Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi (KCMC), and the Joint Malaria Programme (JMP) Tanzania
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi (KCMC) was established in 1971 and is a constituent college of Tumaini University. It is situated in Moshi, north-eastern Tanzania at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The College has an active Faculty of Medicine which offers MMed programmes as well as undergraduate degrees. It has a small, evolving PhD programme. KCMC has links to LSHTM as well as to many other northern partners. The Gates Malaria Partnership supported the construction of a biotechnology laboratory at KCMC, which now supports an active programme of malaria, HIV and tuberculosis research.
Malaria research activities
Initiatives and research activities currently being undertaken include:
- Entomology - as a member of PAMVEC (a Malaria Vector control consortium) there are many research activities going on in this area. The insectary which is equipped with modern facilities for rearing mosquitoes has allowed this area of research to become quite active recently. Other studies include the characterization of malaria breeding sites.
- Clinical trials - work focuses mainly on drug and vaccine trials and diagnostics with a number of ongoing studies being conducted such as; mass drug administration to prevent malaria and the effect of micronutrients in the health and development of children. The Korogwe site which is also used by the Joint Malaria Programme (JMP) has well equipped facilities for vaccine trials and is the site of the ongoing RTS,S trial.
- Immunology – areas of study include; Malaria Immunoassay (AFROIMMUNO ASSAYS), longitudinal studies on the dynamics of submicroscopic parasites and immune response related to protection versus clinical malaria.
- Molecular/biochemistry - ABC transporters of Plasmodium falciparum, multi-drug resistant proteins, GSTs polymorphisms.
- Epidemiological studies - malaria epidemiology in different areas in the country, longitudinal surveys, characterization of endemicity.
- Health systems - e.g. malaria control programs.
In these fields local experts may be available to serve as internal supervisors. The Biotechnology lab is well equipped for laboratory based studies but certain areas of experimental research may need to be performed at the northern partner Institutions e.g. cloning.
With the available infrastructure and field sites available, KCMC can accommodate a wide variety of malaria studies within the remit of MCDC with any technology transfer and support needed being provided from the Northern partners.