Infectious diseases are a core focus for KWTRP and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya and LMICs. Our multidisciplinary approach spans from fundamental discovery science to intervention evaluation and population-level surveillance, drawing on integrated capabilities in pathogen biology, clinical research, and epidemiology. 

We prioritise high-burden, neglected, endemic, epidemic-prone, and re-emerging infections, which include HIV, vector-borne and arboviral diseases (e.g. malaria, chikungunya, dengue, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever), respiratory infections (e.g. RSV, SARS-CoV-2), and bacterial pathogens (e.g. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Shigella). This work serves as a foundational and integrating theme across the Programme, underpinning our vaccines and maternal, neonatal, and child health themes, while providing critical insights into emerging threats, including climate-sensitive diseases and antimicrobial resistance.