Our Programs & Activities

Building Capacity and Creating Impact

Making a Difference Through Strategic Programs

ACMHR-K delivers comprehensive programs focused on capacity building, education, research advancement, and community health promotion. Our programs bring together scientists, healthcare professionals, educators, and community members to create lasting impact.

Featured Programs

Community Outreach Completed Free

National Stakeholder Engagement Forum on the Review of Legal Notice No. 115 of 2015 on Industrially Produced Trans Fatty Acids

As part of the stakeholders of the trans fatty acid elimination policy development initiative, the ACMHR-K participated in a stakeholder consultation convened b...

Jul 10, 2026

Best Western Premier Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi.

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Training Completed Free

Continuing Medical Education (CME): Kitui County Referral Hospital

Theme: The Impact of Industrial Trans Fats on Heart Health

The Alliance for Cardio-Metabolic Health and Research – Kenya (ACMHR-K), in collaboration with Kitui County Referral Hospital, successfully conducted a CPD-accr...

May 20, 2026

New OPD Boardroom, Kitui County Referral Hospital

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Training Completed Free

National Dialogue on the Regulation of Industrial Trans-Fats in Kenya

Theme: ssemination of the Policy Brief on Elimination of Industrially Produced Trans Fatty Acids and Regulatory Process Update

The Alliance for Cardio-Metabolic Health and Research-Kenya (ACMHR-K) is participating in a multi-stakeholder policy programme on the elimination and regulation...

May 07, 2026

Maanzoni Lodge, Machakos, Kenya

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Program Categories

Training

Capacity building and skill development programs

Workshops

Interactive learning and professional development

Research

Scientific investigations and innovation

Key Programs

ACMHR-K Ambassador Training Program – 2026 Cohort

Theme: Building a Healthier Life Through Cardio-Metabolic Research and Action

The Alliance for Cardio-Metabolic Health and Research – Kenya (ACMHR-K) successfully conducted its inaugural Ambassador Training Program in February 2026. The three-week program equipped participants with knowledge, leadership skills, and practical understanding of cardiometabolic health challenges affecting communities in Kenya and beyond.

2026 Cohort of ACMHR-K Ambassador Speakers

Family Medical specialist

Alex Kiema Nguma, HSC

Kitui County Referral Hospital

Burden, Trends, and Trajectories of Cardiometabolic Illnesses in Kenya

Alex Kiema Nguma, HSC, is an accomplished Family Medicine Clinical Officer with over a decade of experience across primary care, emergency response, and public health systems. He is a recipient of the Head of State Commendation (HSC) for exemplary service to the health sector in Kenya. Mr. Nguma has extensive expertise in comprehensive family medicine, delivering care across the life course-from perinatal and pediatric care to adult and geriatric medicine. His clinical strengths include HIV/TB management, PMTCT services, and chronic disease care, with particular focus on diabetes and hypertension, which are central to Kenya’s cardiometabolic disease burden. He has also contributed to global health emergency response as part of the African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) in Liberia, where he implemented infection prevention and control (IPC) measures during the 2015 Ebola crisis. Mr. Nguma has served as a Clinical Officer In-Charge and Chairperson of the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee, championing quality improvement, mentorship, and workforce capacity building. Mr. Nguma holds a Higher National Diploma in Family Health (KMTC Nairobi) and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health systems management and development. In this session, he will provide an evidence-informed overview of the current burden, population trends, and future projections of cardiometabolic diseases in Kenya, equipping trainees with a grounded understanding of the evolving national landscape.

