Martin Kavao Mutua, PhD

Research Scientist
Nairobi, KE.

About

A highly accomplished Research Scientist with over 15 years of experience, I lead multi-country immunization research and health systems strengthening initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. My expertise spans biostatistics, epidemiology, and program management, driving significant improvements in vaccine coverage and health equity through data-driven interventions and digital tool implementation. I excel in providing strategic oversight as a Co-Principal Investigator, fostering cross-country collaborations, and building capacity to deliver robust research outcomes.

Work

African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
|

Research Scientist

Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Summary

Leading high-impact, multi-country immunization research and health systems strengthening projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging advanced biostatistical and epidemiological expertise to drive vaccine equity and public health outcomes.

Highlights

Led the Kenya component as Co-Principal Investigator for the "Next Generation Vaccine Card" project (2023-2025), developing and evaluating a digital vaccine card and registry to enhance vaccine uptake and equity in East African urban settings, improving electronic data collection at health facilities.

Served as Co-Principal Investigator for the "Countdown to 2030 Multi-Country Immunization project" (2023-2025), managing in-depth data analyses and capacity-building initiatives across 26 Sub-Saharan African countries to identify under-immunized populations and strengthen immunization coverage evidence.

Directed efforts to improve methods for measuring coverage and equity of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programs in Rwanda, Liberia, and Senegal, funded by GAVI and BGF, contributing to enhanced program effectiveness.

Mentored and supervised 3 PhD students from Michigan and Nagasaki Universities, focusing on vaccine research, and served on 2 Doctoral Committees for Michigan University, fostering next-generation research talent.

Established and maintained strategic relationships with the Kenya Ministry of Health, National Immunization and Vaccine Program, NITAGs, WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, and academic institutions (Johns Hopkins, University of Pelotas, Michigan, Manitoba), facilitating cross-country collaborations and project success.

African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
|

Associate Research Scientist

Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Summary

Contributed significantly to immunization research and public health initiatives through advanced data analysis, project management, and cross-country collaborations, supporting strategic interventions to improve vaccine coverage and equity.

Highlights

Contributed as Co-Principal Investigator to the "Next Generation Vaccine Card" project (2023-2025), supporting the development and evaluation of digital tools for monitoring vaccine uptake and timeliness in East Africa.

Managed in-depth analyses and capacity-building for the "Countdown to 2030 Multi-Country Immunization project" (2023-2025), identifying under-immunized populations across 26 Sub-Saharan African countries.

Supported the design and implementation of methods for measuring Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination coverage and equity in Rwanda, Liberia, and Senegal, funded by GAVI and BGF.

Collaborated with national immunization technical advisory groups (NITAGs) in Kenya and global health organizations (WHO, UNICEF, GAVI), enhancing research impact and policy relevance.

African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
|

Post-Doctoral Research Scientist

Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Summary

Conducted specialized epidemiological and biostatistical research, contributing to the understanding of public health challenges and informing evidence-based interventions within immunization programs.

Highlights

Performed advanced data analysis and statistical modeling to investigate public health issues, contributing to evidence-based research outcomes.

Collaborated on research initiatives focusing on immunization coverage and health equity in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting project objectives.

Contributed to the development of research methodologies and study designs, ensuring scientific rigor and validity of findings.

Analyzed complex datasets to identify trends and disparities in vaccination uptake, informing targeted public health strategies.

African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
|

Data Analyst

Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Summary

Provided comprehensive data analysis and methodological support for large-scale public health and immunization research projects, contributing to critical insights and evidence-based decision-making.

Highlights

Co-led the "Improving Timeliness of Birth Dose Vaccines Using Digital Platforms" project (2011-2014), overseeing design, implementation, and analysis of a stepped-wedge study in Nairobi's informal settlements, assessing digital tools' impact on vaccine administration.

Served as Co-Principal Investigator and led the Kenya component of the "Monitoring and Assessing Impact of Vaccinations in Nairobi" project (2010-2014), evaluating vaccination program effects on child mortality across five Health Demography and Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in Kenya, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, and Burkina Faso.

Designed and implemented interventions utilizing digital tools to monitor vaccine timeliness, enhancing data quality and operational efficiency for public health programs.

Conducted in-depth statistical analysis of complex epidemiological data, identifying key trends and informing strategic recommendations for immunization coverage and equity.

Education

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Juja, Kiambu, Kenya

PhD

Epidemiology

Hasselt University
Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium

Masters

Biostatistics

Hasselt University
Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium

Masters

Applied Statistics

Publications

Beneficial non-specific effects of oral polio vaccinations campaigns – Did one drop save more lives than anyone could have imagined?

Published by

BMJ Global Health

Summary

Research on the beneficial non-specific effects of oral polio vaccination campaigns on child mortality, contributing to global health understanding.

Effect of national immunization campaigns with oral polio vaccine on all-cause mortality in children in rural northern Ghana: 20 years of demographic surveillance cohort data

Published by

eClinicalMedicine

Summary

Analysis of 20 years of demographic surveillance data on the impact of oral polio vaccine campaigns on all-cause child mortality in rural Ghana.

Childhood vaccination timeliness following maternal migration to an informal urban settlement in Kenya

Published by

Vaccine

Summary

Study investigating the timeliness of childhood vaccinations in Kenya's informal urban settlements, particularly after maternal migration, informing public health strategies.

Skills

Biostatistics & Data Analysis

Biostatistics, Epidemiological Data Analysis, Statistical Modeling, Quantitative Analysis, Data Interpretation, Research Methodologies, SPSS, R, SAS.

Epidemiology & Public Health

Epidemiology, Public Health, Immunization Research, Vaccine Equity, Health Systems Strengthening, Global Health, Disease Surveillance, Intervention Design, Program Evaluation.

Project & Program Management

Program Management, Project Leadership, Strategic Oversight, Cross-Country Collaboration, Capacity Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Research Coordination, Implementation Science.

Digital Health & Data Collection

Digital Tools, Electronic Data Collection, Digital Vaccine Cards, Data Monitoring, Health Informatics.