Speakers – 9th Biennial ASID Conference

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About us
Event Schedule
Event Speakers
Event Gallery
Contact

Event Speakers

Our Event Speakers

Esteemed professionals sharing knowledge, experiences, and insights to inspire learning and professional development.

Dr. Nizar Mahlaoui

France

Dr. Nizar Mahlaoui

France

Dr. Nizar Mahlaoui is a Consultant in Paediatric Immunology-Hematology at Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital in Paris, France, a position he has held since 2004. He also maages the French National Reference Center for Primary Immune Deficiencies (CEREDIH). He holds a a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Public Health from Paris University (2018), his research focuses on rare diseases, particularly Primary Immunodeficiencies (Inborn Errors of Immunity). Dr. Mahlaoui has an extensive publication record with over 180 indexed articles in PubMed on primary immunodeficiency and transition care. In 2016, he founded the Pediatric to Adult Transition Care Unit and Digital Services at Necker, which earned him the prestigious Prix Galien France Award for Patient Empowerment and Support in 2019. This pioneering work has led to the development of numerous similar transition programs across France. Dr. Mahlaoui actively contributes to the patient community through his membership on the scientific advisory boards of the French national PID patients association IRIS, the French patients with Ataxia-Telangiectasia association AT-Europe, and the Research Advisory Committee of the English charity Action for AT. He is the Chair of the Medical Advisory Panel for IPOPI since 2017, having previously served as Vice-Chair. He also held the position of Chair-Elect of the European Society for ImmunoDeficiencies (ESID) Registry Working Group from 2014 to 2018. Dr. Mahlaoui is a founding member of the African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID) since 2008, and continues to foster international collaboration.

Prof Andrew Gennery

U.K

Prof Andrew Gennery

U.K

Prof Andrew Gennery is a Professor of Paediatric Immunology and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and an Honorary Consultant for the Northern Supra-Regional Bone Marrow Transplant Unit for SCID and related disorders, at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. His foundational research includes a postdoctoral year at Necker Hospital in Paris, where he contributed to the discovery of Cytidine Deaminase, a key gene in class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation. Having served as a consultant in Newcastle for 23 years, Prof Gennery’s research interests include immunoreconstitution post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant for primary immunodeficiency, long-term outcomes of transplantation (particularly in Chronic Granulomatous Disease and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), and the treatment of DNA repair disorders. He has adapted new T-cell depletion methods for primary immunodeficiency patients and established extracorporeal photopheresis for treatment of children with graft versus host disease, uncovering significant mechanistic insights into its action. Prof Gennery has held prominent leadership roles, including chairing the ESID/EBMT Inborn Errors Working Party group, the ESID Clinical Working Party, the ERN-RITA Guidelines Working Party, and the CIBMTR Primary Immune Deficiencies, Inborn Errors of Metabolism and other NMMD Working Committee. He has over 430 publications on primary immunodeficiency, has co-authored important multi-centerpublications on cohorts of children with rare primary immunodeficiencies following HSCT, and has contributed to chapters in several major textbooks. He has also co-authored national guidelines on use of irradiated blood products in patients with primary immunodeficiency in the UK, guidelines on management of children with 22q11 deletion syndrome, and guidelines on extracorporeal photopheresis for treatment of acute graft versus host disease. He has also written international guidelines for the treatment of DNA repair disorders and CD40 ligand deficiency.

Dr Priya Bowry Sikand

Kenya

Dr Priya Bowry Sikand

Kenya

Dr. Priya Bowry is a Consultant Allergist based at The Allergy Clinic, Nairobi, AAR and Gertrude Garden Childrens Hospitals in Nairobi. She provides diagnosis and specialist management for the entire spectrum of allergic disorders in both paediatric and adult populations. Dr. Bowry is an active member of the Allergy Society of Kenya, and previously served as its treasurer and as a member of its executive and scientific committees. She is active in postgraduate teaching on Allergic Disease at hospital and specialist meetings and conferences. Furthermore, she is actively involved in patient education through various media platforms. With a special interest in Angioedema, Dr. Bowry is a member of GA2LEN ACARE network, and works closely with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) International and HAE Kenya to raise awareness of HAE and provide training both locally and across sub-Saharan Africa. She also serves as a member of Regional Medical Advisory Panel of Sub Saharan Africa for HAE.

Dr. Reem Elfeky

U.K

Dr. Reem Elfeky

U.K

Dr. Reem Elfeky is a consultant in Paediatric Immunology at Great Ormond Street hospital (GOSH) since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a consultant in BMT in Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2021 and in adult immunology at the Royal Free Hospital, UK, in 2020. Dr. Elfeky received her doctorate degree in Paediatric Immunology from Ain Shams university Egypt in 2013 and was awarded an M.D(Res) in BMT/Immunology from UCL London in 2020 following her coordination of a clinical trial on haploidentical transplantation using genetically modified T cells. She has received five prizes from different international societies, including ESID and the John Goldman prize for best clinical research from BSBMT in 2019. At GOSH, she serves as the Educational lead and Lead of both the CGD and long-term follow-up post-BMT services. She is currently leading the writing committee for a consensus guideline on late effects post BMT in IEI and a CGD practice guideline. Dr. Elfeky is a member of UK/Ireland task force for developing BMT services across the UK. Her contributions to ASID include elections as a Board member for research since 2019; organization of ASID Schools, endorsed by ESID, to train future doctors in Immunology, with recent schools focusing on ‘B cell defects’ in September 2021, and ‘Understanding Phagocytic Defects’ in May 2022; she is also part of the taskforce responsible for writing ASID guidelines and supporting the development of an ASID registry.

