Dr. James Onyango Obila

Biography:

Dr. James Onyango Obila is a Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences, at the United States University-Africa. He has extensive experience in teaching and research which spans back over 10 years when he was a Research scientist at the Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI - ICR) in the University of Nairobi. The consortium at the University of Nairobi had diverse background in HIV prevention research which culminated in integrated prevention trials and becoming one of the major HIV vaccine trials in Africa. In this endeavors, his focused mainly on the immunological and genetic correlates of immunity that promoted susceptibility among sex-workers. Other related experience includes a RCT of azithromycin prophylaxis for STI and HIV among sex-workers. He left the University of Nairobi and subsequently joined USIU-AFRICA, where he continues to teach basic science courses for Pharmacy.

Academic Qualification;

1. PhD candidate at the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, KENYA

Area of interest: Mucosal factors and innate immune mediators that promote HIV –1 Transmission among female of reproductive age.

2. MSc. Medical Microbiology, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, KENYA

3. BSc. Medical Microbiology, Jomo-Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Professional/Industry Certifications;

1. Joag, Onyango Obila, Pawel Gajer, Milcah Carol Scott, Sara Dizzell,7 Michael Humphrys,4,5 Kamnoosh Shahabi, Sanja Huibner,8Brett Shannon,1 Wangari Tharao,9 Marianne Mureithi,2,3 Julius Oyugi, Joshua Kimani, Charu Kaushic, Jacques Ravel, Omu Anzala, and Rupert Kau (2018): Impact of Standard Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment on the Genital Microbiota, Immune Milieu, and Ex Vivo Human Immunodeficiency Virus Susceptibility Clinical Infectious Diseases® 2018;XX(XX):1–9 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy762

2. Vineet VR Joag, LR McKinnon, J Liu, ST Kidane, MH Yudin, B Nyanga, S Kimwaki, KE Besel, JO Obila, S Huibner, JO Oyugi, J Arthos, O Anzala, J Kimani, MA Ostrowski, R Kaul ; MucosalImmunology (2015); advance online publication 15 April 2015. doi:10.1038/mi.2015.28 nature publishing group

  1. Mohamed, O. A, Cohen, C. R, Kungu, D., Kuyoh, M. A, Onyango JI, Bwayo, J. J, Welsh, M., Feldblum, P. J (2001). Urine proves a poor specimen for culture of Trichomonas vaginalis in women. Sex. Transm. Infect. 77: 78-79

4. Kaul R, Rutherford J, Rowland-Jones SL, Kimani J, Onyango JI, Fowke KR,
MacDonald KS, Bwayo JJ, McMichael AJ, Plummer FA. New insights into HIV-1 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in exposed, persistently sero negative Kenyan sex workers. Immunology Letters. 79 (2001);3-13

  1. Kaul R, Rutherford J, Rowland-Jones SL, Kimani J, Onyango JI, Fowke K, MacDonald K, Bwayo JJ, McMichael AJ, Plummer FA. HIV-1 Env-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in exposed, uninfected Kenyan sex workers: a prospective analysis. AIDS. 2004 Oct 21;18(15):2087-9.

6. Kaul R, Kimani J, Nagelkerke N, Fonck K, Ngugi E, Keli F, MacDonald KS, Maclean IW, Bwayo JJ, Temmerman M, Ronald AR, The Kibera HIV Study Group*, Moses S. Monthly antibiotic chemoprophylaxis and incidence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV-1 infection in Kenyan sex workers: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004;291:2555-62. *Onyango JI.

  1. Farah B, Ogola S, Indangasi J, Oyaro M, Anzala O, Omosa-Manyonyi G, Jaoko W, Gilmour J, Bwayo J. Onyango JI (2004) The use of viral peptides as a quality control for ELISPOT assays in HIV-1 vaccine trials in Kenya, (Abstract No. A10065), 15th International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, THAILAND, July 11-16

8. Yadav G, Saskin R, Ngugi EN, Kimani J, Keli, F, Fonck K, MacDonald K, Bwayo JJ, Temmerman M, The Kibera HIV Study Group*, Moses S, Kaul R. Associations of sexual risk taking among Kenyan sex workers after enrolment in an HIV-1 prevention trial. J AIDS. 2005;38(3):329-334. *Onyango JI.

9. Jaoko W, Manyonyi GO, Bhatt K, Anzala AO, Ogutu H, Ndambuki R, Wakasiaka S, Farah BM, Ogola S, Indangasi J, Onyango J, Nyange J, Ndinya-Achola J, Thomson H, Gilmour J, Than S, Komaroff W, Kambili C, Fast P & Bwayo JJ (2006). Out of range laboratory values: a major reason for exclusion from a phase 1 HIV vaccine clinical trial (Abstract No. ******) , AIDS Vaccine 2006, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS, August 28-September 2,

10. Ngugi EN, Chakkalackal M, Sharma A, Bukusi E, Njoroge B, Kimani J, Fonck K, MacDonald K, Bwayo J, Temmerman M, Cohen C, Moses S, The Kibera HIV Study Group*, Kaul R. Sustained changes in sexual behavior by female sex workers after completion of a randomized HIV prevention trial. J AIDS. 2007;45(5):588-94. *Onyango JI.

11. Kaul R, Nagelkerke N, Rebbapragada A, Bossen B, MacDonald KS, Kimani J, Fonck K, Ngugi E, Maclean IW, Bwayo JJ, Temmerman M, Ronald AR, The Kibera HIV Study Group*, Moses S. Prevalent Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection is associated with altered vaginal flora and an increased susceptibility to multiple sexually transmitted infections. J Infect Dis. 2007;196:1692–7.*Onyango, JI.

12. Hirbod T and Kaul R, Kimani J, Ngugi E, Bwayo JJ, Nagelkerke N, Moses S, MacDonald KS, The Kibera HIV Study Group*, Broliden K. HIV-neutralizing IgA and HIV-specific

Teaching;

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Biological courses
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