Researcher
Prof. Francis Ndungu
Principal Investigator
KEMRI | Wellcome Trust
About
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
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2026
Baseline Treg frequency, Treg-associated immune checkpoint responses, and plasma IL-10 responses during controlled human malaria infection in semi-immune Kenyan adults: a secondary analysis of the CHMI-SIKA Study
Lancet Microbe. 2026; 101375
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2026
Baseline Treg frequency, Treg-associated immune checkpoint responses, and plasma IL-10 responses during controlled human malaria infection in semi-immune Kenyan adults: a secondary analysis of the CHMI-SIKA Study
Lancet Microbe. 2026; 101375
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2026
A natural experiment in Kenya reveals durable immunosuppressive effects of early childhood malaria: a longitudinal cohort study
Elife. 2026; 14
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2026
Cumulative Plasmodium falciparum infections do not drive long-term telomere shortening in Kenyan children
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2026; 16:1750881
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2026
African-specific genetic loci determine iron status and risk of severe malaria and bacteremia in African children
Nat Commun. 2026; 17