Falling Walls Falling Walls Science Summit 2022

Breaking the Wall of Sickle Cell Disease

Sophie Uyoga

Science Engagement

The engagement project was conducted in Kilifi County along the coast of Kenya. The study involved 19 SCD patients and 15 parents. We conducted 4 focus group discussions and 7 home visits where in-depth interviews were conducted. From the activities emerging themes were then evaluated and this was used by the illustrator to develop the storylines. The draft 32-page comic book was then piloted with the participants and we conducted 2 primary school science club activities.

Sophie Uyoga

KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme

Sophie trained as a biochemist in Kenya then specialized in Immunology and later obtained a PhD in malaria epidemiology from the University of Heidelberg. She has great interest in understanding how human genetics influences susceptibility to severe malaria. Her current research aims to investigate the mechanisms behind the development and treatment of severe anemia with focus on the quality of blood used for transfusion. Her work also describes the burden of sickle cell disease in Africa.
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