Prof Elena Hsieh

U.S.A

Prof Elena Hsieh

U.S.A

Elena Hsieh earned her MD degree from University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in 2008. She completed a residency in pediatrics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2011, and a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Stanford University in 2014. During her fellowship she worked in Dr. Garry Nolan’s laboratory studying pediatric lupus. She continued her research and clinical work at Stanford University as an Instructor for an additional year. In 2015, she joined the faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, jointly affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. She is currently an Associate Professor of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, and Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology. She is the Director of the Jeffrey Modell Center for Primary Immunodeficiency, and co-directs the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Newborn Screen Program, both of which constitute the foundation of the immunodeficiency program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is also the director of University of Colorado as a FOCIS Center of Excellence. The Hsieh lab addresses mechanistic and translational questions in human immunology to enable a deeper understanding of normal immune function, and dysregulated immune processes in immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and the overlap between the two. Her lab focuses on classical pediatric autoimmune disorders such as lupus, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes, as well as inborn errors of immunity (IEI) that result in immune dysregulation. Her lab has identified several novel IEI that lead to severe multi-organ autoimmunity/autoinflammation and infectious susceptibility. Her lab has developed mouse models of homologous human mutations to further enlighten underlying disease mechanism. She has developed and applied highly parametric single-cell systems immunology platforms to study peripheral and in situ tissue disease processes in autoimmunity and IEI. Prof Hsieh expanded her studies of immune dysregulation to Down Syndrome and COVID-19 disease given the type I interferon hypersensitivity observed in these disorders. She was associate editor of the Journal of Experimental Medicine in 2024, and current associate editor of the Journal of Human Immunity.

Prof Andre van Niekerk

South Africa

Prof Andre van Niekerk

South Africa

André is a Paediatrician and Paediatric Pulmonologist with a special interest in clinical immunology. He previously served as Chairperson of the Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) and currently leads the ALLSA Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases Interest Group (PIDDSA). He also helped to establish the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) as one of its founding members. Although much of his career has been in private practice, André has always stayed closely involved in academic medicine. He played a key role in setting up the clinical service for primary immunodeficiency diseases at the University of Pretoria, where he was awarded an extraordinary professorship while consulting part-time. He returned to full-time academic work and now holds the University of Pretoria–Ampath Chair for Inborn Errors of Immunity and Allergology. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Immunology at the University of Pretoria. André was recently elected to the boards of the African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID) and the South African Immunology Society (SAIS). ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2416-9092

Prof Monia Ouederni

Tunisia

Prof Monia Ouederni

Tunisia

Professor Monia Ouederni is the Head of the Department of Pediatrics: Immunopathology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at the National Bone Marrow Transplant Center, Tunis, and Head of the Pediatric section within the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia. She is an expert in the diagnosis and management of primary immune deficiencies. She received her medical qualification from the University of Monastir, Tunisia. Prof Ouederni specialized in Pediatric Immunopathology and Hematology in the immune-hematology unit of Necker, College of Medicine Paris hospitals. She holds a degree in Pediatric Immunohematology from the Faculty of Medicine La Timone in Marseille France, a degree in Immunology, and a degree in Infection and Transplantation from the Paris Descartes University, France. Her current research interests include primary immune deficiencies, pediatric hematology, and stem cell transplantation. Professor Ouederni is the President of the working party ‘Immunopathology and Hematology’ within the Tunisian Society of Pediatrics and currently serves as a reviewer for several international journals.

Prof George Omondi Oyoo

Kenya

Prof George Omondi Oyoo

Kenya

Prof. Omondi Oyoo is an Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine and a Consultant Rheumatologist. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Nairobi. His rheumatology training was gained through fellowships at Tel Aviv University (Israel), the University of Cape Town (South Africa), Tulane University (USA), and Louisiana State University (USA). He further studied International Health as a Humphrey Fellowship Scholar at Tulane University, and Epidemiology at the University of Aberdeen (UK). As a practicing Rheumatologist in Nairobi, Prof. Oyoo has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and books, including Understanding Arthritis and Understanding Back Pain. A highly sought-after lecturer, he has delivered over 100 presentations globally on various medical topics. Prof. Oyoo has held leadership roles, including President of the Kenya Association of Physicians, Past President of the African League of Associations for Rheumatology (AFLAR), and Chairman of the Kenya Society for Rheumatology. He is also the Founder and Chairman of the Uwezo Rheumatology Foundation and served as Kenya’s WHO Bone and Joint Decade National Action Network Coordinator. In 2010, he was appointed a Bone and Joint Decade Ambassador by its international steering committee for his contributions to musculoskeletal health. That same year, the American Biographical Institute recognized him as a Great Mind of the 21st Century for his excellence in rheumatology. Prof. Oyoo is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians. He is also a member of the British Society for Rheumatology.

Dr. Sagar Bhattad

India

Dr. Sagar Bhattad

India

Dr. Sagar Bhattad holds MBBS, MD Pediatrics, and DM Pediatric Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology degrees, and an EBMT Diploma (Certified in BMT). He is a Consultant in Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology at Aster Hospitals in Bangalore, India, and is recognised as the first DM in this field in India. He received his training at the prestigious PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. Dr. Bhattad possesses expertise and special interests in Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/Inborn Errors of Immunity, bone marrow transplantation for immune deficiencies, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Kawasaki disease, pediatric lupus and other autoimmune diseases of childhood, and Autoinflammatory diseases/Periodic fever syndromes. His academic excellence has been recognised with several awards, including a Silver medal for MD Pediatrics at PGIMER, Chandigarh, the Major Gen Amir Chand Gold Medal for research on Complement deficiency in Pediatric lupus, and the Moopen’s Clinical Excellence Award 2025. Dr. Bhattad holds affiliations with several professioanl societies; he is the Secretary of the Pediatric Rheumatology Society of India, former Secretary, Indian Society for Primary Immune Deficiency (ISPID), and a Founder Member and former secretary of the Indian Society of Kawasaki Disease (ISKD). He is also an active member of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Indian Rheumatology Association, the Rheumatology chapter of IAP, the Asia Pacific Society for Immunodeficiencies (APSID), the Clinical Immunology Society, and was a member of the American Heart Association (AHA) from 2014 to 2015 and a trainee member of the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS). He has authored the book “Primary Immune Deficiencies Made Simple”, that presents a clinical approach to diagnosis to various Primary Immunodeficiency diseases and has been widely acknowledged by paediatricians and medical residents for its simplicity of presentation and its utility in day-to-day practice. Dr. Sagar has also contributed more than 75 publications to peer-reviewed national and international journals and authored 9 chapters in reputed textbooks. He has presented extensively at national and international forums. Notably, he was involved in the diagnosis and transplant of the first genetically confirmed case of CGD from Kenya: Marangu-Boore D, Kambuni F, Onyinkwa M, Ramprakash S, C P R, Eley B, Bhattad S. Genetically confirmed chronic granulomatous disease in a Kenyan child: case report. Front Immunol. 2023 May 18;14:1172848.

