Staff Profiles

Prof. Tom Were

Tom

Contact Details.
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Human Pathology
School of Medicine
P.O. Box 190-50100
Kakamega, KENYA
Office no. MED 202
Kakamega-Webuye Road.
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ResearcherID: AAJ-9664-2021
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0349-9906
Google Scholar:  8qEWk-AAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao 

Scopus ID: 13008572300

Prof. Tom Were

Prof. Tom Were is an Associate Professor of Immunology at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Human Pathology, School of Medicine.

Prof. Were kick started his academic journey as a Tutorial Fellow in the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine in Kenyatta University in 2003. He rose up to the position of a lecturer in 2009 and later on to Senior Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Medicine in University of Kabianga in 2014.

Prof. Were joined Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in 2015 and was later promoted to Associate Professor of Immunology in 2021. Apart from teaching, he is an avid researcher who is actively conducting research in infectious diseases, with expertise in immunology, Microbiology and infectious diseases, Genetics, Medical practice, and community Health, Laboratory medicine: clinical testing and trials, Medical teaching and curriculum development. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry and Zoology, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology, both from Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya.

He received training in Laboratory Medicine from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and was conferred a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Uzima University, Kenya.

His research interests are in Immunology; Genetics; Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; Laboratory Medicine and Substance use.

Some of His Major Publication.

  1. Abel O. Onyango, Nathan Shaviya, Valentine Budambula, George O. Orinda, Omu Anzala, Ahmed A. Aabid and Tom Were. Circulating 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and calcium levels, and alkaline phosphatase activity among people living with and without human immunodeficiency virus and injecting drugs in kenya. BMC Infect Dis 24, 703 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09610-8
  2. E. C. Sigei, L. A. M. Njue, S. M. Kitolo, V. P. Okinyi, E. Barasa, C. C. Bii, T. Were. Itraconazole and voriconazole resistance profiles in candida isolates from Nairobi Metropolitan City public referral hospitals. published on 1st July 2024 in East African Medical Journal.https://www.ajol.info/index.php/eamj/article/view/273020
  3. Josephine Wambani, Tom Were & Patrick Okoth. Monkeypox: genetic, clinical, molecular, diagnostic, and therapeutic perspectives. Published on 17th June 2024 in Journal of Rare Diseases. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44162-024-00042-1
  4. E. C. Sigei, M. Nyamai, S. M. Kitolo, V. P. Okinyi, C. C. Bii, T. Were. Candida species distribution in different clinical specimens from various Nairobi metropolitan city public referral hospitals.Published in East African Medical Journal on 27th October 2023. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/eamj/article/view/258020
  5. Valentine Budambula, Moses Ngari, Nancy L.M. Budambula, Aabid A. Ahmed and Tom Were. Nutritional status of people who inject drugs in Coastal Kenya: a cross-sectional study.Published in BMC Nutrition in 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-024-00851-z
  6. Erick Barasa,Briston Indieka,Nathan Shaviya,Ezra Osoro,Geofrey Maloba,Denis Mukhongo,Valentine Budambula,and Tom Were. Assemblages and Subassemblages of Giardia duodenalis in Rural Western, Kenya: Association with Sources, Signs, and Symptoms. Published on 5th February 2024 in Journal of Parasitology Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/1180217
  7. Benard Mutua, Rose Chelangat, Barasa Mustafa, Tom Were, Julie Makani, George Sowayi & Patrick Okoth. High-performance liquid chromatography local reference ranges of hemoglobin fractions (HbA, HbA2, and HbF) in detection of hemoglobinopathies in western Kenya. Published on 29th December 2022 in The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43162-022-00187-9
  8. Douglas J Perkins , Tom Were, Gregory C Davenport, Prakasha Kempaiah, James B Hittner, John Michael Ong'echa. Severe malarial anemia: innate immunity and pathogenesis.
    Int J Biol Sci. 2011; 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.7.1427.
  9. T Were , G C Davenport, J B Hittner, C Ouma, J M Vulule, J M Ong'echa, D J Perkins. Bacteremia in Kenyan children presenting with malaria. Published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology on 04 February 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01864-10.
  10. Richard O Otieno 1, Collins Ouma, John M Ong'echa, Christopher C Keller, Tom Were, Eliud N Waindi, Marian G Michaels, Richard D Day, John M Vulule, Douglas J Perkins. Increased severe anemia in HIV-1-exposed and HIV-1-positive infants and children during acute malaria. EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SOCIAL: CONCISE COMMUNICATION IN January 9, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aids.0000200533.56490.b7.
  11. John Michael Ong'echa , Christopher C Keller, Tom Were, Collins Ouma, Richard O Otieno, Zachary Landis-Lewis, Daniel Ochiel, Jamie L Slingluff, Stephen Mogere, George A Ogonji, Alloys S Orago, John M Vulule, Sandra S Kaplan, Richard D Day, Douglas J Perkins. Parasitemia, anemia, and malarial anemia in infants and young children in a rural holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum transmission area. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Mar.

