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Management

Researcher

Dr. Mainga Hamaluba

Head Of Clinical Research

KEMRI | Wellcome Trust

About

Mainga Hamaluba MBChB MD FRCPCH Head of Clinical Research. Mainga is a paediatrician and works on clinical trials of vaccines, human infections studies and neonatal care. She is Principal Investigator (PI) and lead of the R21 clinical development programme in Kenya which includes the first evaluation of R21 in Africa (Phase 1b and the ongoing phase 3 trials). This is complemented by a vaccine efficacy Human Infection Study where she is Co-PI. Furthermore, she is PI for a phase 1/2 (First-In-Human and phase 2 trial of the leading tetravalent candidate shigella vaccine); sponsored by LimmaTech Biologics Ag. She also has clinical oversight of the broad portfolio of KWTRP team Human Infection Study platforms for malaria and shigella. These complementary programs continue to accelerate the clinical development of malaria and shigella vaccines.

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Current Work

Her current research focus is part of the Calestous Juma Fellowship funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This fellowship supports setting up a platform trial of neonatal interventions in coastal Kenya with a plan to expand this regionally to reduce neonatal mortality. She is currently supervising 1 PhD student working on snakebite research and has co-supervised MSc and PGDip studentships. She is currently PI or Co-PI of 9 clinical trials.

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Recent Publications

View all 47 publications
  1. 2026
    Controlled human malaria infection in adults identify combinations of merozoite antigens associated with clinical immunity

    Ogwang, R. Nkumama, I. N. Mwai, et al.

    Nat Commun. 2026; 17

  2. 2026
    Oral rehydration for severe malnutrition in children with moderate and severe dehydration (GASTROSAM): a phase 2, open-label, superiority randomised controlled trial

    Maitland, K. Sainna, H. Connon, et al.

    Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2026; 10:319-329

  3. 2026
    B and T cell responses to pre-erythrocytic R21/Matrix-M and blood-stage RH5.1/Matrix-M malaria vaccines in endemic settings

    Bundi, C. K. Munoz, O. Kibwana, et al.

    Front Immunol. 2026; 17:1743327

  4. 2026
    Determining the dose-response relationship for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: a nested analysis of the fractional dose PCV trial

    Martinez-de-Albeniz, I. Bottomley, C. Lucinde, et al.

    Vaccine. 2026; 73:128186

  5. 2026
    Malaria vaccine protection against intradermal or venous parasites: a randomized phase 2b human challenge trial

    Kapulu, M. C. Orenge, F. Kimani, et al.

    Nat Med. 2026; 32:178-185