Prof Mike Levin

South Africa

Prof Mike Levin

South Africa

Prof Mike Levin is head of the Division of Asthma and Allergy in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Town. He serves on the executive committee of the Allergy Society of South Africa and is the CEO of the Allergy Foundation of South Africa (www.allergyfoundation.co.za) where you can find huge amount of information for doctors and patients. He teaches medical students, medical professionals and specialists in allergy and presents at national and international allergy congresses. He has published >150 peer reviewed scientific articles, 5 chapters in medical books and edited a textbook of paediatrics and the ALLSA textbook of allergy. He has participated in reviews of local and national guidelines for societies and for official government departments, including asthma guidelines for the Western Cape, submissions to the EML/STG for changes, and changes to the medicines formulary. Prof Levin has a special interest in epidemiology of allergy in Africa, severe allergies and anaphylaxis, as well as patient support and education. Current research includes rural and urban differences in prevalence of food allergy and mechanisms of meat-induced anaphylaxis.

Dr. Tinsae Alemayehu

Ethiopia/Botswana

Dr. Tinsae Alemayehu

Ethiopia/Botswana

Dr Tinsae Alemayehu is a Consultant Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and Assistant Program Director at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Botswana. He has more than 15 years' experience as an academic clinician and researcher in his native Ethiopia and Botswana. Dr. Alemayehu is the Vice President of the African Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (AfSPID). He has published more than 45 peer-reviewed articles in reputable journals. His research interests lie in pediatric antimicrobial stewardship and he's currently leading a study focusing on improving treatment outcomes for febrile neutropenia in the National Pediatric Oncology Center in Gaborone. Some of the clinical guidelines he has co-authored include the Pan-African Antimicrobial Treatment Guidelines upon invitation by the Africa CDC, the Ethiopian National Guidelines for pediatric COVID, viral hepatitis, dengue and chikungunya. He is currently involved in the writing of the revised National HIV, Hepatitis B and C management guidelines for Botswana. Dr. Alemayehu maintains a keen clinical and research interest in inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). He has written the first institutional guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of children suspected of having IEIs in Ethiopia and has published a few case reports and series regarding Ethiopian children with various IEIs. Dr. Alemayehu is also the assistant editor of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases (IJID) and sits on the editorial board of PLoS Global Health journal. He has been recognized as an emerging leader in infectious diseases by the International Society of Infectious Diseases (2022 - 2024).

Dr. Julia Hews-Girard

Canada

Dr. Julia Hews-Girard

Canada

Dr. Julia Hews-Girard is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and a professional practice lead in Alberta Health Services. She completed her PhD at Queen’s university and her post-doctoral training at the Cumming School of Medicine at UCalgary. Her research focuses on improving access to, and delivery of, acceptable mental and physical health services for emerging adults. A significant focus of her work is on measurement; particularly the validity of screening tools in underserved populations, and the impact that individual understanding of the concept being measured has on the results of these tools and the way in which programs (care, education, support) are evaluated. She is currently leading several national studies investigating validity and understanding of several commonly used screening tools (C-SSRS, PH-Q) among post-secondary students, and a multi-site study investigating understanding of self-compassion and medical trauma among women and girls. Other areas of work include program evaluation, peer support, and expanded nursing practice. She is a full member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the Mathison Center for Mental Health Research and Education and the Alberta Children's Research Institute. She is a member of the INGID board, and an associate member of CANHC, CANHAEM and DIVERT mental health.

Prof Jessie N. Githanga

Kenya

Prof Jessie N. Githanga

Kenya

Professor Jessie Githanga, MBChB (UON), MMed (Path), FCPath-ECSA, is an Adjunct Associate Professor for research in the Department of Human Pathology at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, with over 30 years of experience teaching Haematology to both undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, and supervising numerous PhD and Master's theses. As an Honorary Consultant in Haematology at Kenyatta National Hospital, she provided crucial clinical and laboratory services, including in paediatric haemato-oncology. At Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, she has established a multidisciplinary research centre for clinical trials and has served as the principal investigator (PI) in 14 multinational clinical trials on sickle cell disease. She has also been a PI in collaborative research on childhood cancer in Kenya. She is widely published in peer-reviewed journals, and has made scientific presentations at many national and international conferences. In the public sector, Prof Githanga has been a member of several Ministry of Health technical working groups for cancer and sickle cell disease, and has contributed to in-service training for healthcare workers across different cadres. She currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Nairobi City Cancer Challenge, an initiative by the City Cancer Challenge Foundation aimed at improving access to equitable, quality cancer care. A founder member of the College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa, and the Kenya Society for Haematology and Oncology, Prof Githanga also holds board membership with the Kenya Network of Cancer Organizations, and is a founder trustee/board member of the Kenya Childhood Cancer Trust. She is a member of the Kenya Association of Clinical Pathologists, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Human Quality Assurance Services. She has received various awards for professionalism and service, including from the Kenya Society for Haematology and Oncology (2022), Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital (2023), and the CEO Global award for Most Influential Women in Africa and the Lifetime Achievement Regional Award for Education and Training (2015). • Champion for prioritizing children’s health protection from the harmful impacts of climate change and environmental hazards through her technical collaboration and knowledge sharing within the WHO-Civil Society Working Group on Climate & Health. • Accomplished medical professional with over 30 years of active clinical practice at leading hospitals such as Nairobi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, and Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital. • Demonstrates exceptional leadership and strategic thinking, and has been instrumental in the growth and integration of the Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA), leading to the establishment of its research arm, the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (KEPRECON), and the recent Regional College of Paediatrics (ECSAPACH). • Extensive international exposure providing insight into global public health challenges and solutions. • Excellent understanding of policy environment and the strategic processes and protocol necessary in the development and review of policies. • High-level interaction enegagement in national and international fora geared towards contributing and shaping broader health themes. • Passionate about children's health, particularly concerning environmental factors, immunization, and nutrition within the broader public health agenda. • Key national reference point and mentor in paediatric matters, contributing to training, including designing reference materials, delivery approaches, and undertaking research on topical issues. • Demonstrated ability to collaborate and network effectively with diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals and mobilize resources.