  12. Collins Ouma, Gregory C. Davenport, Tom Were, Michael F. Otieno, James B. Hittner, John M. Vulule, Jeremy Martinson, John M. Ong'echa, Robert E. Ferrell, and Douglas J. Perkins. Haplotypes of IL-10 promoter variants are associated with susceptibility to severe malarial anemia and functional changes in IL-10 production. Hum Genet. 2008 Dec; 124(5): 515–524.Published online 2008 Oct 30 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-008-0578-5.

  13. Gordon A. Awandare, Yamo Ouma, Collins Ouma, Tom Were, Richard Otieno, Christopher C. Keller, Gregory C. Davenport, James B. Hittner, John Vulule, Robert Ferrell, John M. Ong'echa, and Douglas J. Perkins. Role of Monocyte-Acquired Hemozoin in Suppression of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Children with Severe Malarial Anemia. Infect Immun. 2007 Jan; 75(1): 201–210. Published online 2006 Oct 23. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.01327-06.

  14. Gordon A. Awandare, Jeremy J. Martinson, Tom Were, Collins Ouma, Gregory C. Davenport, John M. Ong’echa, Wen Kui Wang, Lin Leng, Robert E. Ferrell, Richard Bucala, and Douglas J. Perkins. MACROPHAGE MIGRATION INHIBITORY FACTOR (MIF) PROMOTER POLYMORPHISMS AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SEVERE MALARIAL ANEMIA. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2009 Aug 15; 200(4): 629–637. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1086/600894.

  15. COLLINS OUMA, CHRISTOPHER C. KELLER, DOROTHY A. OPONDO, TOM WERE, RICHARD O. OTIENO, MICHAEL F. OTIENO, ALLOYS S. S. ORAGO, JOHN M. ONG’ECHA, JOHN M. VULULE, ROBERT E. FERRELL, and DOUGLAS J. PERKINS.ASSOCIATION OF FCγ RECEPTOR IIA (CD32) POLYMORPHISM WITH MALARIAL ANEMIA AND HIGH-DENSITY PARASITEMIA IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN. April 2006. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2006.74.573.

  16. Tom Were , J B Hittner, Collins Ouma, Richard O Otieno, Alloys S S Orago, John M Ong'echa, John M Vulule, Christopher C Keller, Douglas J Perkins Suppression of RANTES in children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Haematologica. 2006 Oct;91(10):1396-9.Available on https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17018392/.

  17. Enrico M Novelli , James B Hittner, Gregory C Davenport, Collins Ouma, Tom Were, Stephen Obaro, Sandra Kaplan, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Clinical predictors of severe malarial anaemia in a holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum transmission area. First published: 17 May 2010. Wiley Online Library. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2010.08147.x

  18. Gregory C Davenport , Collins Ouma, James B Hittner, Tom Were, Yamo Ouma, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Hematological predictors of increased severe anemia in Kenyan children coinfected with Plasmodium falciparum and HIV-1. First published: 20 January 2010 Wiley Online Library. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.21653.

