Kariuki Thomas Maina was elected as an AAS Fellow in 2009. As a fellow, Kariuki Thomas Maina contributes to the development of the Academy's strategic direction through participation in AAS activities and governance structures. This gears the Academy's vision of transforming African lives through science.
Tom Kariuki is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and the University of York, UK, where he undertook his PhD studies in immunology under the mentorship of Prof Alan Wilson. He currently works at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR; www.primateresearch.org), a Biomedical and Conservation biology facility that is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases and Human Reproduction, and an African ANDI Centre of Excellence in Preclinical Research, located in Nairobi, as Senior Research Scientistand current Director. His research interests are on the immunology of major and neglected infectious diseases, co-infection of major and neglected diseases and the influence of worm infections on vaccination outcomes. He has published widely on aspects of vaccines and diagnosticsdevelopment for schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), malaria and co-infections. His research support comes from the European Foundations, NIH, South-South collaborations and local funding organizations. He is a recipient of various international awards including Fellowship of the African Academy of Sciences, Senior Fellowship of the European Foundations Initiative for Neglected Tropical Diseases and presidential honor of the Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya for public service. He is the current President of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS), a committee member of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS)-Education Committee, and member of the management committee/acting Treasurer of the African Academy of Sciences. He also serves on other sporting, community and academic boards. He is married with two daughters.
