Research

Welcome to the Directorate of Research and Training. The Directorate is responsible for the administration and oversight of internally and externally funded projects. The Directorate provides relevant support services to researchers, students, and staff. The Directorate also coordinates training, CMEs, consultancy, extension, and outreach activities to various communities within the country and beyond.  Our commitment is to deliver the best services to researchers and other stakeholders.

To build capacity, promote, coordinate and facilitate research training and uptake activities in the Institution.

To become a Centre of excellence in research and training, reaching out and impacting the target audience with institutional research output.

JOOTRH is a tier 4 health facility according to the current health sector strategic plan. This is the main referral hospital in western Kenya whose role is mainly to offer specialist curative and rehabilitation services. The hospital’s first ISERC was launched in June 2006 and currently draws its membership from diverse professions as per the set standards of the National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation. Further, JOOTRH ISERC was duly registered by the Federal Wide Association in August 2018 and this is renewable every three years. The hospital has equally had a long-term collaboration with major international research agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Walter Reed Research Project (WRP) from the USA, Mildmay International (UK), and local NGOs such as Nyanza Reproductive Health Services (NRHS), FACES, KEMRI, UNIM, K-MET, ICAP (K), etc. Besides, students from the local universities and medical/public health institutions use it both for practical and research activities.

The need for an accredited ISERC is prompted by the strategic position of the hospital as a research center; an increasing number of hospital staff engaging in research, the need to maintain an ethical research code among the staff and students passing through the hospital, and to establish a sound and efficient ethical review structure to process research proposals.

The Directorate of Research and Training was established in the year 2008. It is headed and coordinated by a Director who is answerable directly to the CEO. The Directorate of Research and Training is charged with the responsibility of administering the research policy in the Hospital. The directorate coordinates research proposal scientific and ethical review, identifying and circulating sources of research funding opportunities and bringing the same to the attention of researchers. It also ensures that researchers are provided with expert guidance in research proposal development.

The Directorate of Research and Training serves the role of coordination for the Institutional Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (ISERC) whose function is to,

• Provide independent, competent, and timely review of human research projects in respect of their ethical acceptability.
• Provide ethical oversight, monitoring, and advice for human research projects.
• Prescribe the principles and procedures to govern human research projects including handling of human tissue and/or confidentiality of personal records.

The following Members serve on the committee and constitute members from other like-minded institutions whom we have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with. The committee is comprised of a multidisciplinary team offering an objective review of research projects which ensure the highest standards and principles of ethics in research.

The current ISERC is constituted as follows: –

1. Ms. Janet Agaya-Member-ENV. HEALTH, HND.CHD, MPH (EPIDE). (KEMRI/CDC)
2. Dr. Godfrey Allan Otieno – Member-MBChB, M.MED. (PEDS). (KEMRI).
3. Dr Caroline Nasambu Wafula (DRT – Member – B. PHARM, M. PHARM (CLIN. PHARM).  Master of Business Administration (Strategic Leadership Option). (JOOTRH)
4. Mr. Antony Ayora – ISERC Secretary-HnD,Bsc(HSM),Msc(Epidemiology/ International Health,PhDc.) (JOOTRH)
5. Ms. Wilbroda Makunda –Member- KRN, BSN, HND Psy COUNSELING, MChD. PhD c,(JOOTRH)
6. Dr. Paul Mitei- Member – Member- MBCh, B, M.MED. (OBS/GYN). (JOOTRH)
7. Ms. Jacqueline Ingutia -Member- LLB, MA (Peace and Conflict) Coventry, (KNCHR Kisumu office).
8. Rev. Julius Anjiri – Deputy Chairperson – lay member- DIPLOMA THEOLOGY. (ACK), Kisumu
9. Dr. Mary Atieno Onyango-Chair-B.PHARM, M.PHARM- (CLIN.PHARM). (MASENO UNIVERSITY)
10. Professor. Stephen Ogendo – Member- MBCh,B. MMed.Surgery. (Maseno UNIVERSITY)
11. Mr. Fred Ouma-Member–CLIN. MED, (OPTH), MCHD. (Private Practice)
12. Mr. Philip Nyaswa– Member- PhD- (Uzima University)
13. Dr. Solomon Syanda Sava- Member-

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Institutional Scientific Ethics Review Committee (ISERC)) was first accredited in 2013 by the National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). The ISERC was then mandated to review research proposals/protocols to ensure all research adhered to ethical concerns of the study field and the community in which the research takes place does not suffer any research-related harm. The JOOTRH ISERC reviews proposals/protocols for JOOTRH staff, students, and researchers from local, regional and international organizations. It provides autonomous, proficient, and prompt review of a variety of research protocols in various research fields. The Committee reviews and approves research proposals that uphold ethical principles. It draws its mandate via accreditation by the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI), Government of Kenya under the Science Technology and Innovation Act No. 28 of 2013.