Dr. David Githanga

Kenya

Dr. David Githanga

Kenya

David is Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist and Public Health Specialist practicing at The Nairobi Hospital where he was Chair of Paediatrics for six years till 2007. A graduate with an MBChB and M.Med in Paediatrics from the University of Nairobi in 1984 and 1990 respectively. Between 1991 and 1993, he studied Paediatric Cardiology at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, U.K. He served in Kenyatta National Hospital in the same capacity as well as the Quality Assurance Manager till 1997. He obtained a Diplomate in Children’s Environmental Health in Athens Greece in 2006 and four years later, obtained a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of London (LSHTM). In December 2019, he was awarded an earned PhD for his work on “Prevalence of Chronic Aflatoxin Exposure and the Resultant Clinico-immunological Effects in Children in Makueni County, Kenya” from University of Nairobi, Department of Medical Microbiology. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 2021 and in mid 2022, he was awarded by the Kenya Government a national honors’ award ‘Moran of the Burning Spear’ (MBS). David is a Past Chairman of the Kenya Paediatric Association, a current member of Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG) and Rotary District 9212 Past Chair of Polio Eradication Team for 6 years. He is a Rotarian for the last 30 years and served as President of Rotary Club of Nairobi in 2016/17. David is the current Chair of WHO Regional Committee on Measles-Rubella Eradication. He sat on the board of The Nairobi Hospital where he was the current Chair of Audit Risk & Governance sub-committee of the Board of Management (2020-2024). He is the current Board Chair of World Vision Kenya. David has been an Honorary Lecturer of Paediatrics at the School of Medicine, University of Nairobi from 1994 to date.

Dr Christine Karanja-Chege

Kenya

Dr Christine Karanja-Chege

Kenya

Dr Christine Karanja-Chege holds a master of Medicine (Paediatrics and Child Health) from the University of Nairobi, and Paediatric Infectious Diseases sub-specialisation from the University of Oxford. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Global Child Health from the University of Amsterdam. She is the Chair, Kenyatta University, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. In addition, she is part of the Infectious Siseases team and the Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee (Paediatrics Division), at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, the largest private Children’s Hospital East and Central Africa. Dr. Chege is a passionate child health advocate championing child survival under the umbrella of the Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) where she is a past member of the National Board and a current Board member of the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium (Keprecon). Dr. Chege has participated in a number of technical advisory groups in the Ministry of Health. She is part of the team working on controlling antimicrobial resistance in Kenya under the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (Kenya). She has been an investigator on a number of projects with one recent one being the J&J funded Ebola Vaccine Preparedness initiative, a series of educational webinars bringing together immunization stakeholders from African countries at risk of Ebola outbreaks. She is a member of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) and a member of the standing committee on Immunization, International Paediatric Association (IPA).

Dr. Elizabeth Kiragu

Kenya

Dr. Elizabeth Kiragu

Kenya

Dr. Elizabeth Kiragu is a Paediatric Allergy Specialist and full-time faculty based at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She attended the University of Nairobi and for her undergraduate degree and her Masters in Paediatrics and Child Health. She completed a 2-year Paediatric Allergy fellowship at the University of Cape Town. Dr. Kiragu has established comprehensive allergy services within the Paediatric Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She has a special interest in food allergies, urticaria, asthma and allergy advocacy. She is committed towards advancing allergy care in Kenya at primary care level via presenting on a wide variety of topics at various National and Regional Conferences/Symposiums. She is member of the Emerging Societies Program, World Allergy Training School Steering Committee (ESP/WATS) 2022-2026, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), and Kenya Paediatric Association(KPA) National Board and Scientific Committee. She was Chair of the Allergy Society of Kenya, (ASOK) 2021-2024.

Dr. Janet Markle

U.S.A

Dr. Janet Markle

U.S.A

Janet Markle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology and Department of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the USA. The Markle Lab is interested in understanding genetic determinants of immunity. Our studies are patient-based and focus on the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of inborn errors of immunity. Our lab uses human whole exome and whole genome sequencing to discover novel genetic variants in children with rare infectious, autoimmune, or auto-inflammatory diseases. We use a customized bioinformatic pipeline to sift through large genetic datasets to pinpoint candidate gene variants. Then, we study the impact of these variants on the expression and function of the encoded proteins. We aim to thoroughly characterize the functional impact of each variant at the molecular and cellular levels, and to this end we use a wide variety of both classical and cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, in vitro cell culture approaches, and mass cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing using patient leukocytes. Our group uses both ‘dry-lab’ (computational) and wide variety of ‘wet-lab’ approaches and our interests lie at the crossroads of human genetics, human immunology, and host-microbe interactions. We collaborate with physicians and scientists from diverse specialties including pediatric immunology and rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, and others. Our science has been published in top journals including Science and Science Immunology and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (USA). Please direct inquiries about collaborations to janet.markle@vumc.org.

Prof Ahmed Aziz Bousfiha

Morocco

Prof Ahmed Aziz Bousfiha

Morocco

Professor of Pediatrics, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco profbousfiha@gmail.com Head of the Department of Pediatric Infectious and Immunological Diseases, Ibn Rushd University Hospital. Research Laboratory in Clinical Immunology, Infections, and Autoimmune Diseases. President of the Moroccan Association for Health Communication and Director of its journal: The Moroccan Health Journal. Treasurer of the Moroccan PID Society. General Secretary of the Arab League for Primary Immunodeficiency.

Prof Monika Esser

South Africa

Prof Monika Esser

South Africa

Paediatric Rheumatologist . Emeritus Associate Professor & Retired Head of the National Health Laboratory Tygerberg Immunology Unit, Stellenbosch University , Division of Immunology & Medical Microbiology, Cape Town , South Africa Founder member of ASID. Medical Advisor on the South African Patient Immunodeficiency Board PiNSA. Consultant to the Stellenbosch University/MRC Genetic Working Group for Immunodeficiency Diseases.