  19. Collins Ouma, Gregory C. Davenport, Gordon A. Awandare, Christopher C. Keller, Tom Were, Michael F. Otieno, John M. Vulule, Jeremy Martinson, John M. Ong'echa, Robert E. Ferrell, Douglas J. Perkins. Polymorphic Variability in the Interleukin (IL)-1β Promoter Conditions Susceptibility to Severe Malarial Anemia and Functional Changes in IL-1β Production.The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 198, Issue 8, 15 October 2008, Pages 1219–1226, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/592055.

  20. John M Ong'echa , Allison M Remo, Jan Kristoff, James B Hittner, Tom Were, Collins Ouma, Richard O Otieno, John M Vulule, Christopher C Keller, Gordon A Awandare, Douglas J Perkins. Increased circulating interleukin (IL)-23 in children with malarial anemia: in vivo and in vitro relationship with co-regulatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-10. Clinical Immunology Volume 126, Issue 2, February 2008, Pages 211-221 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2007.08.007

  21. Elizabeth O Onyango , George Ayodo, Carren A Watsierah, Tom Were, Wilson Okumu, Samuel B Anyona, Evans Raballah, John M Okoth, Sussy Gumo, George O Orinda, Collins Ouma. Factors associated with non-adherence to Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to malaria in a rural population from holoendemic region of western Kenya. Published: 24 June 2012. BMC Infectious Diseases. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-12-143.

  22. G A Awandare, C Ouma, C C Keller, T. Were, R Otieno, Y Ouma, G C Davenport, J B Hittner, J M Ong'Echa, R Ferrell & D J Perkins. A macrophage migration inhibitory factor promoter polymorphism is associated with high-density parasitemia in children with malaria. Published: 24 August 2006 genes & immunity DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6364332.

  23. Naomi Maina , Joseph Maina Ngotho, Tom Were, John Kibuthu Thuita, David Mumo Mwangangi, John Maina Kagira, Joseph Mathu Ndung'u, Jeremy Sternberg. Proinflammatory cytokine expression in the early phase of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection in vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Infect Immun 2004 May;72(5):3063-5. DOI: 1https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.72.5.3063-3065.2004.

  24. Tom Were , Gregory C Davenport, Emmanuel O Yamo, James B Hittner, Gordon A Awandare, Michael F Otieno, Collins Ouma, Alloys S S Orago, John M Vulule, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Naturally acquired hemozoin by monocytes promotes suppression of RANTES in children with malarial anemia through an IL-10-dependent mechanism. Microbes Infect. Jul-Aug 2009;11(8-9):811-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2009.04.021.

  25. Chintana Phawong, Collins Ouma, Piyatida Tangteerawatana, Jarinee Thongshoob, Tom Were, Yuvadee Mahakunkijcharoen, Duangrurdee Wattanasirichaigoon, Douglas Jay Perkins, and Srisin Khusmith Haplotypes of IL12B promoter polymorphisms condition susceptibility to severe malaria and functional changes in cytokine levels in Thai adults. Published online 2010 Apr 13. Immunogenetics. Doi: 1https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-010-0439-y

  26. Collins Ouma , Gregory C Davenport, Steven Garcia, Prakasha Kempaiah, Ateefa Chaudhary, Tom Were, Samuel B Anyona, Evans Raballah, Stephen N Konah, James B Hittner, John M Vulule, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Functional haplotypes of Fc gamma (Fcγ) receptor (FcγRIIA and FcγRIIIB) predict risk to repeated episodes of severe malarial anemia and mortality in Kenyan children. Hum Genet. 2012 Feb;131(2):289-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-011-1076-8.

  27. Calistus Wanjala Masika , Harrysone Atieli , Tom Were.Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Nurses on Surveillance of Adverse Events following Childhood Immunization in Nairobi, Kenya. Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:3745298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3745298.

