Improving blood donation and transfusion in Kenya
Official title: Pathways for innovation in Blood Transfusión Systems in Kenya (PITS Kenya)
Funded at Strathmore University · NIH-11176798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing ways to collect, test, and deliver more safe donated blood for patients across Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Strathmore University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nairobi, Kenya) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $251,839 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HL151595-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include blood donors, people who may need transfusions (such as pregnant women with hemorrhage, children with severe anemia, and people with sickle cell disease), and health workers at Kenyan blood banks and hospitals.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside Kenya or who do not rely on blood transfusions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project looks at every step from people who give blood to how blood reaches hospitals, with a goal of making more safe blood available. Teams from Strathmore University and partner organizations will map current practices, talk with donors, patients, and health workers, and collect data across urban and rural sites. They will try new approaches like better donor recruitment, improved testing and storage, and faster delivery systems to see which changes work in real clinics. When successful changes are found, the team plans to expand them to other blood banks and hospitals in Kenya.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could increase the supply of safe blood and reduce deaths from bleeding and severe anemia in Kenya.
How similar studies have gone: Other programs have improved donation rates and blood safety in some countries, but broad, system-wide implementation efforts like this across Kenya are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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Strathmore University
Nairobi, Kenya Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kivuli, Tecla Chelagat — Strathmore University
- Study coordinator: Kivuli, Tecla Chelagat
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving blood donation and transfusion services in Kenya
This project works to make blood donation and transfusion safer and more available for people across Kenya who need blood.
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Improving blood transfusion systems in Kenya
This study is working to improve the way blood is collected and delivered in Kenya, so that patients can get the safe blood they need, especially in both cities and rural areas.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.