Understanding mosquito-borne diseases at the Kenyan coast

Mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, are a significant health inequality and a major cause of poverty. In Africa, particularly in coastal Kenya, cases have risen sharply over the past 30 years. Understanding the factors behind disease transmission is key to effective management. 

Research by teams at The University of Manchester has highlighted high genetic diversity in forest Aedes aegypti and other forest Aedes species in Africa. Notably, differences in their odorant receptors are leading to increased feeding on humans. This diversity may result from interbreeding with domestic Aedes aegypti from outside Africa or the invasion of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes from Southeast Asia. 

This project, co-developed and led by researchers in Kenya and at The University of Manchester, will investigate these possibilities in the Tana River region and Kenya Coast. These areas contain forested regions near the port of Mombasa, a key entry point for invasive mosquito species. 

By integrating data on mosquitoes, viruses, monkeys, and humans across the coastal Kenyan landscape, the project aims to map disease transmission patterns. Identifying the environmental and socio-behavioural factors driving transmission will help the Ministry of Health improve surveillance efforts and support local communities in preventing and mitigating disease spread.

Advancing urban reform in Nairobi

The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) is a collaborative research programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), designed to address the complex urban development challenges in Africa’s rapidly changing cities.  

Led by the Global Development Institute at The University of Manchester, ACRC aims to generate robust insights and evidence that will improve living conditions and urban services for all city residents, especially disadvantaged communities. 

In Nairobi, Kenya, ACRC is utilising research processes to bring together key stakeholders from local communities and government to navigate contentious urban issues. The initiative aims to establish new approaches across the city and beyond. Nurturing coalitions of urban reform champions is also a key focus at the city level. This work is being led by teams from cities, Slum Dwellers International (SDI), the University of Nairobi, Strathmore University, LVCT Health, and others, with support from the Global Development Institute. 

Findings from ACRC research highlight a range of urban development challenges in Nairobi and provide several recommendations for advancing urban reform in the city.

Partnership with African Constituency Bureau

The collaboration between the African Constituency Bureau (ACB) and The University of Manchester presents a significant opportunity to strengthen Africa’s position in global health governance.  

Established by African Ministers of Health in 2017 with the endorsement of the African Union (AU), the ACB has been instrumental in advocating for policies that address Africa’s specific health challenges, particularly in areas such as HIV, TB, malaria, and more recently, COVID-19. 

By supporting the ACB’s institutional growth, technical expertise, and policy advocacy, The University of Manchester aims to play a transformative role in shaping Africa’s health future and contributing to the broader global health community. 

This partnership will focus on achieving long-lasting improvements in sustainable health financing, disease prevention, and the resilience of African health systems.

Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Education and Training

Kisii University, The University of Manchester, and the County Government of Kisii are working in partnership to develop a Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Education and Training (CEHET). 

This Centre will train flexible, multidisciplinary healthcare workers required to meet the evolving health needs of the local population in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) in Western Kenya, and across the country, supporting Kenya’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. 

A major challenge in Kenya is the low doctor-to-patient ratio, with only twelve (12) doctors per 100,000 people, well below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended ratio of thirty-six (36) doctors per 100,000 people. 

This gap can only be addressed by increasing the number of healthcare professionals in training. The development of this Centre will significantly improve the availability of specialist care, reduce the number of Kenyans seeking medical treatment abroad, and increase the number of patients, primarily from other African countries, seeking care in Kenya.

The Kisii Emergency Care Project

The University of Manchester in collaboration with the Kisii County Health Ministry and Kisii University, is addressing gaps in the emergency care system, particularly in rural areas where systems are underdeveloped. The Kisii Emergency Care Project is a multi-pronged initiative designed to build a sustainable and effective emergency care system, aiming to improve healthcare delivery in Kisii and across Kenya. 

To support the development of an emergency care system aligned with the Kenyan Emergency Medical Care Strategy, our University teams are helping design and implement a new emergency care model for Kisii. This model could eventually be expanded to other regions of Kenya. The project focuses on strengthening the chain of survival in emergency care through five key areas: Emergency Call Centre, Community First Responders, Ambulance Service, Specialist Emergency Nursing, and Accredited Specialists in Emergency Medicine. 