Dr. Tshegofatso Mabelane

South Africa

Dr. Tshegofatso Mabelane

South Africa

Dr. Tshegofatso Mabelane is the first HPCSA certified Family Physician Allergist in South Africa and also an author of the book, ” Basics of Allergy in Primary Care”. She obtained her subspecialist qualification in Allergology through the University of Cape Town and College of Medicine South Africa. She also did the allergy exam with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology under the European Union of Medical Specialists. Dr. Mabelane serves as an Chairperson of the Diploma in Allergy for the College of Medicine South Africa. Her research in allergy led to the diagnosis of the 4th largest cohort in the world with red meat allergy.

Dr. Anne Barasa

Kenya

Dr. Anne Barasa

Kenya

Dr. Anne Kasyoka Barasa is a Consultant Pathologist and Lecturer in the Immunology Thematic Unit within the Department of Human Pathology at the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Health Sciences. She served as the Head of the Immunology Unit from March 2019 to March 2025. Dr. Barasa holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi (2006), and a Master of Medicine in Pathology (2012) from the same institution. She has a keen academic and clinical focus on primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), having enhanced her expertise through specialized training including the Clinical Immunology Society‘s Diagnostic School (2019), and the International Alliance for Primary Immunodeficiency Societies (IAPIDS) Advanced School (2020). As an educator, she trains undergraduate and postgraduate medical students in Basic Immunology, Immunopathology and Clinical Immunology. She also provides Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology Consultancy Services at the Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital. Dr. Barasa has been actively involved in advancing PID awareness in Kenya, having organized and participated in several awareness initiatives, symposia and workshops (A-projects) She is the President of the African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID).

Dr. Catherine Mutinda

Kenya

Dr. Catherine Mutinda

Kenya

Dr. Catherine Michelle Munini Mutinda is a Paediatrician and Medical Geneticist serving within the Nairobi City County. She holds and MD, MMed in Paediatrics & Child Health, and MSc in Medical Genetics & Genomics, and a Dip in Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). Dr. Mutinda is a member of KEMRI’s SERU committee A, and holds an adjunct lecturer position at the University of Nairobi in the Paediatrics and Child Health Department. She has been involved in several operational researches and implementation projects in child health, notably, the setting up the Kangaroo Mother Care and breastmilk banking under one roof at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital. She is a collaborator in the Genetics of Retinoblastoma study at the Kenyatta National Hospital. She has run various programs that enhance sexual and reproductive health rights. Dr. Mutinda is a published author with multiple peer-reviewed scientific papers. As the Immediate Past Chair of the Scientific Committee and National Secretary of the Kenya Paediatrics Association, she expanded the association’s reach and influence in child and pediatric health wihin the region. Dr. Mutinda has also served as the Head of Clinical Services of the largest maternity hospital in Kenya for five years, and its Head for two years. A dedicated patient advocate, Dr. Mutinda is committed to ethical, legal and socially responsible growth of genetics practive in Kenya.

Dr. Nahla Hashim Erwa

Sudan

Dr. Nahla Hashim Erwa

Sudan

Dr Nahla Hashim Hassan Erwa, MBBS, DIPRCPATH, EAACI Cert, is an Assistant Professor and Consultant Clinical Immunologist at the Faculty of Medicine and Soba University Hospital, University of Khartoum, Sudan. She has been the Chairperson of the Clinical Immunology Specialty Council, Sudan Medical Specialization Board since 2018. Her clinical immunology experience includes managing adults and children with immunologic and allergic diseases, including diagnostic clinical immunology laboratory skills. She established the clinical immunology unit at Soba University Hospital in Khartoum (2014), which became the main referral center for patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) and other immunological conditions. Her role as a teacher involves training and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical and paramedical personnel in basic immunology, immunopathology and clinical immunology, as well as thesis and research supervision. She is an honorary lecturer at the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Nahla Erwa developed a special interest in PIDs during her early years of clinical training. This grew into a passion that led to her becoming heavily involved in advocating for patients with PID, as well as training doctors and other health care professionals on the diagnosis and management of these conditions nationally, regionally and internationally. She participated in the creation of several of PID documents, and in PID service development in Sudan. Nationally, Dr Erwa is a founding member and Secretary General of the Sudanese Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SSCI&A), and a founder and medical advisor of the Sudanese Organization of Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency (SOPPI). She served as President for the African Society of Immunodeficiency (ASID) (2019-2021), is head of ASID Awareness and Advocacy office (2023-25), a co-founder of the ASID A-project and its first secretary. Nahla is an honorary lifetime member of the Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA), and a member of ESID, IPOPI medical advisory panel (2022) and the regional (Africa region) advisory panel for HAEi (Hereditary Angioedema International).

Dr. Nesrine Radwan

Egypt

Dr. Nesrine Radwan

Egypt

Dr. Nesrine Radwan is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, at Ain Shams University. She also serves as an Immunology Consultant at CCHE-57357 and is currently a board member of both ASID and ARAPIDS. Dr. Radwan graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in 2004, completed her Master’s degree in Pediatrics in 2009 and her MD in 2015. She joined the Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology unit at Ain Shams University in 2010. Her extensive training includes time spent at the Immunology Department and Lab at GOSH, London, UK and the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit at GNCH, Newcastle, UK. Dr. Radwan has supervised more than masters and MD thesis in in Pediatric Immunology. Her main interest is in Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI). She is a co-founder of the Egyptian Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiency (Nada), and has actively participated in various IEI awareness campaigns and workshops in Egypt.

Prof Kirtika Patel

Kenya

Prof Kirtika Patel

Kenya

Prof Patel is the Chair of Pathology at the School Of Medicine at Moi University, Eldoret. She has a Ph.D. in Immunology and has been with the University for the last 23 years. She undertook an MSc in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the Imperial College London and passed with merit in 2019. Her research on Pollen food Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome was presented at BSACI and led to a publication in the journal Allergy. She has also published a case report on Reviewing the Management of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome. Prof Patel has established an allergy clinic at a private hospital in Eldoret and is currently working on setting up the same at Moi Teaching Referral Hospital. She performs Skin Prick and Patch tests on patients referred to her.

