Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences

The Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MMLS) degree allows a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSc MLS) graduate to pursue a full-time research option, possibly leading on to a PhD.

These postgraduate qualifications also allow experienced scientists with relevant Bachelors qualifications to undertake research-based graduate study, which may assist them to participate in clinical laboratory-related research and academic careers.There is a strong focus on assisting the individual to develop self-directed research skills.

The MMLS programme is designed to provide practicing medical laboratory scientists with upgrades on their area of practice.

The JKUAT MMLS has been benchmarked against the Master of Science in Medical/Clinical Laboratory Sciences offered by other internationally recognized Universities.

The JKUAT MMLS program will support Kenya’s Vision 2030 by developing competencies for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), human resource development and ensure efficient, motivated and well-trained clinical laboratory personnel.

The JKUAT MMLS degree is a professional degree designed to meet the needs of the Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.

With the amount of, and demand for, laboratory testing increasing each year, a significant need exists for MLS professionals, but particularly for individuals with advanced technical knowledge, research skills, management skills, and leadership abilities.

With a Masters level degree, the graduate will be equipped to become a leader in healthcare, helping to guide medical laboratory professionals into the future. The JKUAT MMLS program will equip the MMLS graduate with research skills, which will be applied in the clinical laboratory, an area that has not been adequately accessed by researchers because of regulatory restrictions to non-Medical Laboratory Sciences researchers.

Vision: The Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences program is designed to promote the JKUAT vision, which is to be a University of Global excellence in Training, Research and Innovation for Development.

Philosophy: The program is anchored on the philosophy of enhancing quality, well-trained health professionals for a healthy nation.

Mission statement:  The Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences focuses on training of leaders in research and innovation in the field of Medical Laboratory sciences, technology, other applied sciences and health-related enterprise development to support the JKUAT mission and to suit the needs of a dynamic world.

 Objectives:

1. To equip Medical Laboratory Sciences graduates with skills in applied clinical diagnosis of human diseases using classical techniques and modern technology.

2. To equip Medical Laboratory Sciences graduates with skills necessary for effective management of laboratories in health, academic and research institutions and in health-related industries.

3. To train the Medical Laboratory Sciences graduates in knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them perform scientific research in the clinical laboratory area.

Expected Output: Graduates of the MMLS program will be qualified for several leadership positions in the Medical Laboratory.
They will be trained to become scientists, laboratory managers or supervisors, educators, laboratory information systems directors, healthcare administrators, or researchers.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

MINIMUM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Holders of Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences of JKUAT or any other KMLTTB approved training institution recognized by JKUAT senate, having at least the equivalent grades for an upper second-class honors degree.
• Must be registered by KMLTTB and have 2 years post-graduation clinical laboratory experience.
• Applicants with a previous Higher National Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology will be eligible for a waiver of the 2 years post-graduation clinical laboratory experience
OR
• Must be registered by KMLTTB and have 2 years post-graduation clinical laboratory experience.

LIST OF COURSES OFFERED

1. MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Bacteriology Option)

2. MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Mycology Option)

3. MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Virology Option)

4. MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Parasitology Option)

5. MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Immunology Option)

6. MMLS (Clinical Haematology & Blood Transfusion Option)

7. MMLS (Clinical Chemistry Option)

8. MMLS (Clinical Histopathology & Diagnostic Cytology Option)

Course content

The following 9 are the core compulsory units of the MMLS program include:

TID 3100 Research Methodology

TID 3101 Computer Applications in Health Research

TID 3102 Epidemiology

TID 3103 Biostatistics

MLS 3130 Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation

MLS 3131 Good Clinical and Public Health Laboratory Practice

MLS 3132 Laboratory Quality Management Systems, Policy and Legislation

MLS 3133 Clinical Laboratory Design and Biosafety

MLS 3134 Clinical Laboratory Practical Teaching Experience

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Bacteriology) option

MLS 3135 Diagnostic Bacteriology

MLS 3136 Bacterial Pathogenesis

MLS 3137 Antibacterial Chemotherapy

MLS 3138 Bacterial Molecular Genetics

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Mycology) option

MLS 3139 Diagnostic Mycology

MLS 3140 Mycoses and Epidemiology of Fungal Infections

MLS 3141 Antifungal Chemotherapy

MLS 3142 Fungal Molecular Genetics

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Virology) option

MLS 3143 Diagnostic Virology

MLS 3144 Viral Cell Culture Techniques

MLS 3145 Viral Pathogenesis and Antivirals

MLS 3146 Molecular Virology

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Parasitology) option

MLS 3147 Diagnostic Parasitology

MLS 3148 Medical Helminthology

MLS 3149 Medical Protozoology

MLS 3150 Vectors in Clinical Parasitology

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical and Public Health Immunology) option

MLS 3151 Diagnostic Immunology and Serology

MLS 3152 Immunopathology

MLS 3153 Applied Immunology

MLS 3154 Infection and immunity

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical Haematology and Blood Transfusion) option

MLS 3155 Transplantation Immunology

MLS 3156 Haematopathology

MLS 3157 Blood Transfusion Practice

MLS 3158 Molecular and Cellular Pathology of Blood Cells

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical Chemistry) option

MLS 3159 Instrumentation and Analytical Techniques

MLS 3160 Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders

MLS 3161 Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Toxicology

MLS 3162 Fluids, Electrolytes and Acid-Base Balance

Elective Units for the MMLS (Clinical Histopathology & Diagnostic Cytology) option

MLS 3163 Systemic Histology

MLS 3164 Histotechnology and Cytotechnology

MLS 3166 Histopathology

MLS 3166 Advances in clinical and Diagnostic Cytology