  28. Mark K. Webale, Valentine Budambula, Raphael Lihana, Francis O. Musumba, Anthony K. Nyamache, Nancy L. M. Budambula, Aabid A. Ahmed, Collins Ouma & Tom Were. Hepatitis B virus sero-profiles and genotypes in HIV-1 infected and uninfected injection and Non-injection drug users from coastal Kenya. Published: 30 July 2015. BMC Infectious Diseases. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-015-1060-3.

  29. Collins Ouma , Christopher C Keller, Gregory C Davenport, Tom Were, Stephen Konah, Michael F Otieno, James B Hittner, John M Vulule, Jeremy Martinson, John M Ong'echa, Robert E Ferrell, Douglas J Perkins. A novel functional variant in the stem cell growth factor promoter protects against severe malarial anemia. Infect Immun. 2010 Jan;78(1):453-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00895-09.

  30. Christopher C. Keller, Collins Ouma, Yamo Ouma, Gordon A. Awandare, Gregory C. Davenport, Tom Were, James B. Hittner, John M. Vulule, John M. Ong'echa, Douglas J. Perkins. Suppression of a Novel Hematopoietic Mediator in Children with Severe Malarial Anemia.20 December 2020.  ASM Journals Infection and Immunity Vol. 77, No.9. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00342-09.

  31. Samuel B Anyona , Prakasha Kempaiah, Evans Raballah, Collins Ouma, Tom Were, Gregory C Davenport, Stephen N Konah, John M Vulule, James B Hittner, Charity W Gichuki, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Functional promoter haplotypes of interleukin-18 condition susceptibility to severe malarial anemia and childhood mortality. Infect Immun. 2011 Dec;79(12):4923-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.05601-11.

  32. Samuel B Anyona , Prakasha Kempaiah, Evans Raballah, Gregory C Davenport, Tom Were, Stephen N Konah, John M Vulule, James B Hittner, Charity W Gichuki, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Reduced systemic bicyclo-prostaglandin-E2 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression are associated with inefficient erythropoiesis and enhanced uptake of monocytic hemozoin in children with severe malarial anemia. Am J Hematol. 2012 Aug;87(8):782-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.23253.

  33. Gregory C Davenport , James B Hittner, Tom Were, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Relationship between inflammatory mediator patterns and anemia in HIV-1 positive and exposed children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Am J Hematol. 2012 Jul;87(7):652-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.23200.

  34. John M Ong'echa , Evans O Raballah, Prakasha M Kempaiah, Samuel B Anyona, Tom Were, Gregory C Davenport, Stephen Konah, John M Vulule, Collins Ouma, James B Hittner, Douglas J Perkins. Polymorphic variability in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of IL12B is associated with susceptibility to severe anaemia in Kenyan children with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria. BMC Genet. 2011 Aug 6;12:69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2156-12-69.

  35. Valentine Budambula, Francis O. Musumba, Mark K. Webale, Titus M. Kahiga, Francisca Ongecha-Owuor, James N. Kiarie, George A. Sowayi, Aabid A. Ahmed, Collins Ouma & Tom Were. HIV-1 protease inhibitor drug resistance in Kenyan antiretroviral treatment-naive and -experienced injection drug users and non-drug users. AIDS Research and Therapy. Published: 15 August 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-015-0070-y

  36. Tom Were , Jesca O Wesongah , Elly Munde , Collins Ouma , Titus M Kahiga , Francisca Ongecha-Owuor , James N Kiarie , Aabid A Ahmed , Ernest P Makokha , Valentine Budambula. Clinical chemistry profiles in injection heroin users from Coastal Region, Kenya. BMC Clin Pathol. 2014 Jul 9;14:32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6890-14-32.

  37. James M Onchong'a , Tom Were , Justus O S Osero. Knowledge, Perception and Level of Male Partner Involvement in Choice of Delivery Site among Couples at Coast Level Five Hospital, Mombasa County, Kenya. Afr J Reprod Health. 2016 Mar;20(1):71-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2016/v20i1.7.

