Laboratories
1. NATURAL PRODUCTS LABORATORY
This lab facilitates the scientists from both Africa and China to jointly conduct the research on the bioactive molecules of medicinal animals and plants, as well as to find novel natural products and provide scientific support for the healthcare and capability building of all Africans
Experts
Prof. Ren Lai
Principal Investigator
Prinicpal Investigator of Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Associate editor of Research and Science China-Life Science. He mainly studies the proteomics of peptides and natural products, the structure and function of active peptides, structural modification of active peptides, structural modifications of active peptides and drug research and development. He has published more than 250 papers and applied for more than 100 invention patents in internationally renowned journals such as Immunity, Circulation Research, Blood, Cell Research, Nature Communications, Nature Immunology, and PNAS. He won the second prize of the National Technological Invention Award in 2013and supported by the first New Cornerstone Researcher Program.
Prof. Mabel Imbuga
She holds a PHD in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She has held administrative posts at JKUAT, including Chairperson of Biochemistry Department, Dean Faculty of Science, Deputy Vice Chancellor, for a span of over 20 years. Prof. Imbuga has also supervised M.Sc and PhD students and is well published in peer reviewed international journals in her area of specialization while at JKUAT. Her research interests are in biochemistry of medicinal plants with special interest in fibres from calotropis plant species for synthesis of hydrosels for medical (sanitary towels) and agriculture application
Team Members
Associate Prof. Gui-Lin Chen
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ming-Qian Fang
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Kirugo James Mwangi
PhD student (Kenya)
Kamau Peter Muiruri
Phd student (Kenya)
Tojofaniry Fabien Rakotondrabe
PhD student (Madagascar)
Felix Wambua Muema
student (Kenya)
2. MODERN AGRICLTURE DEMONSTRATION AREA (MADA)
Introduce high yields varieties of rice, maize, millet, sorghum and grape to Kenya. Research on different cultivation methods, fertilizer management conservation, high productivity and promotion of integrated farming techniques and demonstrations
Experts
Prof. Chun-Sheng Hu
Principal Investigator
Prof. Chun-Sheng Hu received his PhD from the Institute of Applied Ecology, CAS in 1996. He is now a Professor and Director-General of Centre for Agricultural Recourses Research (CARR, CAS), Principal Investigator (PI) of Modern Agriculture Demonstration Area at SAJOREC. He focuses on response and adaptation of ecological processes, including carbon, nitrogen, and water cycling, crop productivity to climate change and intensive human activities and develop environmentally sound management practices such as conservation tillage for increased productivity, soil quality, and sustainable agricultural ecosystems.
Prof. Zhen-Chang Liang
Principal Investigator
Prof. Zhen-Chang Liang obtained support of "Talents of Hundreds" of CAS. The main research area is fruit breeding and genetic regulation. He undertook 9 projects including national, CAS and provincial, published more than 30 articles, won 1st Science and Technology Promotion Award of CAS.
Prof. David Mwehia Mburu
Principal Investigator
Prof. David Mwehia Mburu received his PhD in Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Management) in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2008. He mainly focuses on training and research in Soil and Water Management and Environmental Conservation. He has more than 30 papers in international peer reviewed journals. He is now the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Modern Agriculture Demonstration Area (MADA) of SAJOREC and the the Principal of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, JKUAT.
Team Members
Prof. Shao-Hua Li
Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Prof. Hai-Chun Jing
Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Associate Prof. Xiao-Xin Li
Institute of Genetics Development Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Stephen Okoth Aluoch
PhD student (Kenya)
Elias Kirabi Gathunga
PhD student (Kenya)
3. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION & UTILIZATION LABORATORY
Performs multidisciplinary collaborations on research of biodiversity and conservation biology. In East Africa, the lab develops biodiversity database or resource, compiles flora and fauna, and lists endangered species.
Experts
Prof. Qing-Feng Wang
Principal Investigator
Prof. Qing-Feng Wang received his PhD from Wuhan University in 1996. He is now a Professor and Director-General of Wuhan Botanical Garden (WBG-CAS), the director of Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC-CAS), Principal Investigator (PI) of Lab of Wildlife Conservation and Utilization at SAJOREC and Vice President of the Botanical Society of Hubei Province. His major research interests include: phylogeny and biogeography of aquatic plants, plant diversity and evolution of East Africa and adjacent regions. Is is the chief editor of Plant Science Journal and co-chief editor of Flora of Kenya. He has hosted over 50 scientific research projects, authored more than 280 papers in international peer reviewed journals, and 5 academic monographs.