Dr. Waceke Ngang’a Kombe

Kenya

Dr. Waceke Ngang’a Kombe

Kenya

My vision is to see the children of Kenya and Africa have access to the best medical management options offered worldwide. This propels me to strive for excellence in the clinical services I offer, my teaching practice and my research studies. I undertook my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences. I then undertook a two year fellowship in Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Cape Town, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. I was the recipient of the 2013-2015 ESPGHAN fellowship award. I work at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH, N) as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and a Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist. I am also the Director of the Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Fellowship. My current research interests are food selectivity among children on the Autism Spectrum and Local Patterns of Biliary Atresia. I am a member of the Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) where I have served as a National Vice Secretary and member of the Scientific Committee. I have also served as an Executive Committee member of the Allergy Society of Kenya (ASOK). I am a current member of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).

Dr. Marybeth Maritim

Kenya

Dr. Marybeth Maritim

Kenya

Dr. Marybeth Maritim is a Consultant Physician and Infectious Disease/ Tropical and Travel Medicine Specialist who is currently working as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Nairobi (UON) Faculty of Health Sciences. She has over 17 years clinical experience in the case management of tropical and infectious diseases at the Kenyatta National and Mbagathi County Hospitals and has trained, supervised and mentored several postgraduate and undergraduate students in her area of expertise. She is a passionate trainer/ mentor and health advocate championing access to safer health products and technologies for neglected tropical and infectious diseases and building capacity in treatment of these diseases. Marybeth is currently serving in several national advisory and technical committees within the Ministry of Health in Kenya including the Kenya National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG), Kenya National Vaccine Safety Advisory Group (NVSAC), NASCOP Advanced HIV Disease Sub-Committee and Guideline Review Committee. She is also a member of the Nairobi County Antimicrobial Stewardship Inter-Agency Committee (CASIC). She is a member of several local and international professional organisations including Kenya Association of Physicians, Kenya Medical Association, HIV Clinicians Society of Kenya, Infectious Disease Society of Kenya, International Society of Travel Medicine, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene among others.

Dr. Angela Migowa

Kenya

Dr. Angela Migowa

Kenya

Dr. Angela Migowa: Championing Pediatric Rheumatology Across Continents When passion meets purpose, lives are transformed — and Dr. Angela Migowa is living proof of this. A trailblazer in the field of Pediatric Rheumatology, Dr. Migowa has dedicated her career to illuminating the often-overlooked world of childhood autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases, particularly across Africa. Her work is not only reshaping clinical care but also creating global ripple effects in advocacy, research, and education. Dr. Migowa is a Consultant Pediatric Rheumatologist and the founding Head of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Aga Khan University, East Africa. She is the visionary founder of the Paediatric Society of the African League Against Rheumatism (PAFLAR), a groundbreaking Pan-African NGO dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of children with rheumatic diseases. Through PAFLAR, she has mobilized a cross-continental network of clinicians, researchers, and advocates — bringing care to regions where it was previously non-existent. Her global influence is further seen through her leadership in Hope Arthritis Foundation, which raises awareness, supports affected families, and trains health professionals on early identification and holistic care. Dr. Migowa’s contributions have positioned her as a key voice in shaping continental policies and global guidelines, including collaborations with international rheumatology alliances. She is a sought-after speaker and mentor, known for her compelling storytelling, deep expertise, and a fierce commitment to health equity. Whether in remote villages or international forums, Dr. Migowa remains anchored in one mission — ensuring that no child suffers in silence due to a lack of access, knowledge, or advocacy. Her presentation at this Immunology conference is more than a talk — it is a call to action for a more inclusive, innovative, and compassionate approach to pediatric autoimmune care.

Dr. Maeve O’Connor

U.S.A

Dr. Maeve O’Connor

U.S.A

Maeve O’Connor MD FACAAI FAAAAI FACP Maeve O'Connor, MD, FACAAI is board certified by the ABIM and ABAI. She is one of the only A/I specialists to have completed the U of Arizona Fellowship in Integrative Medicine and was selected by her peers for the Best Doctors of America database from 2011 to 2024. Dr. O'Connor has been one of Charlotte Magazine's annual "Top Doctors” for pediatric and adult A/I 2007-2024. She attended U of South Carolina School of Medicine, completed her IM Residency at the U of Texas and A/I fellowship at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. She has served on the ACAAI Board of Regents and Advocacy Council and was Speaker of the House of Delegates 2015-2017. Dr. O’Connor is the previous chair of the ACAAI Integrative Medicine Committee, has served as Co-chair of Women’s Health Committee, and served on the website editorial board. She chaired the ACAAI Logo Redesign committee in 2014, participated in the Annual Meeting Planning Committee and has been a Practice Parameters and Annals of A/I journal reviewer. She is the founder of various patient support groups in Charlotte offering her patients and others throughout the community afflicted with allergic/immune disorders an opportunity to discuss their experiences and listen expert advice. Dr. O’Connor heads Allergy Asthma & Immunology Research Institute and has published numerous articles on allergic rhinitis, asthma, desensitization immunotherapy, atopic dermatitis and food allergy. A national expert, Dr. O’Connor has been honored to present lectures on various A/I topics to local, national and international audiences. She has also participated in numerous events to increase awareness and advocacy for allergic disease and is regularly featured locally, and nationally, in newspaper, magazine, radio and television interviews discussing various topics pertinent to allergic disease. Serving on several advisory boards to help further A/I research centered on improving allergic patient outcomes, she also volunteers in a physician outreach program providing free specialty medical visits to eligible uninsured residents. She is proud to hold an annual public asthma screening event and volunteers locally for multiple other health causes close to her heart such as cardiac disease in women and AIDS. She is adjunct clinical professor at UNC – Charlotte and precepts pediatric, internal medicine and family practice residents as well as medical students and Physician Assistant Students. A pioneer for state of the art, patient- centered care and treating the entire patient rather than just a disease state, Dr. O’Connor Founded Allergy Asthma & Immunology Relief, PA (AAIR) in 2013 and Integrative Allergy & Immunology Care, LLC in 2024. She offers A/I sufferers a traditional and integrative approach including education, medications and immunotherapy, acupuncture, psychological and nutritional counseling as well as 24-hour access to healthcare. Dr. O’Connor is the Chief Medical Officer of Alexander Innovations International. She is the past-president and current Chief Medical Officer of the Consortium of Independent Immunology Clinics. As the previous president of the NCAAIS and the SEAAI societies, Dr. O'Connor looks forward to continuing to support the A/I specialty for many years to come.

