معرفی
Prof Simon Karanja is an Associate Professor of Medical Epidemiology and the current Dean of the School of Public Health at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He is a Kenyan citizen and a key figure in public health research in Kenya, leading the JKUAT COVID-19 Modelling team and serving on the National COVID-19 Modelling Technical Team that advised the Ministry of Health and National Emergency Response Committee.
Education:
- PhD in Epidemiology, Free University of Berlin, Germany (2005)
- Master of Science in Tropical Epidemiology, Free University of Berlin, Germany and Addis Ababa University (2000)
Research Interests:
His research spans epidemiology, public health, and digital health interventions with emphasis on infectious disease modeling (particularly COVID-19 and TB), utilization of digital tools for testing and linkage to care, optimization of diagnostic services for women and children, and iron deficiency anemia interventions. His work integrates computational modeling with field implementation through partnerships with FIND, ETH Zurich, and USAID-funded initiatives.
Publications:
Prof Karanja has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, one book, and two book chapters in medical literature. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on epidemiological methods and health system strengthening in resource-limited settings, though specific article details are not provided in the source text.
Grants and Projects:
As Principal Investigator, he leads FIND-funded projects including digital tools for COVID-19/TB testing among Nairobi's Boda Boda riders, patient management systems, and diagnostic network optimization for maternal/child health. He serves as Co-PI on ETH Zurich collaborations targeting iron deficiency anemia and has consulted for USAID projects like Health Informatics Governance and Data Analytics (HIGDA) and County Measurement and Learning Program II (CMLAP II).
Leadership and Committees:
Prof Karanja chairs the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) Licensing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Committee and directs JKUAT's multidisciplinary COVID-19 Modelling team, which provided critical data-driven guidance during Kenya's pandemic response.