Prof. Robert Gituru
DIRECTOR
Prof. Robert W. Gituru received his PhD from Wuhan University in 2002. He now Associate Professor of Botany in JKUAT and Founding-Director of Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC-JKUAT). He is a Member of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. His major research interests include: conservation of plants with extremely small populations, conservation and utilization of medicinal plants of East Africa, and botanical garden establishment and management. Prof. Gituru has authored more than 90 papers in international peer reviewed journals
Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi
Principal Investigator
Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, the Vice Chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, received her PhD. degree in Plant Physiology from Clemson University, South California, USA in 1997. She served as a senior education fellow at the African Network of Agro-forestry and natural Resource Management Education. She is now a member of the African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF) and the Natural Products Research Network for East and Central Africa (NAPRECA).
Team Members
Prof. Min-Sheng Peng
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Guang-Wan hu
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Cai-Fei Zhang
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Cinese Academy of Sciences
Asso. Prof. Adeniyi Charles Adeola
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Erick Amombo
PhD student (Kenya)
Andrew Wanyoike Gichira
PhD student (Kenya)
Miyawa Daniel Odhiambo
PhD student (Kenya)
4. ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT MONITORING LABORATORY
Aiming at the unique lake types and urbanization of lake basins in East Africa, through lake protection capacity building and long-term monitoring of lake basic ecological environment, researches on lake resources and environment, with lakeside city geography and ecology in Tanzania and East Africa, to provide technical cooperation and advisory services for East African countries and maintain the healthy and sustainable development of the ecological environment in Africa
Experts
Prof. Xue Yan
Principal Investigator
Prof. Xue Yan received his PhD from Wuhan University in 2003, Post-doctoral Research in Tsinghua University from 2004 - 2006 and Visiting scholar in Cornell University, USA. He is now a Professor, Executive Director of Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, CAS and Committee member of the professional committee of Pollution ecology, Ecological Society of China, Principal Investigator (PI) of the Ecological Environment Monitoring Laboratory at SAJOREC JKUAT. His major research interests include: Transport and effect of contaminants in aquatic plants; Sustainable restoration of deteriorated ecosystem. He has hosted over 10 scientific research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China's general projects, 973 project sub projects and NSFC-UNEP cooperation projects, published over 50 research papers and 1 academic monograph.
Prof. Lu Zhang
Principal Investigator
Prof. Lu Zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Director of the East African Joint Research Station for Great Lakes and Urban Ecology. Mainly engaged in water environment monitoring, environmental process and environmental pollution control research. Since 2008, he has carried out cooperation with Africa, including the "African Water Action Plan" between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the UNEP, "Enhancement of Water Environmental Protection Capacity and Technical Cooperation in the Great Lakes Basin of Tanzania" from MOST, and the "Lake Resources and Ecological Environment in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa" by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has rich experience in international cooperation on lake ecological environment and resource utilization in lakes in Tanzania and the East African Rift Valley. He has published 4 monographs and 94 international papers,
Dr. James Messo Raunde
Principal Investigator
Dr. (Eng.) James Messo received his PhD from Egerton University in 2013. Currently, he is a senior lecturer and head of department at Soil, Water and Environmental Engineering Department - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Principal Investigator (PI) Water Resources Laboratory at Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC-JKUAT and a board member of Water Research and Resource Centre (WARREC-JKUAT). His major research interests includes: Water resources and Pollution control, Water productivity and optimization, Sustainable Sanitation and resource re-use and Irrigation systems. He is registered and practicing Environmental Impact Assessment, a Lead Expert with over 15 years experience. Prior to joining JKUAT, he was a design engineer with the Government of Kenya and working in Turkana, Northern part of Kenya. He has authored and co-authored more than 40 papers in international peer reviewed journals.
Team Members
Prof. Jian-Jun Wang
Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Asso. Prof Gao Qun
Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Fan Liu
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Njuguna Samwel Maina
PhD student (Kenya)
Kelvin B. Githaiga
PhD student (Kenya)
5. REMOTE SENSING & DISASTER WARNING LABORATORY
Facilitates cooperation in monitoring and assessment of ecological environments and major natural disasters in Africa based on space information technology. It provides information services for promoting regional economic development and improving people’s livelihood. It offers personnel training of space information technology.
