Scientific Research Portfolio

Elekiah Anguko

Kenyan Research Scientist specializing in Molecular Virology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Artificial Intelligence for Infectious Disease Research.

Biography

Elekiah Anguko is a Kenyan Research Scientist specializing in Molecular Virology, Genomics, Artificial Intelligence, and Computational Biology. His research focuses on elucidating molecular and genomic temporal patterns of respiratory viruses, zoonotic pathogens, and arboviruses across tropical Africa.

He has extensive experience in surveillance and genomic evolution studies involving Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Coronaviruses, and Influenza viruses. He currently leads the Department of Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology at KEMRI–CGHR.

“Building resilient public health systems through genomics, data science, and artificial intelligence.”

In addition to his scientific leadership, he serves as the Chief Technology Officer and Scientific Director at The GENA Initiative, where he contributes to the development of open-source bioinformatics pipelines, AI-powered analytics, and public health software for infectious disease surveillance.

Research and Scientific Contributions

Anguko's work spans molecular virology, genomic epidemiology, computational biology, pathogen surveillance, and epidemic intelligence. His interdisciplinary research integrates artificial intelligence, genomics, and epidemiological analytics to strengthen infectious disease response systems.

  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) genomic evolution and surveillance
  • Influenza virus epidemiology and molecular characterization
  • Artificial Intelligence for disease modeling and outbreak prediction
  • Bioinformatics pipeline development for pathogen genomics
  • Deep learning applications in infectious disease analytics
  • Public health innovation and epidemic intelligence systems

Collaborations

Anguko has collaborated with multiple international institutions and organizations in advancing pathogen genomics, artificial intelligence, and infectious disease research.

  • Gates Foundation – Co-led a Global South-focused MultiFinder framework for AI disease modeling.
  • University of Edinburgh – Research on Respiratory Syncytial Virus genomics and phylogeography.
  • Institut Pasteur Dakar – Studies on respiratory virus genomic evolution across African regions.
  • Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Singapore – Artificial Intelligence for infectious disease research.
  • LakeHub Foundation – Training and capacity building in AI, genomics, and deep learning.

Selected Publications

1. Anguko, E., Nyawanda, B. O., Mbugua, N., et al. (2026). Temporal patterns and disease severity associated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus A and B in Kenyan infants, 2011–2024.
2. Anguko, E., Opiyo, J., Omondi, D., et al. (2026). Epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and genomic insights of Influenza B lineages among pregnant-postpartum mothers and infants in Kenya, 2015–2025.
3. Onyango, C.O., Hines, J.Z., Ochieng, M., Anguko, E., et al. (2025). High prevalence of varicella zoster virus infection among persons with suspected mpox cases during an mpox outbreak in Kenya.
4. Yeda, R., Makalliwa, G., Ouma, C., Anguko, E., et al. (2024). Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated in Children Below Five Years and Food Animals, Kisumu County, Kenya.

Contact and External Links

Email: EAnguko@kemri.go.ke

Research Interests: Molecular Virology, Pathogen Genomics, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Epidemiological Analytics, Bioinformatics.

Affiliations: KEMRI-CGHR, The GENA Initiative, Public Health Research Networks.

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