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Senior Researcher | Group Leader

Eric Banan-Mwine Daliri, PhD

Vilnius University

Lithuania

The Gut–Heart Connection: Microbiota and Cardiometabolic Health

Dr. Eric Banan-Mwine Daliri is an internationally recognized biotechnologist and functional food scientist with over 10 years of global research experience in gut microbiota and metabolic health. He holds a PhD in Food Science and Biotechnology from Kangwon National University (South Korea), with additional training in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Jiangnan University (China) and the University of Cape Coast. Currently he is a Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center. Dr. Daliri leads innovative research on functional foods, probiotics, and nutraceuticals designed to modulate the gut microbiome and improve metabolic outcomes. He has published over 100 SCI-indexed articles, contributed to multiple academic books, and has obtained six patents related to functional foods and metabolic health. A defining strength of Dr. Daliri’s career is his ability to translate laboratory research into scalable, commercially viable food prototypes

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National Treasurer

Lilian Mutanu Mumina

Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians (KUNAD)

Nairobi

Nutrition and Metabolic Wellness: From Food to Function

Lilian Mutanu Mumina is a Registered and Licensed Clinical Nutritionist and the National Treasurer of KUNAD. She holds a BSc in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University and advanced training in Health Leadership, Transformational Leadership, and Policy Advocacy from the University of Washington. Currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology and Disease Control), she is the founder of Mumina Wellness Solutions and co-founder of Thee Nutritionists’ Corner, where she promotes nutrition, wellness, and public health advocacy.

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International Development Consultant | Science & Innovation Policy Expert

Nicholas Odongo, PhD

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

Nairobi

Translating Research into Policy and Practice

Dr. Nicholas Odongo is a science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy expert with a PhD in Public Administration from Korea University. He is a Research Fellow, Research Manager, and Deputy Head at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), where he oversees a USD 7.8 million portfolio supporting science funding agencies across 17 African countries. He specialises in translating research into policy and socioeconomic impact, has led major international development initiatives, and supports implementation of the African Union’s STISA-2034 agenda.

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Senior Researcher & Lecturer

Olakunle Sanni, PhD

University of Johannesburg

South Africa

Herbal Medicine and Metabolic Health

Dr Olakunle Sanni has a PhD in Biochemistry with extensive experience in metabolic and biochemical research. His research is focused on preclinical studies and molecular mechanisms underlying diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic disorders. He has over 30 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and contributions to international book chapters. Presently, Dr Olakunle is a lecturer and senior researcher at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he has supervised and co-supervised several postgraduate students.

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Founder, ACMHR-K

Simon Aloo

Monash University-Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Australia

Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk

Dr. Simon Aloo is a researcher specializing in translational medicine. He is currently based at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia, where his work advances understanding of lipid-mediated mechanisms in cardiometabolic disorders. Dr. Aloo completed his first PhD in Food Science and Biotechnology (2024) at Kangwon National University, with research focused on plant bioactives and functional ingredients for the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. He is currently pursuing a second PhD in Biomedicine at Monash University, investigating the role of lipid metabolism in cardiometabolic disease

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Training Cohorts

2026 ACMHR-K Ambassador Cohort

Theme: Building a Healthier Life Through Cardio-Metabolic Research and Action Purpose of the Program • To build a community of ACMHR-K ambassadors, supporting leadership, advocacy, and community engagement in cardiometabolic health • To strengthen research, communication, and policy engagement skills in cardiometabolic health Program Features ✓ Expert-led live sessions via Zoom ✓ Interactive discussions and Q&A with speakers ✓ Exposure to international research perspectives on cardiometabolic health ✓ Certificate of Completion and Physical Graduation in Nairobi ✓ Recognition of an outstanding participant as ACMHR-K Ambassador ✓ Possible internet bundle support for selected participants. Program Structure • Duration: 3 weeks (11th February 2026-26th February 2026) • Schedule: 6 sessions (2 sessions per week) • Mode: Online (via Zoom)-interactive lectures and discussions • Graduation: Physical ceremony in Nairobi Program Topics 1. Burden, Trends, and Trajectories of Cardiometabolic Illnesses in Kenya (Speaker: Alex Kiema Nguma, HSC) 2. Translating Research into Policy and Practice (Speaker: Dr Nicholas Odongo, PhD) 3. Herbal Medicine and Metabolic Health (Speaker: Dr Olakunle Sanni, PhD) 4. Nutrition and Metabolic Wellness: From Food to Function (Speaker: Ms. Lilian Mutanu Mumina) 5. The Gut–Heart Connection: Microbiota and Cardiometabolic Health (Speaker: Dr Eric Banan-Mwine Daliri, PhD) 6. Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk (Speaker: Dr Simon Okomo Aloo, PhD)