Experts
Asso. Prof. Xian-Hu Wei
Principal Investogator
Asso. Prof. Xian-Hu Wei received his Ph. D. from the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2010. He is now an Associate Professor of Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Principal Investigator (PI) of Remote Sensing and Disaster Warning Laboratory SAJOREC. His research interests include the monitoring, evaluation and driving mechanism of dynamic change process of natural resources and ecological environment. He has published over 40 papers and 4 monographs.
Prof. Hunja Waithaka
Principal Investogator
Prof. Hunja Waithaka holds a B.Sc. (Eng) in Surveying & Photogrammetry (University of Nairobi), as well as Masters and PhD in Earth & Planetary Sciences. He has over 20 years' experience as an academician, researcher and consultant in Surveying Engineering, Geo-informatics, Positioning and Satellite Navigation. He is currently an Associate Professor in Geodesy & Geo-Informatics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, (JKUAT), and Principal Investigator, Geographic & Remote Sensing Laboratory, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC). His current research focus is in application of GIS, GNSS, Remote Sensing and other space technologies in climate change, land use/land cover analysis, land use management, cadastral systems and land rights in emerging economies, earth surface processes, recent crustal deformations and geodynamics among others.
Team Members
Zong-Ke Zhang
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Biao Deng
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
George Watene Chege
PhD student (Kenya)
Yves Hategekimana
PhD student (Rwanda)
6. MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
The Microbiology Laboratory in Kenya functions to conduct the research on biological specimen collection from animals, mosquitoes, and humans, and carry out surveillance researches including nucleic acid extraction and virus screening. It also works on isolation and characterization of phage and insecticide microbes and serves the application of biocontrol technologies against bacteria and mosquito-borne disease in Kenya.
Experts
Prof. Di Liu
Principal Investigator
Prof. Di Liu is a professor at Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (WIV) and vice chair of the research centre of microbiome resources and bioinformatics. Dr. Di Liu received his doctrate degree in bioinformatics from Peking University. His research area includes virus genomics & evolution and bioinformatics. Dr. Liu has published over 140 research articles in journals including Nature, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Cell Metabolisms, etc. He achieved an H-index of 43 in 2022.
Dr. Juliette R. Ongus
Principal Investigator
Dr. Juliette R. Ongus received her PhD from Wageningen University in Netherlands. She is an associate professor of virology in medical laboratory sciences department of JKUAT. Her research interests include: Host-pathogen interactions, Antivirals & Vaccines research, RNA interference , Diagnostics and Molecular epidemiology of emerging viral infections.
Team Members
Prof. Hong-Ping Wei
Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Asso. Prof. Ben Hu
Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Han Xia
Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Evans Mongare Atoni
PhD student (Kenya)
Nelson Odiwuor Ouma
PhD student (Kenya)
Raphael Nyaruaba
PhD student (Kenya)
Caroline Munini Muema
PhD student (Uganda)
7. MOLECULOR & CELLULUR BIOLOGY LABORATORY
The Molecular Biology Lab at Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC) is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advanced genetic and molecular research. It supports studies in biotechnology, genetics, and microbiology, focusing on biodiversity conservation, disease diagnostics, and agricultural improvements. Equipped with cutting-edge tools for DNA sequencing, PCR analysis, and genetic engineering, the lab fosters collaboration between African and Chinese researchers, driving innovation in molecular sciences.
Experts
Prof. Tao Wan
Principal Investigator
Prof. Wan Tao received his PhD from Wuhan University from Wuhan University in 2010. He then worked as an assistant director in Shenzhen BGI Research Institute, Director in Beijing NoVo gene Co. Ltd, and a Professor in Fairy Lake Botanical garden of Shenzhen & Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is now a professor in Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science. He is now a professor in Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science since 2022 and the group leader of plant evolutionary and functional genomics. His research interests include the genome evolution of early seed plants and the molecular mechanism of plant adaptive evolution. He has published more than 30 papers in different SCI journals such as Nature Plants, Nature Communications, Ecology and GigaScience,.
Prof. Vivienne Matiru
Principal Investigator
Prof. Viviene Matiru has served in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology since 1993, rising through the ranks from an Assistant Lecturer, to Lecturer, Senior Lecturer then to her current designation as an Associate Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Botany and Director of the Alumni and International Students Office. She holds a PhD in Microbiology from the university of Cape Town, a Master of Science in Plant Pathology from the University of Philippines, and a Bachelor of Education Science (Botany and Zoology) from the University of Nairobi.
Team Members
Research Associate Han Xu
Wuhan Botanical Garden, CAS
Research Associate Jiapeng Han
Wuhan Botanical Garden, CAS