Zoonotic disease and the environment

Researchers at The University of Manchester are developing a novel approach to investigate the relationship between changes in surface water, human and animal interactions, and gastrointestinal disease prevalence. 

Chronic zoonotic waterborne diseases are a leading cause of morbidity in landscapes shared by people, livestock, and wildlife in East Africa. However, disease surveillance remains focused on acute, epidemic diseases. 

Co-created with local partners and institutions in Kenya and Tanzania, this project aims to examine how environmental factors, such as water availability and quality, contribute to the spread of diseases among humans, livestock, and wildlife in the region. There is an urgent need to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, especially for vulnerable populations, to reduce preventable deaths. 

An interdisciplinary team of experts in epidemiology, disease ecology, and physical geography will examine issues like water scarcity and contamination to deepen our understanding of how these factors affect health across different populations. 

The findings will inform strategies for sustainable water management and disease prevention, aiming to reduce waterborne disease risks and lower mortality rates in East Africa. Additionally, the results will contribute to global policy frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, WHO International Health Regulations, and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Researching impact of air pollution on health outcomes

Researchers from The University of Manchester are collaborating with partners in Kenya to investigate the impact of air pollution on health outcomes among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and other vulnerable populations. The project aims to drive actionable interventions to reduce health risks. Co-designed with researchers at The University of Nairobi, the project will address these deficiencies by generating data to support evidence-informed public health action. By establishing clear links between air pollution and health outcomes in PLHIV, this research will inform public health strategies and policy enforcement in Kenya and the East Africa region. 

Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genomics in Kenya

We will establish a new Centre of Excellence in Cancer Genomics at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), to advance precision cancer medicine and improve cancer care in Kenya. This initiative will include a dedicated genomics laboratory to study the genetic causes of cancer in East African populations and support the training of specialist healthcare professionals in genomic medicine and research.  

Genetic knowledge plays a crucial role in cancer detection, diagnosis, and management. Advances in genotyping technology, which allow for the identification of genetic changes, are significantly improving cancer treatment. The new Centre of Excellence at KUTRRH will provide the scientific foundation needed to transition to precision cancer medicine in Kenya. 

Partnership with Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital

The University and the Christie Hospital in Manchester have formed a long-term partnership Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) to enhance cancer services and early detection in Kenya and the East African region.  

Cancer care places a growing strain on Kenya’s limited health resources. In 2020, the National Cancer Institute estimated that cancer was the third leading cause of mortality in Kenya, claiming 27,000 lives. With 70% of cases diagnosed at a late stage, patients face poorer outcomes and higher treatment costs. Reducing this burden requires improved early detection and more precise treatment. 

The University of Manchester and The Christie Hospital have chosen to partner with KUTRRH as they have world class facilities for the detection and treatment of cancer, including the Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre, molecular pathology, Cyberknife, and a LINAC machine. 

Dentists in Primary Schools (DiPS) programme

The aim of the Dentists in Primary Schools project is to implement engaging oral health sessions in primary schools across Greater Manchester, especially those in socially deprived.  

A group of undergraduate students have taken the local Dentists in Primary Schools (DiPS) programme halfway across the world. Through International DiPS, students from the Manchester Pediatric Dentistry Student Society have introduced healthy oral hygiene habits to hundreds of young children in Kisumu, Kenya.  

Mansoura Manchester Medical Program

The University’s partnership with Mansoura University, Egypt, is pivotal in addressing the urgent global health workforce shortage. Established in 2006 as Egypt’s first international medical programme, it equips students with integrated training that prepares them to serve globally, prioritising patient-centred care and competency-based education. 

Volunteer of the year awards

Many of our students volunteer either here in Manchester, or elsewhere nationally or internationally. Through our annual Volunteer of the Year Awards, we want to take time every year to thank these volunteers for the skills, commitment and tens of thousands of volunteers hours given.

Africa strategy

The University launched an Africa Strategy which looks to develop resource, capacity sharing and knowledge production, with investment in people and facilities that is impactful on the ground in this region.

SMARThealth programme

As the fourth most heavily populated country in the world, the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Indonesia is particularly alarming, accounting for 1 in 3 deaths. The SMARThealth programme tackle the high risk of CVD in rural parts of Indonesia and is projected to prevent 120,000 deaths. The team designed the SMARThealth app as a low-cost intervention to tackle CVD in Indonesia.

