Nairobi, Kenya | Clinical research | Global health
Clinical research evidencefor women's and adolescent health.
I am a medical doctor and clinical research scientist with more than a decade of experience coordinating multicentre vaccine, HIV and cervical cancer prevention studies. My work runs from protocol implementation and site initiation through participant safety, regulatory and ethics oversight, quality management, dissemination and close-out, with a focus on translating evidence into sustainable health interventions.
Professional profile
A clinician's eye with a research coordinator's discipline.
I work where clinical care, study design and implementation meet. Over ten years at the Kenya Medical Research Institute I have coordinated and supported multicentre studies from protocol implementation and site initiation through participant engagement, safety oversight, ethics and regulatory submissions, quality management, data review, documentation, dissemination and close-out.
My research experience spans HPV and cervical cancer prevention, vaccine research, HIV and STI prevention, PrEP, adolescent and reproductive health, diagnostics and implementation science. I have coordinated investigators, sponsors, clinical teams, laboratories, regulators and community-facing stakeholders across community, facility, county and national levels.
I hold a Master of Public Health in Global Health from the University of Washington, a Master of Science in Tropical and Infectious Diseases and an MBChB from the University of Nairobi, and I have contributed to 17+ peer-reviewed publications across journals including NEJM Evidence, The Lancet HIV, the Journal of Adolescent Health and Implementation Science.
Multicentre coordination, site initiation and readiness, enrolment targets, timelines and operational risk management.
ICH-GCP, human-subject protection, institutional review board experience and ethics and regulatory submissions and amendments.
Scientific writing, stakeholder dissemination and county-level engagement that moves findings towards implementation.
Research focus
Where my work concentrates
Research areas spanning vaccine trials, cervical cancer prevention, HIV and STI prevention, adolescent health and implementation science.
HPV & cervical cancer
HPV and cervical cancer prevention
Screening and screen-and-treat implementation, thermal ablation, HPV genotyping, precancer treatment access and vaccination strategy in women and girls at higher risk.
Vaccine trials
Vaccine research and clinical trials
Single-dose HPV vaccination, immunogenicity and reactogenicity, B-memory cell response and longitudinal follow-up in populations living with HIV.
HIV, STI & adolescents
HIV, STI and adolescent health
HIV prevention and treatment, PrEP adherence, STI acquisition and persistence, sexual and reproductive health among adolescent girls and young women.
Implementation
Implementation research
Mixed-methods design, provider and stakeholder perspectives, barriers and facilitators, and evidence products designed for policy and programme scale-up.
Selected clinical research projects
Studies coordinated and supported
Multicentre trials and implementation programmes across HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention and HIV prevention in Kenya.
HPV vaccine response
MERCK IV Study
Observational study of the effects of HPV vaccination in young people living with HIV in Kenya, assessing effectiveness and B-memory cell response to quadrivalent HPV vaccine approximately nine years after vaccination in boys and girls vaccinated at ages 9 – 14 years.
Single-dose strategy
KEN SHE single-dose HPV vaccine trial
Multicentre randomised clinical trial evaluating a single-dose HPV vaccination strategy among young women in Kenya. Coordinated field implementation, clinical teams, participant engagement, protocol implementation, safety procedures and stakeholder communication.
Sub-Investigator
SIIPL quadrivalent HPV vaccine trial
Partially double-blind, randomised, multicountry Phase 3b study of immunogenicity, safety and reactogenicity of SIIPL quadrivalent HPV vaccine in women living with HIV aged 15 – 25 years, comparing immune responses to HPV 16 and 18 against Gardasil.
Cervical cancer screening
TIBA cervical cancer prevention study
Prospective stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial evaluating HPV-based screening and screen-and-treat approaches with thermal ablation across facilities, including site performance, quality assurance, laboratory coordination and county-level dissemination.
Facility network
CASCADE cervical cancer prevention studies
Studies among women living with HIV across four scientific focus areas: increasing screening uptake, management of screen positives, precancer treatment access and optimisation of precancer treatments. Coordinated site initiation in four health facilities and standardised clinical and laboratory procedures.
Provider perspectives
HPV vaccination implementation research
Mixed-methods research exploring health care provider knowledge, perceptions, acceptability, barriers and facilitators related to HPV vaccination, translating qualitative findings into actionable recommendations for implementation and scale-up.
Laboratory science
HPV laboratory and diagnostics portfolio
Experience with Abbott Alinity, Seegene Allplex II and amplicon sequencing platforms, HPV antibody testing in vaccine research, human leukocyte antigen typing on archived PAXgene samples and a feasibility pilot of highly multiplexed amplicon sequencing for high-risk HPV genotyping.
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Professional experience
A decade of clinical research delivery
From frontline clinical care and health facility management to multicentre clinical research coordination and ethics review.
Clinical Research Coordinator / Clinical Study Manager
July 2016 – June 2026Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI-PHRD), Nairobi
- Served as a review committee member of the Scientific and Ethics Review Unit (SERU), the KEMRI institutional review board, reviewing research protocols for scientific validity, ethical principles, informed consent, participant safety and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinated clinical study implementation across sites, covering protocol execution, study documentation, participant engagement, clinical team coordination, timelines, enrolment targets, operational risks and issue escalation.
