Benson C. O. Nyambega, PhD

Dr. Nyambega is a senior lecturer in biochemistry and a researcher at Maseno University’s School of Medicine, and the former director of research and innovations at Maseno University. He holds a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has been a fellow of the European Union’s Poverty-Related Disease College (PRD), European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Sonderforschungsbereich 544 “Kontrolle tropischer Infektionskrankheiten’’ Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg (ZMBH) in Germany, and a visiting researcher at Hitachi’s Life Sciences Research Laboratory in Tokyo. His training extends to global health, research ethics, intellectual property and genetic resources in support of innovation, biosafety/biopreparedness, clinical mentorship, molecular immunology, bioinformatics, functional genomics, and reverse genetics.

Courses Taught

Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
Bio-Security Global Health Issues and Challenges

Select Publications

Bor, H., Maina, E. N., Nyambega, B., Patel, K. T., Ochieng’ Olwal, C., Nalyanya, W., & Gavamukulya, Y. (2021). The Potential of Differentiation-Related Gene-1 (DRG1) as a Biomarker for Metastasis of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, 33(20), 162-169. https://doi.org/10.9734/jammr/2021/v33i2031118

Lilian Owoko, Charles Olang’o, Benson Nyambega (2019) Socio-demographic Factors of HIV-Positive Adolescents on Second-line ART Regimen and their Influence on Adherence in Rural Western Kenya IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 24, Issue 4, Ser. 7 (April. 2019) 41-51 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. DOI: 10.9790/0837-2404074151

Lilian Owoko, Charles Olang’o, Benson Nyambega (2019) Exploring Caregiver-Teen-Communication on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Adolescents Living With HIV in Gem Sub-County, Western Kenya. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies Vol 7 Issue 5 DOI No.: 10.24940/theijhss/2019/v7/i5/HS1905-060 (May. 2019) 145-153

Awuoche, E. O., Weiss, B. L., Mireji, P.O., Vigneron, A.,  Nyambega, B., Murilla, G. and  Aksoy, S. (2018) Expression profiling of Trypanosoma congolense genes during development in the tsetse fly vector Glossina morsitans morsitans. Parasites & Vectors. 11 (1), 1-18

Awuoche E.O, Weiss B.L, Vigneron A, Mireji PO, Aksoy E, Nyambega B, et al. (2017) Molecular characterization of tsetse’s proboscis and its response to Trypanosoma congolense infection. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 11(11): e0006057. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006057

Momanyi, V.K., Nyambega, B. and Onyango, M.A. (2015) An Investigation into the Factors Predisposing Workers to High Levels of Pesticide Exposure in Machakos District, Kenya.  Intl. J. of Sci. and  Res. 5(11): 315-322

Nyambega B, Helbig C, Masiga DK, Clayton C, Levin MJ (2014) Proteins Associated with SF3a60 in T. brucei. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91956. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091956

Nyambega, B., Juri Ayub, M., Simonetti, L; Duffy, T., Longhi, S. A., Gómez, K. A., Hoebeke, J, Levin, M.J. and Smulski, C. R. (2012) Selective blockage of trypanosomatid protein synthesis by recombinant antibody anti-Trypanosoma cruzi P2β protein. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36233

Ouna, B. A., Nyambega, B., Manful, T., Helbig, C., Males, M., Fadda, A and Clayton, C.(2012) Depletion of trypanosome CTR9 leads to gene expression defects. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34256

Nyambega, B., Abubakar, L. U., Imbuga, M. O., Abakar, M. H. and Osir, E. O. (2011) Lysis of Trypanosoma brucei brucei by Tsetse Trypanolysin. Kenya J. Sci (B series). 14,26-34

Select Presentations

2021, July 12. Panelist – The Innovation Summit and Exhibition 2021. Https://innovation-ke.com/summit2021

B. Nyambega. Establishment of University Technology Transfer Unit (UTTU) at Maseno University. A project presentation at International Training Programme on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources in Support of Innovation. 2021, June 29. Virtual Setting

Nyambega, B., Falda, A., Helbig, C., Clayton, C. Tetratricopeptide Repeat proteins -likely targets for novel trypanocidals. 8-13th March 2015. Gordon Research Conferences -“Tropical Infectious Diseases”. Galveston, Texas. U.S.

Nyambega, B., D. Masiga, A. Fadda, C.  Helbig and C.  Clayton. The Tetratricopeptide repeat as Targets of Novel Trypanocidals. Sept 10-12th  2014, Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Nyambega, B., B. Ouna, T. Manful, A. Fadda, C.  Helbig, M. Males and C.  Clayton. The Tetratricopeptide repeat repertoire of African Trypanosomes. June 10-15th, Salve Regina University, RI, U.S.

Nyambega, B. Regulation of mRNA expression and translation in African trypanosomes. Walter Reed, Kisumu. 19th August 2009

Juri Ayub, M; Nyambega, B and Levin M. (2005) Caracterización del complejo de las proteínas ribosomales P en Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana. Suplemento no3- pagina 78

Nyambega, B., Juri Ayub, M; Curto, M. A; Bercovich, N; Masiga, D; Longhi, S and Levin M. (2005) Trypanosome RACK 1:Protein-protein liaisons and gene functional assays. Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana. Suplemento no3-pagina 79

Research Interests

Communicable and non-communicable diseases
Molecular parasitology
Cancer care and research


Education

  • PhD, Molecular Biology, University of Buenos Aries (Argentina), Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry
  • MS, Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), Department of Biochemistry
  • BS, Biochemistry/Chemistry, Kenyatta University (Kenya), Department of Biochemistry
  • Dip, Computational Biology, University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Department of Computer Science
Benson C. O. Nyambega, PhD