Feb 11, 2026 Online: Zoom 16 Trainees

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Workshops

1 workshop available

Empowering Kenyan Women in Research, Career, and Leadership Workshop

Jun 03, 2026 - Jun 04, 2026

Online: Zoom

Post-doctoral associate

Vijayalakshmi Selvakumar, PhD

Rochester University

United States

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Selvakumar is a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in microbiology, immunology, and cancer biology, with over 10 years of international research and teaching experience across the United States, South Korea, and India. She is a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Rochester, where she is advancing cutting-edge research in cancer biology and microbiome science. Previously she served at different capacities at Kangwon National University and Kyungpook National University, contributing as a Research Professor, Postdoctoral Fellow, and Research Assistant Professor. During this time, she led projects in gut microbiota modulation, metabolomics, functional foods, and immunomodulatory therapies. Before she moved to South Korea, Dr. Vijayalakshmi was a Research Scientist Askoscen Probionics R&D, India. Dr. Vjay has also been an Adjunct Professor, and Assistant Professor. Dr. Vijayalakshmi has authored over 48 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals and has contributed to multiple book chapters in microbiology and biotechnology. Her research has been supported by international funding bodies, including the National Research Foundation of Korea (BK21 program). She also serves as a Review Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and Associate Editor for the Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Through this program, Dr. Vijayalakshmi will share her expertise, mentorship, and global perspective to inspire and empower women to excel in research, leadership, and beyond.

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Deputy Principal

Grace Misere, PhD

Senior Specialist School

Australia

Dr. Grace Misere is a dedicated mathematics educator, leader, and mentor with over 16 years of experience across secondary and tertiary education. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Science) in Mathematics and Physics from Moi University in Kenya, a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences from the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Kenya, a Master of Philosophy in Mathematics from the University of Ghana, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mathematics from La Trobe University, Australia. She is currently a Deputy Principal at a senior specialist school in Australia, where she provides strategic leadership, supports inclusive education practices, and champions student wellbeing and academic success. Her leadership journey is grounded in collaboration, empowerment, and a strong commitment to creating opportunities for both staff and students to thrive.

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Senior Research officer (Bioinformatics)

Malathi Dona, PhD

Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Australia

Dr. Malathi received her PhD in Statistics from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, in 2018. During her PhD, she developed novel statistical methods to analyse large-scale omics data and discover disease-associated genes. After completing a short postdoctoral position at the University of Melbourne in 2019, Malathi joined the Cardiac Cellular Systems Laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute as a Research Officer to apply her bioinformatics expertise to cardiovascular research. Her research focused on developing advanced bioinformatics pipelines to study complex cardiovascular tissues, including the heart, aorta and liver, to better understand cellular changes that contribute to disease development. With more than 12 years of experience in bioinformatics, Malathi is currently working as a Senior Research Officer in the Systems Medicine and Bioinformatics Laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Malathi uses cutting-edge computational biology and bioinformatics approaches to integrate single-cell omics technologies with large-scale population-level biobank data to gain deeper

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PhD candidate

Violet Goro

Ewha Womans University

South Korea

Ms Violet Goro is an education specialist and development practitioner with expertise in educational technology, curriculum innovation, research, and development cooperation. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Arts) with First Class Honors from Kenyatta University and a Master of Education Technology. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Development Cooperation from Ewha Womans University, South Korea. Her professional work focuses on leveraging technology and innovative educational approaches to improve learning outcomes, strengthen educational systems, and promote sustainable development. With a strong background in research and evaluation, she is committed to generating evidence-based solutions that enhance educational quality and impact. Goro's key interests include advancing quality education through technology and innovation, building institutional and human capacity for sustainable educational development, and empowering learners and communities through knowledge sharing, collaboration, and leadership.

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