By Malachi Motano
Seven universities will receive funding for Covid-19 research after the Government made calls for proposals and concept dons from researchers in the country last year in April in its attempts to curb the spread of the virus.
A total of 350 research proposals and concept notes were submitted to NRF, but only 13 of them were approved after the proposals and concept notes were subjected to a rigorous peer review process and evaluation by subject experts.
The Universities whose proposals have been approved by the National Research Fund (NRF) include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Egerton University, University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenyatta University (KU), Pwani University and Multimedia University.
MKU’s Dr Peter Kirira is also among other eight top researchers whose proposals and concept notes were approved for funding by the state. His research will focus on the “Development of Immune Regulatory Supplements from Indigenous Edible Herbs and Vegetables for Prevention and Management of Covid-19.
His colleagues dons at JKUAT Muturi Njoka and Dr Wallace Karuguti also had their proposals accepted and will focus on Development and Validation of a Low Cost, Rapid, and Ultrasensitive Next Generation Biosensor to Detect Covid-19 Infection and Outcomes and Feasibility of an Evidence-Based Rehabilitation Programme for Controlling Morbidity, Enhancing Immunity and Physical Function for People with Severe Covid-19 in Kenya respectively.
Meanwhile, research concepts by Prof Isabel Wagara and Prof. Micah Chepchieng from Egerton University were also approved to focus on development of ‘Herbal Covid-19 Antiviral Interventions from Local Medicinal Plants and their Endophytes in Kenya. Prof Chepchieng will look at “Enhancing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to Address Effects of Covid-19 among Primary and Secondary School Learners in Kenya.
At Pwani University, Dr Joseph Mghalu will research on developing “Functional Food Products from Activated Edible Mushrooms to Mitigate SARS-Like Conditions,” while Dr Meshack Onyambu and Dr John Paul Oyore of and Dr Onyambu will research on “Safety and Efficacy of Potential Herbal Formulations and Standardization for Integration into Covid-19 Prevention and Management in Kenya.”
Dr Oyore on the other hand will focus on optimizing “Parameters for the Proper Use of Face Masks to Reduce Severity of Underlying Infections for Enhanced Tolerance to Covid-19.”
Prof Julius Oyugi of UoN will research on the development of a “Point of Care Covid-19 Test, Modelling of Case Management and Simulations of Covid-19 Interventions.”
NRF at the same time indicated at the same time that proposals on cancer research and desert locusts invasion were also made. 134 responses were submitted towards cancer research and another 83 to address the challenge of desert locusts.
However,22 research proposals were approved for government funding on cancer and another 16 for desert locusts invasion.