- Led site initiation training and readiness activities, preparing multidisciplinary teams on study objectives, protocols, participant pathways, study tools, documentation requirements, safety procedures and operational responsibilities.
- Trained and mentored health care workers, research staff, study coordinators and clinical teams on protocols, SOPs, GCP, human-subject protection and quality requirements.
- Developed, reviewed and implemented SOPs, study tools, training materials and operational guidance, including refresher training to address implementation gaps, protocol deviations and quality issues.
- Coordinated ethics and regulatory submissions, amendments, approvals and follow-up with investigators, research teams, regulatory bodies and institutional stakeholders.
- Worked across community, facility, county and national levels, engaging health care providers, county health leadership, policymakers and technical partners to strengthen study ownership and sustainability.
- Supported dissemination of findings through scientific, county and stakeholder forums, contributing to 17+ peer-reviewed publications and presentations at 20+ national and international scientific meetings.
Branch Manager / Medical Officer
November 2010 – June 2016Avenue Healthcare Services, Kenya
- Managed day-to-day health care branch operations while providing clinical care, supervising staff, coordinating resources and maintaining service and quality standards.
- Managed branch-level service delivery, quality and operational performance, coordinating staff, patients, suppliers and other stakeholders.
- Supported implementation of clinical and operational policies and procedures, managed operational resources and contributed to service development activities.
- Balanced clinical quality, patient experience, operational realities and organisational objectives in a fast-paced health care environment.
Medical Officer / Internship
January 2009 – October 2010Ministry of Medical Services, Kenya
- Provided clinical care across medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology in a public-sector hospital setting.
- Supported public health, vaccination, community outreach and health education activities within multidisciplinary clinical teams.
Scientific output
Selected publications
Contributions across HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention, HIV and STIs, adolescent health, vaginal microbiome science and implementation science. Search by topic, journal or author.
Showing 18 publications
Barriers and facilitators to implementing a single-visit, screen-and-treat approach with thermal ablation for cervical cancer prevention in Kenya
Adhiambo HF, Owidi E, Okello P, Coe M, Shin MB, Oluoch LM, Thuo NB, Ihaji V, Kerubo MB, Kinyua A, Caucutt J, Heitner J, Odeny T, Weiner B, Ngure K, Mugo N, Gimbel S. PLOS Global Public Health. 2025 Sep 9;5(9):e0005166.
DOIAcceptability of single-dose HPV vaccination schedule among health-care professionals in Kenya: a mixed-methods study
Umutesi G, Weiner BJ, Oluoch L, Bukusi E, Onono M, Njoroge B, et al, Barnabas RV. JNCI Monographs. 2024;2024(67):358-370.
DOIThe potential impact of a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule on cervical cancer outcomes in Kenya: a mathematical modelling and health economic analysis
Umutesi G, Hathaway CL, Heitner J, Jackson R, Miano CW, Mugambi W, et al, Barnabas RV. Vaccines. 2024;12(11):1248.
DOIAntibodies from chlamydia-infected individuals facilitate phagocytosis via Fc receptors
Hybiske K, Paktinat S, Newman K, Patton D, Khosropour C, Roxby AC, Mugo NR, Oluoch L, Ngure K, Suchland R, Hladik F, Vojtech L. Infection and Immunity. 2024;92:e00503-23.
DOILongitudinal assessment of bacterial vaginosis prior to and during incident pregnancy: an observational study in Kenyan adolescent girls and young women
Oluoch L, Tapia K, Kiptinness C, Casmir E, Maina SG, Makena L, et al, Roxby A. BMJ Open. 2023;13(10):e071746.
DOIImplementation and scale-up of a single-visit, screen-and-treat approach with thermal ablation for sustainable cervical cancer prevention services: a protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in Kenya
Shin MB, Oluoch LM, Barnabas RV, et al. Implementation Science. 2023;18:26.
DOIAdolescent girls and young women in Kenya demonstrate rapid STI incidence following first sex: data from a longitudinal cohort
Wang M, Tapia K, Oluoch LM, Micheni M, Selke S, Kiptinness C, Chohan B, Wald A, Ngure K, Mugo NR, et al. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2023.
DOILow prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in Kenyan adolescent girls, and rapid incidence after first sex
Roxby AC, Mugo NR, Oluoch LM, Tapia K, Wang M, Selke S, Chohan B, Micheni M, Sycuro L, Yuh T, Casmir E, Kimani E, Maina SG, Kiptinness C, Ngure K, Wald A. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023.
DOI"I was just concerned about getting pregnant": attitudes toward pregnancy and contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women in Thika, Kenya
Daniel AK, Casmir E, Oluoch L, et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2023;23:493.
