Collins Ngetich joined ILRI-Tick Unit as a research associate in February 2020 to support the unit’s research and development activities on ticks and tick-borne diseases of animals
Collins is part of a vibrant team of researchers working on East Coast fever (ECF), highly lethal disease of cattle transmitted by ticks. As part of this, he is closely involved in the laboratory propagation of Theileria parva, the causative agent of ECF, through it bovine host and tick vector. This entails application of a range of entomological and parasitological procedures as well as understanding the critical nature of laboratory maintaince of tick colonies.
A critical function of Mr Ngetich’s role at ILRI is providing lab services to the ILRI CRO division that is embedded under its clinical facilities. This include conducting diagnostic assays such as ELISA and PCR and preparing and storing animal samples for future analyses. He also helps look at experimental animals enrolled at the unit.
Collins holds a bachelor’s degree (2016) from University of Eldoret, Kenya, and currently pursuing Master’s degree in Applied Parasitology at Kenyatta University, Kenya.