Cancel Preloader

Management

Researcher

Prof. Isabella Oyier

Deputy Director, Kilifi & Head of Bioscience

KEMRI | Wellcome Trust

About

Prof. Isabella Oyier is Deputy Director Kilifi and the Head of the Biosciences Department at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program (KWTRP). A Professor of Molecular Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and a Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellow. Her work focuses on integrating malaria molecular epidemiology into routine surveillance in Kenya and on real-time pathogen tracking across the Wellcome Major International Programs. Isabella will continue her role as head of biosciences, in addition to her new role as deputy director.

See more

Current Work

Her research interests are in Plasmodium falciparum malaria molecular epidemiology, focusing on the spatial and temporal use of molecular tools to: 1) examine genetic variation in merozoite antigens that are potential candidates for blood stage vaccines and its impact on naturally acquired immunity; 2) define complexity of infection while examining the impact of interventions or changes in malaria epidemiology; 3) distinguish persistent infections and reinfections in both therapeutic efficacy studies and in longitudinal follow up of asymptomatic individuals; and 4) monitor drug resistance molecular markers.

See more

Recent Publications

View all 80 publications
  1. 2026
    Widespread variants of the highly polymorphic Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidate antigen MSP2 across Sub-Saharan Africa

    Zerebinski, J. Broumou, I. Kimenyi, et al.

    J Infect Dis. 2026

  2. 2026
    Widespread variants of the highly polymorphic Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidate antigen MSP2 across Sub-Saharan Africa

    Zerebinski, J. Broumou, I. Kimenyi, et al.

    J Infect Dis. 2026

  3. 2026
    Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020-2025): Clinical Features and Wave Patterns

    Lambisia, A. W. Nyiro, J. Githinji, et al.

    Open Forum Infect Dis. 2026; 13:ofag084

  4. 2026
    Pre-COVID-19 ex vivo cross-reactive IFN-gamma cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 spike overlapping peptides is more prevalent among Kenyan compared to Swedish adults

    Wanjiku, P. Orindi, B. Mwacharo, et al.

    BMC Infect Dis. 2026; 26:174

  5. 2026
    Evolving patterns of antimalarial drug resistance markers in symptomatic infections in Kenya, 2013-2022

    Magudha, J. Ndwiga, L. Akinyi, et al.

    Parasit Vectors. 2026; 19