African-led health research · Kisumu, Kenya
From evidence to impact across the whole life course.
A KEMRI research & policy hub turning rigorous clinical science into health solutions that reach women, children, and communities, from infancy to adulthood.
Who we are
An African-led research organization with over a decade of proven excellence in clinical trials, implementation science, and health policy.
Kargeno connects people, ideas, and action for lasting change. We bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world health solutions, working across Kisumu County and Kenya to improve outcomes for women, children, and vulnerable populations.
Our work spans sexual, reproductive, adolescent and child health, from randomized clinical trials and implementation science through to the policy decisions that determine how care is delivered.
A KEMRI Centre for Microbiology Research hub
Dr. Maricianah Onono
Founder & Principal Investigator · MBChB, MMed, MSc, PhD · Board Chair, Africa, DNDi
Our approach
Five areas, one purpose
We follow health from the first months of life through to adulthood, matching the right science to each stage.
Infants
Vaccine trials and community case management
RSV vaccine
Adolescents
School health, HPV vaccination, empowerment.
KEN SHE · Vijana Shamba
Young women
HIV prevention, PrEP, reproductive health.
EXPrESSIVE · ECHO
Pregnant women
Perinatal mental health, HIV care integration
Tunawiri · Tatua
Adults
Vaccine and prevention trials in the community.
COVID-19 vaccine
Core expertise
Five areas, one purpose
We design, test, and implement health innovations, then carry the evidence into policy and practice.
HIV prevention & PrEP
Prevention trials and digital approaches to PrEP delivery.
Vaccine trials
Phase II–IV trials in infants, adolescents, and adults.
Sexual & reproductive health
HPV prevention, contraception, and reproductive care.
Mental health
Integrating mental health into antenatal and HIV services.
Implementation science
Testing how proven interventions work in real systems.
How we work
An end-to-end model
We don’t stop at discovery. We carry findings through to the systems and policies that put them to use. pulvinar dapibus leo.
01 — Discover
Clinical trials
Rigorous Phase II–IV trials to international GCP standards.
02 — Apply
Implementation science
Testing what works, and what lasts, in real health systems.
03 — Change
Policy translation
Evidence into national guidelines and technical working groups.
Featured studies
Research in motion
A selection from a portfolio that has spanned vaccines, HIV and HPV prevention, perinatal mental health, and child health.
Young Women/clinic
Drug trial
Ongoing
EXPrESSIVE (MK-8527)
First Kenyan site activated for a multinational trial of a once-monthly oral medicine for HIV prevention in adolescent girls and young women aged 18–25.
HIV prevention MSD / Gates
Infant Vaccine Trial
Implementation
Ongoing
Vijana Shamba Maisha
Assessing the effects of a multisectoral climate-smart agricultural intervention on the reproductive and sexual health of adolescent girls and young women
Adolescent health NIH
School health/Adolescents
Vaccine trial
Ongoing
PEARL / VAD00004
Phase III, randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in infants and toddlers. 99% study retention.
RSV vaccine Sanofi
Mentor mothers/ antenatal
Implementation
Active
Tunawiri
Mentor-mother delivery of problem-management therapy for perinatal women living with HIV .
Perinatal mental health NIH
Oral HPV Study
Cohort study
Completed
Oral HPV
Oral HPV prevalence, persistence, and risk factors in HIV-positive and at-risk HIV-negative men and women in south-western Kenya.
HPV MERCK
postpartum Care
Implementation
Active
Tatua
Adapting a lay health worker problem-solving therapy intervention for at-risk pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV.
Maternal mental healthNIH (R34)
Our reach
A networked health system
A hub-and-spoke model coordinates care, labs, data, and quality across Kisumu County, linking high-volume sites, community facilities, and schools.
27
Facilities, from high-volume to community
20
Secondary schools in the health network
26
Catchment areas with trained CHVs
97%+
Participant retention across studies
Publications & policy
106 papers, real-world influence
Our findings appear in the world’s leading medical journals and shape national health guidelines.
NEJM
New England Journal of Medicine
The Lancet
incl. Lancet Regional Health
Nature Medicine
High-impact research
BMJ Global Health
Global health evidence
Cervical cancer
Single-dose HPV vaccine efficacy & durability
KEN SHE trial results in NEJM Evidence, Nature Medicine, and Nature Communications, shaping HPV vaccine policy.
HIV · Contraception
HIV incidence across contraceptive methods
The ECHO randomised trial, published in The Lancet.
Policy
5 national policy documents shaped
Kenyan RH-HIV integration and iCCM frameworks and toolkits
Adolescent health
Livelihoods, nutrition & mental health
The Shamba Maisha randomised trial in BMJ Global Health.
Funders & partners
Backed by global health leaders
We collaborate with funders, sponsors, and academic institutions across four continents
Funders & sponsors
Academic & research partners
In collaboration
The networks behind the work
Our studies are run with leading institutions and sponsors across global health research.
Host institution
KEMRI Centre for Microbiology Research
Kargeno operates as a research and policy hub within Kenya's national medical research institute.
Governance
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
Our PI serves as Board Chair, Africa and Board Member, Global, linking the hub to global R&D for neglected diseases.
Networks
COVPN, UW CFAR & national TWGs
We contribute to prevention networks and national technical working groups shaping policy.
Get involved
Partner with us to turn evidence into impact
Whether you fund research, run trials, or shape policy, there’s a place for you in our work across Africa.