International Green Gown Award

The University has won a prestigious International Green Gown Award in recognition of its ambitious decarbonisation plans. The ‘Zero Carbon Without a Net’ initiative is part of our Environmental Sustainability strategy and subsequently won the 2023 UK and Ireland Green Gown Award. Now, we are being honoured for our dedication to sustainability on an international scale. Recognising the innovative and pioneering initiatives in sustainability, the Green Gown Awards celebrate the projects undertaken by further and higher education institutions who are striving for a sustainable future. 

Promoting good agricultural land management in Malawi

Our Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is working with farmers in Malawi, some of the poorest in the world, to help share knowledge about plant and soil management through delivering free workshops and building a laboratory that will be the first of its kind in the country. Malawi is ranked within the five poorest nations of the world and one of the least developed. Its agricultural sector accounts for a third of its GDP and approximately 80% of its overall exports. Agriculture clearly holds great potential for enhancing the social and economic development of communities in Malawi.

AquaPlan

AquaPlan is an interactive web application that helps farmers, businesses, and governments improve agricultural water management and climate adaptation, while also helping to educate students and the public about issues of water security and food sustainability. The initiative received a Making a Difference Award for its outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and a low carbon future.

Global Futures

Global Futures is a global health strategy that aims to transform health outcomes, with a focus on levelling up healthcare provision and uplifting health systems globally. The strategy has been developed in direct response to predictions made by the World Health Organisation regarding the future of global health. 

NAYS social projects

NAYS Social Projects are a community empowerment program that seek to provide a platform and forum for Indonesia’s youth to apply and share their knowledge in addressing various issues in remote areas of Indonesia, where there is still significant inequality in access to essential sectors like education, economics, health, and the environment. The initiative received a Making a Difference Award for its outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion.  

Talk 200 lecture and podcast series

Talk 200 is a lecture and podcast series from the University to mark our bicentenary: 200 years of making a difference. We’re reflecting on our past, celebrating our present and looking to the future – and Talk 200 invites listeners to be part of the journey.  

The series comprises a mix of in-person and live-streamed lectures and recorded podcast episodes. Our podcast host, Manchester aficionado, author and University of Manchester alumnus Andy Spinoza, is joined by a diverse line-up of guests from our community. Topics include health, digital and AI, climate change, equality and justice, and more. 

Laura Nuttall scholarship

The Laura Nuttall scholarship award supports students from a less privileged background with a physical condition, long term illness or learning difference, with a scholarship of £3,000 per year for every year of their degree. 

University’s School of Social Sciences launched the scholarship in memory of Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduate Laura Nuttall, who passed away after a long battle against cancer. 

Global Development Institute

Our Global Development Institute is the UK’s largest university-based postgraduate centre specialising in international development. The institute addresses global inequalities to promote a socially-just world.  

Emeritus Professor Stephanie Barrientos, from the Global Development Institute, has been elected as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fairtrade Foundation, bringing her research experience in corporate social responsibility, trade and labour standards, gender, and fair and ethical trade in global value chains. 

NCCPE Platinum Watermark

Our University has been awarded a Platinum Watermark by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) which is the highest honour that can be granted to an institution. The award recognises our exceptional contribution to public engagement which includes the way we work to engage society with activities in research, teaching and culture. We received praise for our efforts in making campus more welcoming and accessible for community use, involving partners and communities in shaping the research and teaching at the University, and our significant commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Find examples of our local, national and international public engagement work here. 

Reducing University air travel emissions

Our new travel policy, supports our ambition to be a leader in developing sustainable research and teaching practices. This is part of a wider project to reduce our total carbon footprint in line with our Environmental Sustainability Strategy. As part of this, there is guidance and funding in place to support staff with greener travel. In 2022/23 we nearly halved our air travel emissions, compared to pre-pandemic levels, as a result of the new policy.

One World Together

One World Together, co-founded by the University’s Global Development Institute, Dr Nicola Banks, is an innovative social enterprise rooted in principles of trust, solidarity and equity. It shifts money and decision-making power to the organisations closest to communities. With partners in Manchester, the North-West of England, Kenya and Zambia, One World Together brings local voices and experiences to the forefront of the movement, deepening their supporters’ understandings of poverty and inequality and of why local actors are so important to overcoming these.