  38. Ariel L. Rivas , Mark D. Jankowski, Renata Piccinini, Gabriel Leitner, Daniel Schwarz, Kevin L. Anderson, Jeanne M. Fair, Almira L. Hoogesteijn, Wilfried Wolter, Marcelo Chaffer, Shlomo Blum, Tom Were, Stephen N. Konah, Prakash Kempaiah, John M. Ong’echa, Ulrike S. Diesterbeck, Rachel Pilla, Claus-Peter Czerny, James B. Hittner, James M. Hyman, Douglas J. Perkins. Feedback-Based, System-Level Properties of Vertebrate-Microbial Interactions. Plos One. Published: February 20, 2013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0053984

  39. Valentine Budambula, Charles Matoka, James Ouma, Aabid A. Ahmed, Michael F. Otieno, and Tom Were. Socio-demographic and sexual practices associated with HIV infection in Kenyan injection and non-injection drug users. BMC Public Health. 2018; 18: 193. Published online 2018 Jan 30. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5100-y

  40. Elly O. Munde, Winnie A. Okeyo, Evans Raballah, Samuel B. Anyona, Tom Were, John M. Ong’echa, Douglas J. Perkins & Collins Ouma. Association between Fcγ receptor IIA, IIIA and IIIB genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to severe malaria anemia in children in western Kenya. BMC Infectious Diseases. Published: 20 April 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-017-2390-0.

  41. Peter Lokamar Nyanga , Jackson Onyuka , Mark Kilongosi Webale , Tom Were , Valentine Budambula. Escherichia coli pathotypes and Shigella sero-groups in diarrheic children in Nairobi city, Keny. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. Summer 2017;10(3):220-228.

  42. Prakasha Kempaiah , Samuel B Anyona, Evans Raballah, Gregory C Davenport, Tom Were, James B Hittner, John M Ong'echa, Douglas J Perkins. Reduced interferon (IFN)-α conditioned by IFNA2 (-173) and IFNA8 (-884) haplotypes is associated with enhanced susceptibility to severe malarial anemia and longitudinal all-cause mortality. Hum Genet. 2012 Aug;131(8):1375-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-012-1175-1.

  43.  Nathan Shaviya , Valentine Budambula , Mark K Webale , Tom Were . Circulating Interferon-Gamma Levels Are Associated with Low Body Weight in Newly Diagnosed Kenyan Non-Substance Using Tuberculosis Individuals. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis. 2016;2016:9415364. DOI: .

  44. Ouma, C., Roca, A.L., Were, T, Raballah, E.O, Oguge, N.O, Jura, W.G.Z.O, Ochieng, J.W., Hanotte, Olivier H. and Georgiadis, N. Genetic Structure of Hartebeest Populations Straddling a Transition Zone between Morphotypes. Published 2011. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/4775 .

  45. Esther Muitta , Tom Were , Anthony Kebira Nyamache , Ng'ethe Muhoho. Atypical cervical cytomorphologic predictors: a descriptive study of pre-cervical cancer patients of low education in Kenya. Pan Afr Med J. 2019 Jun 18;33:124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2019.33.124.15753.

  46. Douglas J. Perkins, Tom Were, Samuel Anyona, James B. Hittner, Prakasha Kempaiah, Gregory C. Davenport, John Michael Ong’echa. The Global Burden of Severe Falciparum Malaria: An Immunological and Genetic Perspective on Pathogenesis. Dynamic Models of Infectious Diseases pp 231-283. First Online: 18 September 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3961-5_8.

  47.  Eric M Ndombi , Valentine Budambula , Mark K Webale , Francis O Musumba , Jesca O Wesongah , Erick Mibei , Aabid A Ahmed , Raphael Lihana , Tom Were. Serum adiponectin in HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus mono- and co-infected Kenyan injection drug users. Endocr Connect. 2015 Dec;4(4):223-32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-15-0071

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