Advancing Global Health Through Cutting-Edge Research
We are a multidisciplinary research team committed to tackling the world’s most pressing infectious diseases — from malaria vaccine development to maternal health and next-generation diagnostics.
About Us
Our work spans the entire spectrum from basic discovery science to applied development of vaccines, diagnostics, and surveillance tools, with a special emphasis on improving maternal and child health in malaria-endemic regions.
Hosted at the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya — Kanoi Lab is dedicated to advancing global health through high-impact, collaborative science and innovative research.
Our Core Research Areas
Malaria Vaccine Discovery & Development
Malaria remains a major killer, especially among children in Africa. Our team is at the forefront of discovering the next generation of malaria vaccines. We leverage advanced technologies, like wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis, to produce and screen thousands of malaria parasite proteins, identifying those that trigger a protective immune response. Our goal is to move the most promising candidates into the vaccine development pipeline to create more effective and safer vaccines against both P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria.
- Identified and validated over hundreds of novel malaria antigens
- Established immune correlates of protection
- Characterized new vaccine targets for malaria
Improving Maternal & Neonatal Health
Driven by a commitment to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies, we investigate the immunological changes that occur during pregnancy. Our research explores how infections like placental malaria dysregulate immune cells at the maternal-fetal interface, leading to adverse outcomes.
- Established biomarkers for placental malaria infection
- Uncovered mechanisms of immune dysregulation in decidual macrophages
- Assessed the effect of maternal vaccination on infant health
- Characterized new vaccine targets for pregnancy-associated malaria
Advanced Diagnostics & Genomic Surveillance
We develop and refine high-performance molecular diagnostic tools for diseases like malaria, schistosomiasis, gonorrhea, and SARS-CoV-2. We use next-generation sequencing and metagenomics to conduct real-time genomic surveillance of emerging threats, track antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and characterize pathogen evolution.
- Developed novel molecular assays for improved pathogen detection
- Established a biobank for placental health research
- Mapped AMR genes in clinical and environmental samples
Collaborative Approach to Science
We believe groundbreaking science is a team effort. Our scientific platforms and shared resources are designed to foster innovation and accelerate discovery with our local and global network of partners.
- Fostered innovation through shared scientific platforms
- Accelerated discovery via global and local collaborations
- Strengthened research capacity across multiple institutions
Join Our Growing Network
Be part of groundbreaking infectious disease research and contribute to improving global health outcomes.