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CEFERD

The Centre for Family Health Research and Development advances clinical, public health and epidemiological research in Kenya through collaboration with academic institutions, government health agencies and international research partners.

Research at CEFERD

Our Data, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Clinical and Administration departments work together to support safe, ethical and scientifically rigorous studies, from participant care and data capture to quality assurance and study close-out.

Explore Our Research

Our Mission

To advance evidence-based health policies, strengthen health systems, and build sustainable human resource capacity in Kenya and beyond through high-quality clinical, epidemiological, and health systems research.

Our Vision

A leading public health research organization in Kenya, advancing clinical, epidemiological and health systems research to inform health policies and strengthen human resource capacity locally and globally.

Core Values

Integrity – Upholding the highest ethical standards in all our work. Excellence – Striving for quality and innovation in research and practice. Collaboration – Building strong partnerships with communities, institutions, and stakeholders. Impact – Ensuring our evidence translates into meaningful change

Our Purpose

We conduct and support clinical and observational research with academic institutions, government health agencies and international research partners, helping translate evidence into stronger health policies and systems.

Our Studies

Work Area

DIFFCOV Study
The ARS Study
The Neurocognitive Study
TPT Study
Completed Studies

DIFFCOV Study

Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Antenatal Attendance in Kisumu County: Leveraging Technology and Point of Care Diagnostics to deliver Differentiated Care (DiffCov) and integrated suite of digital tools and artificial intelligence for antenatal pregnancy risk stratification in sub-Saharan Africa (DiffCov study) DiffCov was a targeted intervention project focused on sustaining and improving maternal health services during the COVID-19 disruptions in Kisumu County, Kenya

Completed in 2022. The organizational profile lists SWAP and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as funders or partners.

The ARS Study

The ARS study: Validation of Artificial Intelligence-Developed Maternal, Infant Health Insights and Cognitive Intelligence (MIHICTM) Scores for Antenatal Pregnancy Risk Stratification in Low Resource Settings is a validation-focused research project evaluating the performance of an AI-driven scoring system for early pregnancy risk assessment in resource-constrained environments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Completed in 2025. The organizational profile lists SWAP, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the REEN Foundation as funders or partners.

The Neurocognitive Study

The Neurocognitive Study : Effect of Maternal Psychological Health and Malnutrition on Cognitive Function in Children at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study was a research initiative examining the interplay between maternal mental health, child malnutrition, and neurocognitive development in young children attending Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu County, Kenya (2023).

Completed in 2024. The Neurocognitive Study forms part of CEFERD’s completed clinical and public health research portfolio. Contact the team for study enquiries.

TPT Study

The TPT Study is part of CEFERD’s completed research portfolio. The study was completed in 2025.

CEFERD conducts and supports clinical and observational research through coordinated clinical, pharmacy, laboratory, data and administrative teams. Contact us for information about the study.

Completed Research at CEFERD

CEFERD’s completed portfolio includes DiffCov (2022), ARS, EDAN and TPT (2025), and IPT, SOUND and Neurocognitive studies (2024).

Our research brings together clinical, public health and epidemiological expertise. Explore the portfolio or contact CEFERD for study enquiries.

Kulindana Study

Ongoing in the August 2026 portfolio; started May 2026. The organizational profile lists the University of Washington–Kenya as a partner.

ACT TPT Study

ACT-TPT is listed among CEFERD’s upcoming or planned studies in the August 2026 organizational profile. Contact the team for study enquiries.

SMARTMAL DX

Refinement and Practical Clinical Validation of the Rapid Malaria Artificial Intelligence (AI) Processing Tool for Detection of Plasmodium falciparum in Thin Blood Smear Images from Resource-Limited Health Settings

SPOT-TCD

Ongoing in the August 2026 portfolio; started July 2026. The study forms part of CEFERD’s clinical and public health research programme.

HIVE Study

Planned study, as listed in CEFERD’s August 2026 organizational profile. Contact CEFERD for study information and collaboration enquiries.

MOBUS Study

Ongoing in CEFERD’s August 2026 portfolio. Prospective clinical data collection for developing machine learning-assisted obstetric ultrasound screening algorithms in low- and middle-income countries.

The SOUND Study

Completed in 2024. The organizational profile lists the Novartis Foundation as a funder or partner for the SOUND Study.

POCUS Study

Ongoing in CEFERD’s August 2026 portfolio. Development and validation of AI-powered algorithms for point-of-care obstetric ultrasound scanning in low-resource settings.

Kenya HIUD Scale-Up Baseline Assessment

Ongoing in CEFERD’s August 2026 portfolio. Baseline assessment supporting increased access to hormonal intrauterine devices in Kenya.

Five Departments Supporting
Quality Health Research

Studies at CEFERD

Clinical, Public Health
and Epidemiological Research

About Research at Ceferd

Five coordinated departments support safe, ethical and scientifically rigorous research at CEFERD.

The Centre for Family Health Research and Development (CEFERD), based at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, is dedicated to advancing family and community health through evidence‑based research, innovation, and sustainable interventions. Guided by integrity, excellence, collaboration, equity, and impact, CEFERD strives to be a leading centre of excellence that generates knowledge to inform policy, strengthen health systems, and empower communities. Its purpose is to bridge research and practice, transforming data into action that creates healthier, more resilient families and communities across Kenya and beyond.

Contact Us P.O Box 3670 – 40100, Kisumu Tell: +254‑110 720 696 Email: info@ceferd.org / ceferdresearch

“Research is the relentless pursuit of truth—where curiosity becomes courage, and every discovery lights the path for generations to come.”

Dr Dickens Onyango

Principal Investigator

“Science is the art of asking questions the universe cannot ignore—an endless dialogue between curiosity and truth, where each answer sparks new wonder and every discovery reshapes the horizon of human possibility.”

CEO

Elkanah Omollo

“At CEFERD, research is more than discovery—it is the bridge between evidence and action. We generate knowledge that empowers families, informs policy, and strengthens health systems, ensuring that science serves communities where it matters most.”

Dr Dickens Onyango

Principal Investigator

Ceferd Journal

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CHAMISTRY

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CHAMISTRY

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Collaborate with CEFERD

“At CEFERD, we believe that rigorous research is not just about generating data—it is about transforming lives. Every study we undertake is guided by the conviction that evidence must inform action, and that families and communities deserve health solutions rooted in science, compassion, and sustainability.”