Dr. Allan Njau

Kenya

Dr. Allan Njau

Kenya

Allan Njau Affiliation: Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya Email: allan.njau@aku.edu Dr. Allan Njau is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Aga Khan University Hospital. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi (2008), Master of Medicine in Anatomic Pathology from the Aga Khan University (2016) and a Fellowship in Molecular Pathology from Augusta University, GA, USA (2020). His interests are in the fields of precision medicine and molecular assays, especially for oncology, and he has a vibrant research agenda in the areas of lung cancer, pathology informatics, endometrial carcinoma, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori infections. Dr Njau is dynamic at adopting and developing molecular testing programs and is a proponent of building local capacity for precision medicine oncology. He is a member of the Association for Molecular Pathology and American Association of Cancer Research.

Dr. Evelyn Ng'ang'a

Kenya

Dr. Evelyn Ng'ang'a

Kenya

Dr. Evelyn Ng'ang'a is a dedicated Paediatrician and Allergy Specialist who serves as the Director and Founder of the Paediatric Allergy Center in Nairobi. She has established numerous allergy clinics across various hospitals in the Nairobi region where she provides Allergy diagnostics and Patient Education. Her academic credentials include a Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Philosophy in Allergology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Ng'ang'a currently holds a position as an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, where she educates medical students on paediatric allergic conditions. Dr. Ng'ang'a's clinical and research interests focus primarily on asthma, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, patient education, and advocacy. Her commitment to advancing the field of allergy medicine is evidenced by her research contributions, resulting in several publications and presentations at both local and international conferences. Dr. Ng'ang'a currently chairs the Allergy Society of Kenya. She maintains active professional affiliations with the World Allergy Organization and the American Academy of Asthma Allergy and Immunology. Additionally, she contributes to the academic community as a topic coordinator with the Frontiers in Allergy Journal.

Banson Barugahare

Uganda

Banson Barugahare

Uganda

Banson Barugahare is a Senior Lecturer in Immunology and Chair of the Microbiology and Immunology Department at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale City, Uganda. Banson is passionate about Immunodeficiencies. He has published in reputable journals on HIV Molecular epidemiology, coinfections, immune activation, and regulation. He contributed to the chapter on Immunodeficiencies in the book Basic and Clinical Immunology, 4th Edition, 2017, by Chemtai K. Alex. He has coordinated JMF - PID/IEI awareness initiatives in Uganda since 2015. He is the author of Challenges and Ideas for Diagnosing Primary Immunodeficiencies in Uganda. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2022;34(6):595-599. Since 2023, Banson has been directing the IEI - Diagnosis in Africa through Research and Education (DARE) program, a JMF Initiative.

Ombeva Malande

Kenya

Ombeva Malande

Kenya

Ombeva Malande is a Stanford Global Health Scholar, a Vaccinologist, and a Pediatric Infectious Sisease specialist. He is a certified Fellow of the College of Paediatricians (Paed ID) of South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Vaccinology, a Master’s in Pediatric Infectious Diseases from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Master of Medicine (Pediatrics) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda & MB.ChB from Moi University, Kenya. He is a Senior Lecturer at Makerere & Moi Universities. He is the Director of the East Africa Centre for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI), a Health Systems' support, Research, Advocacy & Training program, and convenor of three courses: ECAVI Annual Vaccinology Course for Health Professionals, ECAVI Resource Mobilization & Management for Health Course, and ECAVI Vaccine Health Systems, Financing & Logistic management Course. He is a member of the WHO Afro Regional Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (RITAG), as well as a member of the Adverse Events Causality Assessment Committee. His research interests focus on vaccines, immunization, antimicrobial resistance, stewardship, and immunodeficiency and inborn errors of immunity in Africa.

Joseph K. Mbuthia

Kenya

Joseph K. Mbuthia

Kenya

Joseph K. Mbuthia, MB.CH.B, M.Med. Paediatrics, MSc. Paediatric Infectious Diseases Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist in Private Practice Honorary lecturer University of Nairobi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Dr. Husein Janoowalla

Kenya

Dr. Husein Janoowalla

Kenya

Dr. Husein Janoowalla is a General Pathologist who currently practices at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. He completed his postgraduate degree in Pathology at the University of Nairobi. He has a wide interest in General Pathology including immunopathology, microbiology, hematopathology, molecular pathology and cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Angeline Chepchirchir

Kenya

Dr. Angeline Chepchirchir

Kenya

Dr. Angeline Chepchirchir BScN Nursing 2000, MSc. Medical Microbiology 2007, PhD in Tropical and Infectious Diseases 2019 (University of Nairobi) Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi Angeline Chepchirchir is an astute, visionary, result oriented academician, trainer, researcher, manager and a community service resource person with demonstrable leadership in public health systems, nursing practice, training, research and infectious disease surveillance. She has outstanding ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems, manage high performing effective teams and built sustainable linkages, partnerships, networks and collaborations. A firm believer in justice, inclusivity, accountability and sustainable development goals. Main research in HIV-AIDS and Non communicable diseases. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I3kQlocAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao orchid id: orcid.org/ 0000-0002-4033-7869

Swaleh Nyae

Kenya

Swaleh Nyae

Kenya

I am a Kenyan medical doctor specialized in clinical pathology, with a strong background in laboratory medicine, diagnostic pathology, and laboratory management. I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical and Chemical Pathology from Alexandria University, Egypt, and a Doctor of Medicine – bachelor’s degree from Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University, Russia. I currently serve as the Head of Laboratory Services in Lamu County and as a Clinical Pathologist at Lamu County Referral Hospital (Lamu) and Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (Mombasa). My experience includes leadership roles in healthcare management and diagnostic laboratory services.

Prof Imen Ben Mustapha

Tunisia

Prof Imen Ben Mustapha

Tunisia

Imen Ben-Mustapha is a Professor of Immunology. She received her M.D. from the University of Tunis and her M.Sc. from the University Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris. She completed a research fellowship at the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, INSERM U550, in Paris. In 2008, she joined the Medical School of the University of Tunis El Manar and the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, where she has served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and, since 2018, Full Professor in Immunology. She currently leads the national reference diagnostic laboratory for patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis. Dr. Ben-Mustapha is also a member of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. Her research has contributed to the discovery of several new genes and modes of inheritance associated with IEI. Her current work focuses on uncovering the immunological mechanisms underlying IEI with atypical presentation of. She was awarded the University of Montreal/Besrour Prize for Excellence in Research.

