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Prof. Francis Ndungu
Principal Investigator
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Bio
Francis did his PhD in immunology at the National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK (NIMR). He then took up a post-doctoral training position at NIMR and was successful at implementing a new programme of research in quantifying antigen-specific memory B cells in a mouse model of malaria. He moved back to KWTRP (Kenya) in 2008 as a post-doctoral researcher to start and build a research group.
See moreCurrent Work
His main areas of interest are:
(i) immunological memory to malaria parasites in historically infected individuals,
(ii) host factors responsible for increased susceptibility to malaria in a small proportion of children that experience excessively more malaria than expected, and
iii) the mechanisms responsible for controlling parasite growth and inflammation in semi-immune adults following experimental infections.
These studies are providing the much-needed insight into how we can induce protective immune responses to P. falciparum malaria by vaccination in the background of the immune-regulatory state induced by natural exposure in endemic areas.
Upon the introduction of Covid-19, he was quick to use his experience and skills to initiate a project on Covid-19 immunology - understanding Sars-CoV-2 immunology in the African population. Furthermore, his group has been involved in the response to the pandemic in Kenya with involvements in Covid-19 testing, and sequencing of Sars-CoV-2 viruses.
Recent publications
Development of an oral regimen of unithiol for the treatment of snakebite envenoming: a phase 1 open-label dose-escalation safety trial and pharmacokinetic analysis in healthy Kenyan adults.
Abouyannis, M., Nyambura, Y. K., Ngome, S., Riako, D., Musyoki, J., Muiruri, C., Orindi, B., Else, L., Amara, A., Dickinson, L., Clare, R. H., Albulescu, L. O., Westhorpe, A. P., Kool, J., Adetifa, I., Ndungu, F. M., FitzGerald, R., Khoo, S., Lalloo, D. G., Casewell, N. R., Hamaluba, M.
EBioMedicine, (2025). 113:105600
Kinetics of naturally induced binding and neutralising anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and potencies among SARS-CoV-2 infected Kenyans with diverse grades of COVID-19 severity: an observational study.
Kimotho, J., Sein, Y., Sayed, S., Shah, R., Mwai, K., Saleh, M., Wanjiku, P., Mwacharo, J., Nyagwange, J., Karanja, H., Kutima, B., Gitonga, J. N., Mugo, D., Karanu, A., Moranga, L., Oluoch, V., Shah, J., Mutiso, J., Mburu, A., Nneka, Z., Betti, P., Mutinda, W. U., Issak Abdi, A., Bejon, P., Ochola-Oyier, L. I., Warimwe G. M., Nduati, E. W., Ndungu, F. M.
Wellcome Open Res, (2023). 8:350
Evaluation of copromicroscopy, multiplex-qPCR and antibody serology for monitoring of human ascariasis in endemic settings.
Mugo, R. M., Rausch, S., Musimbi, Z. D., Strube, C., Raulf, M. K., Landt, O., Gichuki, P. M., Ebner, F., Mwacharo, J., Odiere, M. R., Ndungu, F. M., Njomo, D. W., Hartmann, S.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis, (2024). 18:e0012279
Safety and immunogenicity of varied doses of R21/Matrix-M� vaccine at three years follow-up: A phase 1b age de-escalation, dose-escalation trial in adults, children, and infants in Kilifi-Kenya.
Sang, S., Datoo, M. S., Otieno, E., Muiruri, C., Bellamy, D., Gathuri, E., Ngoto, O., Musembi, J., Provstgaard-Morys, S., Stockdale, L., Aboagye, J., Woods, D., Lawrie, A., Roberts, R., Keter, K., Kimani, D., Ndungu, F., Kapulu, M., Njau, I., Orindi, B., Ewer, K. J., Hill, A. V. S., Bejon, P., Hamaluba, M.
Wellcome Open Res, (2023). 8:450
Anti-merozoite antibodies induce natural killer cell effector function and are associated with immunity against malaria.
Odera, D. O., Tuju, J., Mwai, K., Nkumama, I. N., F�rle, K., Chege, T., Kimathi, R., Diehl, S., Musasia, F. K., Rosenkranz, M., Njuguna, P., Hamaluba, M., Kapulu, M. C., Frank, R., Osier, F. H. A., Abdi, A. I., Chi, P. C., de Laurent, Z., Jao, I., Kamuya, D., Kamuyu, G., Makale, J., Murungi, L., Musyoki, J., Muthui, M., Mwacharo, J., Kariuki, S., Mwanga, D., Mwongeli, J., Ndungu, F., Njue, M., Nyangweso, G., Kimani, D., Ngoi, J. M., Musembi, J., Ngoto, O., Otieno, E., Ooko, M., Shangala, J., Wambua, J., Mohammed, K. S., Omuoyo, D., Mosobo, M., Kibinge, N., Kinyanjui, S., Bejon, P., Lowe, B., Marsh, K., Marsh, V., Abebe, Y., Billingsley, P. F., Sim, B. K. L., Hoffman, S. L., James, E. R., Richie, T. L., Audi, A., Olewe, F., Oloo, J., Ongecha, J., Ongas, M. O., Koskei, N., Bull, P. C., Hodgson, S. H., Kivisi, C., Imwong, M., Murphy, S. C., Ogutu, B., Tarning, J., Winterberg, M., Williams, T. N.
Sci Transl Med, (2023). 15:eabn5993