简介
I have more than twenty-five years of animal health research experience, with a focus in vaccinology, gained mainly at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its predecessor the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD) based in Nairobi, Kenya, from where I retired at the end of August 2023. In addition, I hold eight years of research experience at premier USA based genomics research institutes. As a result, I have a broad range of research interests that converge on developing improved or novel methods of infectious disease control and in the use of whole genome sequence data and genomic technologies to underpin laboratory research, primarily in veterinary vaccines. Over the years I have managed multidisciplinary teams and written and managed multi-million USD grant proposals. I have published in peer-reviewed journals, participated in teaching and training workshops, been invited to present at international conferences, and mentored high school, graduate, post-graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and scientists. I have served as a member of several expert science and institutional committees and represented ILRI at many fora. Thus, I have an extensive network of collaborators and knowledge of animal health companies and funding agencies.
Positions held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Co-leader Animal and Human Health program, 2016 to 31st August 2023, when I retired.
Lead of animal health WP1 component in the SAPLING OneCGIAR initiative, 2021-2023.
Member of TAHSSL Governance Committee (TGC), 2019 to 2022, and Chair of TGC for one year.
Cluster 3 leader of vaccines & diagnostics, CRP Livestock & Fish and Livestock, 2012 to 2021.
Co-interim Deputy Director General for Biosciences, August 2014 to October 2016.
Director, Vaccine Biosciences, 2012 to 2016.
Director, Biotechnology, April 2009 to 2012.
Scientist, 1986 to 2001- recruited to the predecessor of ILRI, the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD) from Cambridge, UK.
Positions held in the USA
Associate Director, Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 2007 to March 2009.
Professor with tenure, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 2007 to March 2009.
Investigator, parasite genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), Rockville, MD, 2001 to 2007.
Examples of institutional service
Current:
2022 - Scientific Advisory Board, REPRODIVAC, an EU Horizon Europe research and innovation academic consortium with private sector and co-funded by UK Research and Innovation.
2020 - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC-UK) Veterinary Vaccinology Expert Working Group.
2020 - Steering committee of the 13th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS) to be held in S. Africa in Nov 2023.
2019 - Academic committee of the Joint International Laboratory for Animal Health and Food Safety, Ministry of Education, China. Nanjing Agricultural University.
2019 - Mentorship program of the African Academy of Sciences.
2018 - Independent Science Advisory Board to the Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust research program at Kilifi, Kenya.
2017 - Advisor to AfVANET, an African Vaccinology Network.
2017 - Board of the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN).
Past:
2022 Interview committee for appointment of Executive Deputy Director, Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust research program at Kilifi, Kenya.
2020 to 2022 Chair of ILRI COVID-19 diagnostic group, member of ILRI COVID-19 taskforce, ILRI Town Hall presentations on the science and progress in developing COVID-19 vaccines.
2021 - Biosciences for Africa (B4A) Task force at ILRI.
2019 Interview committee for appointment of Heads of Biosciences, Epidemiology and Health Systems Research Ethics at Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust research program at Kilifi, Kenya.
2018 OIE ad hoc group on prioritization of diseases for which vaccines could reduce antimicrobial use in cattle, sheep and goats.
2017 OIE ad hoc group on high throughput sequencing, bioinformatics and computational genomics.
2016 Co-organized a Keystone Symposium in Cape Town titled “New Approaches to Vaccines for Human and Veterinary Tropical Diseases”.
2015 - 2023 Executive Committee of STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health.
2014 to 2018 Represented ILRI at Board meetings of Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed).
2014 to 2017 Advisory Panel to Bioscience east and central Africa (BecA).
2014 to 2016 ILRI Institutional Management Committee.
2011 - 2023 ILRI Institutional and Research Management Committee.
2010 - 2023 ILRI Institutional Biosafety Committee, Chair.
2009 to 2012 ILRI Institutional Management Committee.
2009 Scientific review panel of Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, S. Africa.