DOIHPV vaccination in Kenya: a study protocol to assess stakeholders' perspectives on implementation drivers of HPV vaccination and the acceptability of the reduced dose strategy among providers
Umutesi G, Oluoch L, Weiner BJ, Bukusi E, Onono M, Njoroge B, Mecca L, Ngure K, Mugo NR, Barnabas RV. Frontiers in Health Services. 2023;3:1233923.
DOIGlycogen-degrading pullulanase A is variably present and correlated with lactic acid in vaginal samples from young African women
Sycuro L, Lithgow K, Cochinamogulos A, Muirhead K, Konschuh S, Oluoch L, Mugo N, Roxby A. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2023.
Efficacy of single-dose HPV vaccination among young African women
Barnabas RV, Brown ER, Onono MA, Bukusi EA, Njoroge B, Winer RL, Galloway DA, Pinder LF, Donnell D, Wakhungu I, Congo O, Biwott C, Kimanthi S, Oluoch L, Heller KB, Leingang H, Morrison S, Rechkina E, Cherne S, Schaafsma TT, McClelland RS, Celum C, Baeten JM, Mugo N. NEJM Evidence. 2022 Jun;1(5):EVIDoa2100056.
DOIStarting to have sexual intercourse is associated with increases in cervicovaginal immune mediators in young women: a prospective study and meta-analysis
Hughes SM, Levy CN, Calienes FL, Martinez KA, Selke S, Tapia K, Chohan BH, Oluoch L, Kiptinness C, Wald A, Ghosh M, Hardy L, Ngure K, Mugo NR, Hladik F, Roxby AC. eLife. 2022;11:e78565.
DOIDoes providing laboratory confirmed STI results impact uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Kenyan adolescent girls and young women? A descriptive analysis
Oluoch LM, Roxby A, Mugo N, Wald A, Ngure K, Selke S, Chohan B, Kiptinness C, Tapia K, Micheni M, Maina SG, Casmir E. Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2021 Sep;97(6):467-468.
DOIEffect of SMS reminders on PrEP adherence in young Kenyan women (MPYA study): a randomised controlled trial
The Lancet HIV. 2021 Mar;8(3):e130-e137. Study conducted within the KEMRI research programme.
DOIProtection at first sexual intercourse among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya
Casmir E, Daniel AK, Ongolly F, Thuo N, Oluoch L, Kiptinness C, Wald A, Mugo NR, Roxby AC, Ngure K. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2021 Jan;50(1):219-227.
DOISexually transmitted infections among Kenyan adolescent girls and young women with limited sexual experience
Yuh T, Micheni M, Selke S, Oluoch L, Kiptinness C, Magaret A, Chohan B, Ngure K, Wald A, Mugo NR, Roxby AC. Frontiers in Public Health. 2020 Jul;8:303.
DOIImplementation of a comprehensive safer conception intervention for HIV-serodiscordant couples in Kenya: uptake, use and effectiveness
Heffron R, Ngure K, Velloza J, Kiptinness C, Quame-Amalgo J, Oluoch L, Thuo N, Njoroge J, Momanyi R, Gakuo S, Mbugua S, Morrison S, Haugen H, Chohan B, Celum C, Baeten JM, Mugo N. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2019 Apr;22(4):e25261.
DOINo publications match that search. Try a different topic, journal or year.
Dissemination and scientific meetings
Presented at 20+ national and international meetings
Selected forums where findings from HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention and HIV research have been presented, including invited and plenary presentations.
African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium Conference
Invited presentation on cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination evidence in Kenya.
HIV Scientific Forum
Plenary presentation on research findings across HIV prevention and cervical cancer screening in women living with HIV.
Mombasa Research Collaborative Meeting
Invited presentation on single-dose HPV vaccination and implementation considerations for Kenya.
International scientific conferences
CROI, Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum, AIDS, HIVR4P and the International Papillomavirus Conference.
Credentials and training
Education, licensure and professional development
Formal training in medicine, tropical and infectious diseases, global health, leadership and implementation science, with active professional registration and memberships.
KMPDC registered
ICH-GCP
Human subjects protection
SERU ethics reviewer
University of Washington
Master of Public Health, Global Health
2020 – 2021. Global health research fundamentals, advanced track, and leadership and management.
University of Nairobi
Master of Science, Tropical and Infectious Diseases
2013 – 2015. Specialist training in tropical medicine, infectious disease epidemiology and clinical research.
University of Nairobi
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
2003 – 2008. Registered medical practitioner with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.
Professional development
Global health, implementation science and ethics
Global Health Delivery, Harvard University. Implementation Science School, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases. Good Clinical Practice and Human Subjects Protection, CITI. Fundamentals of Global Health Research, University of Washington.
References
Professional referees
Senior research leaders who can speak to clinical research coordination, ethics oversight and study implementation.
Prof Marianne Mureithi
University of Nairobi
Dr Betty Njoroge
KEMRI — Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi
Dr Maricianah Onono
KEMRI — Centre for Microbiology Research, Nairobi
Contact
Open to clinical research, trial coordination and collaboration.
For research collaboration, study coordination, training, ethics and regulatory support, scientific writing or manuscript development, reach me by email or LinkedIn.