Research Projects

Doctor measuring blood pressure to a patient in Nigeria - photo by Dominic Chavez

HIV Implementation Science

The Harvard PEPFAR program developed an extensive electronic medical record system that provides real-time access to clinical data for >200,000 patients on antiretroviral treatment. These databases enabled implementation science studies to promote better clinical care and to answer operational research questions to understand the efficacy and modulators of ART and PMTCT interventions. In collaboration with Nigerian colleagues, the Kanki research group has addressed topics including HIV co-infections, determinants of ART efficacy, and evaluation of PMTCT interventions. In efforts to optimize HIV outcomes, they have characterized loss to follow-up in HIV care, treatment and PMTCT interventions, and HIV drug resistance. The team is collaborating with APIN Public Health Initiatives in the conduct of the National Public Health Assessment Survey for the country.

Doctor visiting a child in Nigeria - photo by Dominic Chavez

Arbovirus Biology in Africa

The 2015-16 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in the Americas with its rapid transmission and unforeseen association with microcephaly illustrated the ominous public health threat of emerging and re-emerging viruses. The Kanki lab has documented the presence of ZIKV infection in Senegalese and Nigerian fever patients over multiple decades, demonstrating the endemicity of this unique arbovirus in West Africa. The lab’s research studies have described the longevity, specificity, and cross reactivity of T cell responses to ZIKV and dengue virus (DENV).

ZIKV, DENV, and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are arboviruses known to co-circulate in many regions of the world where the mosquito vector, Aedes sp. is widespread. Studies have described the impact of ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV infection during pregnancy, which can increase the risk of severe disease in women as well as fetal loss, prematurity, microcephaly and other birth defects, and severe neonatal infection. However, our understanding of these viral infections during pregnancy has been based on studies of Asian or American strains in those regions, while the transmission of and immune responses elicited by African strains of ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV and their relationship to pregnancy complications and birth outcomes in Africa remain poorly understood. The Kanki lab is conducting additional studies with other endemic flaviviruses associated with abnormal birth outcomes in Jos, Nigeria.

Kanki   Lab

SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Response

In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the Kanki research group is engaged in studies that incorporate SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses in their BSL2+ and BSL3 laboratories. To address important clinical diagnostic issues related to SARS-CoV-2, the Kanki lab is collaborating with BIDMC investigators to study the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 antigenemia and viral infectivity, including new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In studies with Dr Jin-Ah Park (Environmental Health), the Kanki lab group is studying SARS-CoV-2 infection in human respiratory epithelial cells to better understand cellular responses associated with risk factors for COVID-19 disease.

Africa is facing major challenges as the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, exacerbated by a smaller healthcare workforce, fragile healthcare infrastructure, and limited access to testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). In collaboration with the University of Lagos and the Lagos State government, the Kanki lab is studying humoral and cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and the natural history of asymptomatic and symptomatic disease. These studies were extended to evaluate temporal immune responses after the AstraZeneca SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Current studies are characterizing pre-pandemic cross-reactive antibody and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Africa.