Albert Okumu

Clinical and Vaccine Trials, Researcher HIV, TB and Laboratory Systems

Albert Okumu, is a microbiologist working for Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), based at the center for global health research (CGHR) – Kisumu. He is currently a PhD (c), and has MSc in Community health and development; MSc in Medical Microbiology, and a BSc in Medical Laboratory Sciences. He has undertaken professional short courses, including Quality management systems practices such as ISO 18159: 2022 training and qualifications.

Albert has over 20 plus years working in both HIV and TB research, in conducting clinical and vaccine trials, diagnostic evaluations for instruments, reagents and kits, from collaborators and sponsors as part of the KEMRI mandate. Currently, as the laboratory director, at KEMRI-CGHR, Tuberculosis division, he provides oversight to several ongoing studies, as the principal investigator (PI). He also supports Ministry of Health’s national TB program (MoH-NTP), in the implementation of TB diagnostics agenda, through participation in key committees such as national Technical working group (TWG), and committee of experts (CoE), for diagnostics and TB tools review and development.

He was appointed by MoH-NTP into a team responsible for developing strategies and implementing Integrated specimen referral systems (ISRS) in the country. He has been instrumental in the decentralization of molecular TB diagnosis in Kenya (2013-2018), having played a similar role in Rwanda (2016). He has been engaged previously in providing expertise in TB prevalence surveys reviews from various countries (Eswatini, Botswana, Kenya, among others) as a TB Laboratory expert and a consultant.

Albert has authored and co-authored several articles on TB/HIV, Quality management systems, diagnostics, and on works done on clinical and vaccine trials that he has participated in. He has received several awards in career, among which are best oral presenter in scientific conferences (2), best performer diagnostics, among others. His key competencies include but not limited to mentorship for staff development, training & evaluation, networking and collaboration, coordination of scientific research, writing of protocols, manuscripts, abstracts and grants.