Bio

George is the Bioinformatics lead at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Science and Technology from Egerton University and a PhD in Biosciences from the Open University (UK). George works in the field of pathogen genomics and has established genomic sequencing platforms for a number of respiratory pathogens and viruses of public health importance. He worked with the GeMVi project to establish genomic and bioinformatics capacity in East-Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he established genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the country and in the region working closely with regional bodies such as Africa-CDC and WHO-AFRO to support sequencing and capacity building in the region. George is a member of several technical working groups on genomic surveillance and bioinformatics infrastructure.

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Current Work

George took a leading role in developing pipelines for SARS-CoV-2 sequence analysis He utilises bioinformatics approaches in studies of virus evolution and transmission. His current project investigates the role of minority variants in virus evolution and in reconstructing virus transmission chains.

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Recent publications

STRIKE-HBV: establishing an HBV screening programme in Kilifi, Kenya-challenges, successes and lessons learnt.
Downs, L. O., Chirro, O., Zaharani, M., Safari, B., Okanda, D., Githinji, G., Andersson, M. I., Newton, R., Etyang, A., Aliyan, N., Matthews, P. C.
Sex Transm Infect, (2024). 100:325-328

Where do those data go? Reuse of screening results from clinical trials to estimate population prevalence of HBV infection in adults in Kilifi, Kenya.
Downs, L. O., Campbell, C., Abouyannis, M., Otiende, M., Kapulu, M., Obiero, C. W., Hamaluba, M., Ngetsa, C., Andersson, M. I., Githinji, G., Warimwe, G., Baisley, K., Scott, J. A. G., Matthews, P. C., Etyang, A.
J Virus Erad, (2023). 9:100355

Symptom prevalence and secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 in rural Kenyan households: A prospective cohort study.
Gallagher, K. E., Nyiro, J., Agoti, C. N., Maitha, E., Nyagwange, J., Karani, A., Bottomley, C., Murunga, N., Githinji, G., Mutunga, M., Ochola-Oyier, L. I., Kombe, I., Nyaguara, A., Kagucia, E. W., Warimwe, G., Agweyu, A., Tsofa, B., Bejon, P., Scott, J. A. G., Nokes, D. J.
Influenza Other Respir Viruses, (2023). 17:e13185

New SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant with Spike Protein Mutation Y451H, Kilifi, Kenya, March-May 2023.
Mwanga, M. J., Lambisia, A. W., Morobe, J. M., Murunga, N., Moraa, E., Ndwiga, L., Cheruiyot, R., Musyoki, J., Mutunga, M., Guzman-Rincon, L. M., Sande, C., Mwangangi, J., Bejon, P., Ochola-Oyier, L. I., Nokes, D. J., Agoti, C. N., Nyiro, J., Githinji, G.
Emerg Infect Dis, (2023). 29:

A pan-African pathogen genomics data sharing platform to support disease outbreaks.
Christoffels, A., Mboowa, G., van Heusden, P., Makhubela, S., Githinji, G., Mwangi, S., Onywera, H., Nnaemeka, N., Amoako, D. G., Olawoye, I., Diallo, A., Mbala-Kingebeni, P., Oyola, S. O., Adu, B., Mvelase, C., Ondoa, P., Dratibi, F. A., Sow, A., Gumede, N., Tessema, S. K., Ouma, A. O., Tebeje, Y. K.
Nat Med, (2023). 29:1052-1055