RESEARCH NEWS
- The staff in the Department of Clinical Studies consistently engages in carrying out research that contribute to livestock, wildlife and pet animal production, breeding and health improvement. They are constantly writing grant research proposals to try to earn grants that will enable them to carry out research. Most recently is a grant proposal that was spearheaded by the Prof. George Gitau in collaboration with co-researchers from, University of Nairobi (UoN), Washington State University (WSU), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). This proposal has won a large grant from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the broader FEED THE FUTURE programme (The U.S. Government’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative) to develop an Animal Health Innovation Laboratory that will carry out research on key aspects of East Coast Fever (ECF). The Laboratory will be hosted in the Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi.
- Other remarkable grants are those that have supported postgraduate students. Dr. Shepelo Getrude Peter carried her doctoral research under funding facilitated by Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and DAAD. The research was on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia pathogens in cattle from smallholder dairy farms in peri-urban Nairobi, Kenya. Other well-funded research are being carried out under the National Research Fund (NRF). These include Camel Health and Productivity Project lead by Dr. Tequiero Abuom Okumu with Co-reearchers from KALRO and the State Department of Livestock;
- Use of genomic tools to evaluate and select holstein/friesian dairy cattle for artificial insemination programs in Kenya. The Principal Investigator of this project is Dr. Wilkister Nabulindo Nakami and it is funded by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- Validation and upscale of improved technologies and management practices for reduced greenhouse gas emission, increased productivity and enhanced resilience in West Pokot and Baringo Counties. This if funded by KCSAP and the Principal Investigator is Prof. Henry M. Mutembei.
- The Bird 10,000 Genomes (B10K) Project is an initiative to generate representative draft genome sequences for all extant bird species. This project is funded by Multiagency and proposal for field data collection in East Africa and One of the Co-Researchers is Dr. Titus Adhola who is a member of the Department.