Surveillance and preparedness for flu and other respiratory pathogens in Kenya
Official title: Surveillance and Health-security through Applied Research and Preparedness in Kenya: Influenza and other respiratory pathogens
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11576443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A US-based research grant aims to improve how Kenya detects and prepares for influenza and other respiratory diseases to protect people there and global health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | September 29, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $100,000 |
| NIH project number | 1U01JG000032-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11576443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals in Kenya, particularly high-risk groups like healthcare workers, older adults, and people with chronic conditions, who live in areas with active respiratory disease surveillance.
✕Less likely to help
People not connected to the surveillance networks or outside the study regions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will strengthen Kenya’s ability to monitor respiratory illnesses, identify pathogen-specific burdens, and speed up early warning of outbreaks. It builds on existing cohorts and laboratories to create a sustainable platform for measuring influenza and other respiratory pathogens. The work will integrate genomic detection into routine surveillance and establish analytic tools to detect new threats, including those crossing from animals to people. The goal is to improve decision-making about vaccines and public health responses in Kenya and beyond.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to faster detection of outbreaks and better protection from flu and other respiratory diseases for people in Kenya and at risk globally.
How similar studies have gone: Prior surveillance work in Kenya shows that enhanced monitoring improves outbreak detection and response times.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Njenga, M Kariuki — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Njenga, M Kariuki
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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.