Dr. Diana Marangu-Boore

Kenya

Dr. Diana Marangu-Boore

Kenya

Dr. Diana Marangu-Boore is a board certified Paediatric Pulmonologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. She is committed to improving respiratory health regionally and globally through discovery, translation and intervention. Her current research focuses on the genetics and immunology of recurrent and persistent pneumonia and its intersection with interventional pulmonology. Diana is the current treasurer of the African Society of Immunodeficiencies (ASID), and a new member of the ASID registry working group.

Dr. Elaine Yuko

Kenya

Dr. Elaine Yuko

Kenya

Dr Elaine Yuko, MBChB and MMed ENT Surgery UON, Otology fellowship 2021 Apollo Hospital Ahmedaba India. Practicing ENT Head and Neck Surgeon KNH and Diamond ENT clinic. Special in Interest in Otology, Pediatric ENT, the Airway and Allergy

Dr. Doreen Karimi Mutua

Kenya

Dr. Doreen Karimi Mutua

Kenya

MBChB (University of Nairobi, Kenya) / MMed Paed and Child health (University of Nairobi, Kenya) / Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology (Jimma University, Ethiopia) / MSc in Global Child Health (St Jude School of Biomedical Sciences, USA) Dr. Karimi is a resident Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist at the Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital (GCH), where she runs the inpatient and outpatient hematology/oncology services as well as pre- and post- bone marrow transplant follow up. She manages both hematological and solid tumors for example acute leukemia, non-Hodgkins and Hodgkins lymphoma, wilms tumor, neuroblastomas, sarcomas, germ cell tumors and other rarer tumors. She runs a daycare oncology service where chemotherapy is administered on an outpatient basis. Dr. Karimi also manages children with blood disorders in GCH, with sickle cell disease (SCD) being an area of special interest to her. She is an investigator in several multi-site, international clinical trials for patients with SCD. Other hematological diseases she manages include: nutritional anemias, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, primary immune disorders and autoimmune blood disorders. Dr. Karimi has an interest in health systems design and strengthening to deliver quality care to patients. She is keen to raise awareness on primary immune deficiency disorders that are part of neglected diseases in Kenya.

Dr. Anne-Marie Macharia

Kenya

Dr. Anne-Marie Macharia

Kenya

Dr Anne-Marie Macharia is a paediatrician with over 20 years clinical experience, and a specialist in Paediatric Infectious Disease. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Nairobi, and sub-specialised in Paediatric Infectious Disease at the same institution in partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She currently serves as the Head of Paediatric Infectious Disease and Head of Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital, providing care to children with general paediatric conditions as well as severe and unusual infections including immune-suppressed children. She is a member of Kenya Paediatric Association, European Society for Paediatric Infectious Disease, Paediatric and 3rd line NASCOP Technical working groups and MOH Measles Elimination Committee.

Dr Caroline Ndarathi

Kenya

Dr Caroline Ndarathi

Kenya

Consultant Dermatologist, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) / Honorary Lecturer – University of Nairobi (UoN) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Lisa Smith

United Kingdom

Lisa Smith

United Kingdom

Lisa Smith is the Lead Immunology & Allergy Specialist Nurse at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. She qualified as a registered nurse in 1996 and worked in both Respiratory and Haematology before specialising in Immunology and Allergy in 2006. She leads a team of nurses delivering a regional service in Bristol and across the Southwest of England, providing care for patients with both immunological conditions and complex allergy. Lisa has her own clinical caseload and has extensive experience in caring for Allergy patients. She is the current treasurer for the International Nursing Group for Immunodeficiencies (INGID)and has previously been the Chairperson of the Immunology & Allergy Nurses Group in the UK.

Dr. Elizabeth Kagotho

Kenya

Dr. Elizabeth Kagotho

Kenya

MBChB (UON), MMED Clin. Path. (AKU), Fellowship (Haem Path), U of T (Canada) Dr. Elizabeth Kagotho is a Consultant Haematopathologist and Assistant Professor at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. Dr. Kagotho honed her expertise during her residency training at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, before pursuing a Haematopathology Fellowship at Toronto General Hospital (University of Toronto). This intensive training provided her with unparalleled exposure to state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, including advanced flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular genomics, which significantly deepened her understanding of hematological malignancies. Currently, Dr. Kagotho serves as the medical director designee, of the Flow cytometry department at AKUH, N. In this role, she oversees a wide range of activities, from routine immunophenotyping of acute leukemias and lymphomas to troubleshooting, resident teaching, and research. Her research focuses on improving access to advanced molecular diagnostics in Kenya, particularly for hematological neoplasms like acute myeloid leukemia (AML), by validating and implementing more accessible techniques.

Mary-Louise Daly

Switzerland

Mary-Louise Daly

Switzerland

Member of INGID since 2010. Secretary of INGID from 2010 – 2016. I am Irish and have been living in Basel since 2007. I trained in Germany and worked for 10 years in the NHS, UK before moving to Switzerland. My qualifications include registered Nurse, MA (Medical Anthropology), MSc (Anal Chemistry). I work as an advanced practice nurse at the University Hospital Basel, rheumatology department since 2018, mainly with adolescents. I am a member of the board of the University Center for Immunology and have been involved in developing a German-speaking immunology nurse network, involving nurses from Germany and Switzerland. I am on the Swiss board for rare diseases.

Why Attend Our Event!

Connect with experts, and advance your practice in immunology and allergy care across Africa.

Professional Networking

Meet experts, share insights, and build lasting collaborations.

Personalised Medicine Advances

Tailored treatments improving outcomes for allergy patients today.

Immunodeficiencies in Africa

Addressing unique regional challenges through clinical research collaboration.

Training for Young Professionals

Affordable access to knowledge, skills, and mentorship opportunities.

The Allergy Society of Kenya (ASOK) was registered in 2007 under the Registrars of Societies, Kenya and officially launched on the 20th of November 2008 by a group of Kenyan medical practitioners from different fields of specialty in response to the realization that allergies were a growing concern.

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