WELCOME TO THE CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development (CBRD) is one of the research centers of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The Centre is located within the KEMRI Headquarters complex in Nairobi, off Mbagathi Road.
RESEARCH MANDATES
CBRD is mandated to undertake basic and biotechnology-related research on human diseases in Kenya, with the overall goal to contribute in the improvement of human health and welfare. The Centre’s primary mission is: 1) to apply modern science and biotechnology to discover, develop and improve tools and strategies for diagnosis, prevention and control of major human diseases in Kenya and the region; and 2) to improve our basic understanding of the biology of disease causing agents of public health importance in Kenya and the region, including their responses to intervention (e.g. drugs or vaccines), host responses and disease processes (e.g. immunity, pathogenesis, patho-physiology, host-pathogen interactions), and disease epidemiology.
In addition, the Centre co-ordinates and advises on issues related to basic biomedical and biotechnological research, pre-clinical studies, quality control and bio-safety. From time to time, the Centre also, provides specialized laboratory services and expertise to the scientific community and the general public. It also mentors, trains and supervises both undergraduate and post-graduate students from local colleges and universities.
RESEARCH FACILITIES
Facilities in CBRD include 5 research laboratories, all equipped with basic research equipment (such as centrifuges, microscopes, pH meters, incubators, laminar flow hoods, refrigerators and freezers), several specialized equipment which include an ELISA reader, several thermocyclers and their accessories, a flow cytometer, a scintillation counter, high-speed centrifuges and an autoclave. Other facilities available are a radio-isotope laboratory, a facility for the care of experimental animals, a cold room, insectaries, and snail maintenance rooms.
Although the radio-isotope lab and the experimental animal facility are housed within CBRD, they serve all the research centers of the Institute, and the scientific community at large. All research activities involving handling of radio-isotopes are conducted in the radio-isotope lab. The facility is equipped with a scintillation counter, radiation protection shields, a refrigerator, radio-isotope storage, and a radio-isotope waste disposal facility.
In the experimental animal care facility, 5 different species and strains of laboratory animals are maintained for research purpose (mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits). These are maintained according to internationally acceptable practices, and any research with animal use component has to be approved by the Institute’s Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). The ACUC has ethical responsibilities in matters concerning animal experimentation, and advises the Institute on animal care and use issues.
SEARCH FOCUS AND EXPERTISE
Current research in the Centre focuses on HIV/AIDS, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and lymphatic filariasis. Research expertise includes molecular parasitology, molecular entomology, cellular immunology, biotechnology, biochemistry, and malacology. Broadly speaking, research in CBRD aims to develop and improve diagnostic assays, to understand immune responses and disease processes, to characterize pathogens and their responses to chemotherapeutic interventions, to understand vector biology and ecology, develop strategies for pathogen and vector control, and to exploit biodiversity for the discovery of new drugs against diseases.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
CBRD offers the following specialized services to interested researchers, institutions or the general public: (1) analysis of CD4/CD8 T-cells in HIV/AIDS as a service to the scientific community and to the general public, (2) training in flow cytometry technology, (3) training of university undergraduate and polytechnic students on industrial attachment, (4) research training for university post-graduate students, (5) supplies vertebrate animals (mice, hamsters, guinea pigs) for research or teaching purposes to interested researchers or institutions.
For further information please contact: Dr. Gerald Mkoji, gmkoji@kemri.org
KEY PERSONNEL
Dr. Gerald Mkoji, Chief Research Officer
Dr. Kimani Gachuhi, Chief Research Officer
Dr. Solomon Mpoke, Chief Research Officer
Dr. Joseph Mwatha, Principal Research Officer
Dr. Christopher Anjili, Principal Research Officer
Dr. Luna Kamau, Senior Research Officer
Dr. Sabah Omar, Senior Research Officer
Mr. Philip Ngumbi, Senior Research Officer
Dr. Willy Tonui, Senior Research Officer
Dr. Bernard Okech, Senior Research Officer
Dr. Alex Wamachi, Senior Research Officer
Mr. Jim Kagai, Senior Research Officer
Mrs Magdalene Kinyanjui, Chief Laboratory Technologist
Mr. Ben Mungai, Chief Laboratory Technologist
Mr Lucas Ogutu, Senior Technician, Animal Care
Mr. Justus Kitoto, Senior Accountant
Mr. Justus Namale, Administrative & Accounts Assistant
