Does Vitamin D Deficiency Increase Susceptibility to Malaria and Bacterial Infections

Description

Regular scientific seminar

Objectives

Presenters

1. Mr. Reagan Mogire
   I am a research scientist with an interest in application of bioinformatics in biomedical research. Previously, in a project aimed at repurposing approved drugs for antimalarial use, I applied a computer aided drug design to predict currently used drugs with unknown antimalarial activity. Currently, my PhD project is aimed at evaluating the association between vitamin D status and infectious diseases. Epidemiological studies have linked vitamin D deficiency and several infectious and non-communicable diseases. However, the direction of causality most of these associations has not been determined due to the observational nature of these studies. Therefore, I am going to use a Mendelian Randomization approach to determine whether vitamin D deficiency increases risk of these diseases or the other way round. As part of my project, I am also evaluating the vitamin D status of African children drawn from across East, West and South Africa. In addition, I will carry out the first genome wide association study to identify genetic variants that’s influence vitamin D status in African populations. Understanding how vitamin D deficiency is linked to associated diseases would be important in guiding public health policy and primary health care.
   KWTRP