and may not be presented elsewhere after acceptance for KASH. If preliminary or partial data has been published, the author is required to indicate the details of the conference, meeting or journal. 

KASH Conference Publication

All the accepted abstracts will be published in a special edition of the peer-reviewed African Journal for Health Sciences. If you have any questions regarding your abstract submission, please contact the abstract support team at kash@kemri.go.ke 

KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference mission is to mainstream the scientific and health research agenda of KEMRI by disseminating, sharing and digesting various scientific outputs and other allied products. The mission also includes networking and strengthening partnerships and collaborations with the aim of improving health and quality of life of humans.

The conference is open to research scientists, health professionals, graduate and postgraduate students undertaking scientific and health related course.

KASH provides a great opportunity for sharing, cross learning and mentoring of younger scientists as well as a platform for discussion of current health challenges, the exchange of new knowledge and discussion on the way forward. This year’s theme is “Research Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Health Systems: a Community-Driven Agenda.”

In view of improving the quality of presentation, capacity building and research dissemination from young scientists, KASH initiated a Rising Star Scientific Award which is open to the young upcoming scientists. The young upcoming scientists are required to apply for this award and submit abstracts on the online portal so that they may be enlisted for consideration by the KASH Rising Star Selection Panel. This Panel is mandated to review and recommend the Guidelines and Criteria which will be used for nomination and selection of Young Scientist Award. These guidelines together with the registration form will be posted along will the call of abstracts.

During KASH Conference, a Rising Star Scientific Session will be included in the Program which will provide a forum for the young upcoming scientists to make oral presentations.

1. The Young Investigator should be a Kenyan citizen undertaking his/her research in Kenya
2. The upper age limit of the young investigator applying for the award is 40 years for female and 35 years for male investigators.
3. Registered/Enrolled in a recognized University locally or internationally as a Post-Graduate Student pursuing either PhD or MSc in any of the six (6) Research Programme Areas of KEMRI (www.kemri.go.ke). Proof of studentship maybe requested by the Panel.
4. The duly filled registration form (ANNEX 1), accompanied with an abstract written in accordance with KASH Abstract Guidelines visit https://www.kemri.go.ke/kash-15/ to reach the team Leader of the Selection Panel by email to kash@kemri.go.ke not later than 1st December for the year preceding KASH Conference (1st December 2024).
5. Should not have won an award during the previous KASH Conferences i.e. KASH 1-14.
6. The abstract/paper submitted must be by the young Investigator as the lead author of paper and the research work must be certified by the Mentor/ Supervisor / Investigator /Head.
7. Young Investigator can present only one paper in their oral session.
8. Each nominee is required to make an oral presentation (5 minutes) about his/her research work which will be rated by at least 3 independent reviewers.
9. The reviewers will consolidate their marks and rank them according to merit.

The top three presenters will be identified and given an award during the KASH Closing Ceremony. The best presenter will be awarded a token of KES 50,000 plus a 15th KASH plaque. The 2^nd and 3^rd best presenters will be awarded KES 30,000 and 20,000 respectively and certificates of merit as shown in the table below.

SN Category Monetary token Other Award

Cecilia K. Mbae, PhD

KASH Chairperson    

Dr. Cecilia Mbae holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry/Zoology and Masters in Medical parasitology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. She holds a PhD in Molecular and life sciences from the Open University, UK. Her PhD work focused on Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and Giardia among HIV positive and negative children living in urban informal settlements in Nairobi. Cecilia Joined KEMRI, Centre for Microbiology Research in 2004 as a Research officer, and is now a Senior Research Scientist in the same department.  She is involved in various projects including mapping of salmonella and other enteric infections in Mukuru informal settlements, and is a PI at the Cystic Echinococcossis in sub-Saharan Africa Research initiative (CESSARi), which entails mapping of the disease in different areas and hosts in the participating countries.  World Association of Echinococcosis.

Damaris Matoke Muhia, PhD

KASH Organizing Secretary

Damaris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Masters in Biotechnology from the University of Mysore, India. She holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Her PhD work focused on population genetics and insecticide resistance of malaria vectors in Western Kenya. Damaris joined KEMRI, Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Molecular Entomology laboratory in the year 2006 as an Assistant Research Officer and later rose to the positions of Senior Research Officer within the same department. She is involved in various projects encompassing monitoring of insecticide resistance, mapping of malaria vectors and studying of behavior changes of mosquitoes and sandflies  in relation to vector control systems in Kenya. Damaris is a member of the Pan African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA).

Charles Mwaniki Mbogo PhD

KASH Committee Member

Charles is a public health entomologist with over 30 years’ experience in the conduct of entomological studies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea. He is a Chief Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme. He heads the Vector Biology and Ecology Department and the Vector Public Health unit at KEMRI Wellcome Trust, Nairobi. He pioneers research in the ecology and behaviour of mosquitoes and other disease vectors. He has developed and implemented vector surveillance systems at local and national scales in the Eastern Africa region. He serves on various national and international technical committees and maintains a keen interest in translating research into policy and practice. He maintains a keen interest in translating research into policy and practice and played an important role in the formulation of national policy on Integrated Vector Management (IVM). He is the current President of the Pan African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA), an association of African entomology professionals dedicated to Improving human health through suppression of mosquitoes and mosquito borne diseases.

Dr. Joseph Mwangangi, PhD

KASH Committee Member

Joseph Mwangangi graduated with BSc (Zoology, Botany and Geography) from Kenyatta University in 1997. He joined KEMRI in 1998. Mwangangi graduated with PhD degree in Medical Entomology from Kenyatta University in 2007. His research interest is in malaria vector biology and ecology, novel approaches to the control of vector borne diseases and the monitoring of insecticide resistance. His current research interests include IVM within a community based model, empowering communities and public health stakeholders in disease control. He is TWAS Young Affiliate Fellow for Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and the TWAS Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa (TWAS-ROSSA) for period 2011 – 2015. He is an Official for the PAMCA, Kenyan Chapter and member of coordinating committee for PAMCA.

Carolyne Wandera

KASH Committee Member

Carolyne Wandera holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce Marketing Option (First Class Hons) and a Masters in Business Administration from the University Of Nairobi. She is also a certified Lead Auditor in ISO 9001:2015. Her interest is in Communication and Quality Management Systems. Currently working as senior Corporate Communications Officer at the Institute, she is involved in the publicity of the Institute and dissemination of research output.