Research project: Genetic characterisation of multi-drug resistant trypanosome variants in endemic regions of Kenya.

Sarah Wamwenje is a DRIP MSc Scholar supervised by Dr Benard Kulohoma (icipe and University of Nairobi, Kenya) and Dr Lillian Wambua (icipe and University of Nairobi). Sarah’s research interests include adaptive evolutionary mechanisms of parasitic organisms. She is currently researching the genetic characterization of multi-drug resistant trypanosome variants in endemic regions of coastal Kenya. This study proposes to eventually determine the relative contribution by livestock trypanocidal drugs to the prevalence of trypanosome multi-drug resistance, and attempts to provide viable targets for the development of variant specific diagnostic tools. She is registered for a MSc in Bioinformatics at the University of Nairobi and is supported by a scholarship from RUFORUM http://blog.ruforum.org/2015/10/13/building-the-capacity-of-the-next-generation-of-scientists-for-africa-ruforums-hand-into-the-future/.

Sarah completed her undergraduate studies in BSc Plant Biotechnology at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.