Dr. Ednah n. Ototo - Geography and Environmental Health - Best Researcher Award

University of Waterloo - Canada

Author Profile

Early academic pursuits 🎓

Ednah n. Ototo embarked on her academic journey with a deep interest in parasitology, eventually earning a ph.d. in the field. she further expanded her expertise with certifications in implementation research for diseases of poverty and organizational development. her early academic training laid the foundation for a career that intersects health, climate change, and gender advocacy, aiming to uplift vulnerable communities. her commitment to research and learning has been the driving force behind her professional growth.

Professional endeavors 🏢

Ednah’s professional career spans over 12 years, during which she has worked with both local and international organizations. currently, she is serving as the women and water entrepreneurship network coordinator for the university of waterloo’s impower project. in this role, she focuses on co-creating a network that empowers women water vendors in kenya. she also holds the position of postdoctoral fellow at the same institution, where she designs and manages the women rise program, addressing the impact of covid-19 in kenya and uganda. her extensive experience in program management, proposal writing, and stakeholder engagement highlights her leadership in implementing meaningful interventions.

Contributions and research focus 🔬

Ednah’s research focuses on areas crucial to sustainable development and public health, such as climate change adaptation, food security, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction. her expertise in monitoring and evaluation has been instrumental in shaping programs that enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations. Geography and Environmental Health she is passionate about integrating gender advocacy into her work, ensuring that women play a central role in climate resilience and community health solutions.

Accolades and recognition 🏅

Ednah has earned recognition for her significant contributions to various interdisciplinary projects, funded by prominent donors like usaid, dfid, idrc, and nih. her Geography and Environmental Health leadership in securing funding for health and environmental interventions has helped improve the livelihoods of crisis-affected populations in kenya and beyond. her innovative approaches to health, gender, and climate change have garnered the respect of colleagues and international organizations alike.

Impact and influence 🌱

Through her work, ednah has had a profound impact on the health and well-being of vulnerable communities. her research and program management have led to practical solutions in water, sanitation, and food security, directly benefiting populations affected by climate change and disasters. her ability to bridge the gap Geography and Environmental Health between research and real-world applications has made her a key figure in community health and climate resilience efforts.

Legacy and future contributions 🔮

Ednah’s legacy is defined by her commitment to empowering women and vulnerable communities through education, entrepreneurship, and health initiatives. her ongoing work with the university of waterloo on the women and water entrepreneurship network reflects her vision of sustainable, women-led solutions in water resource management. as she continues to lead impactful projects, her future contributions are poised to shape more inclusive and resilient societies.

Notable Publications

Title: Surveillance of malaria vector population density and biting behaviour in western Kenya
Author: EN Ototo, JP Mbugi, CL Wanjala, G Zhou, AK Githeko
Journal: Malaria Journal, 2015
Title: Forecasting the potential effects of climate change on malaria in the Lake Victoria basin using regionalized climate projections
Author: EN Ototo, JO Ogutu, A Githeko, MY Said, L Kamau
Journal: Acta Parasitologica, 2022
Title: Surveillance of vector populations and malaria transmission during the 2009/10 El Niño event in the western Kenya highlands: opportunities for early detection of outbreaks
Author: EN Ototo, AK Githeko, CL Wanjala, TW Scott
Journal: Parasites & Vectors, 2011
Title: Evaluation of universal coverage of insecticide-treated nets in western Kenya: field surveys
Author: G Zhou, JS Li, EN Ototo, HE Atieli, AK Githeko, G Yan
Journal: Malaria Journal, 2014
Title: Age-specific Plasmodium parasite profile in pre and post ITN intervention period at a highland site in western Kenya
Author: EN Ototo, G Zhou, L Kamau, JP Mbugi, CL Wanjala
Journal: Malaria Journal, 2017

🌱 Early academic pursuits

Ashima Bhaskar's journey into the world of science began with a strong academic foundation. she completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in zoology from delhi university, securing first division in both. her passion for research led her to pursue a phd at the school of life sciences, jawaharlal nehru university, where she focused on the "rescue of recombinant measles virus from cdna and studies on measles virus nucleoprotein." this early work laid the groundwork for her future contributions to immunology and virology.

🔬 Professional endeavors

Ashima has held several prominent positions in her career, showcasing her expertise in immunology and infectious diseases. she started as a research scientist at the immunology lab, icgeb, new delhi, and later served as a post-doctoral fellow at iisc, bangalore. her international experience includes a stint as a research scientist at epfl, lausanne, switzerland. she also held a dst-inspire faculty position at the national institute of immunology, new delhi, and currently serves as a dbt-iyba fellow at icgeb, new delhi, contributing significantly to the immunobiology group.

📚 Contributions and research focus

Ashima's research has primarily focused on understanding the complex mechanisms of immune responses, particularly in relation to Tuberculosis tuberculosis. her work has been instrumental in exploring the role of sirt2, a class iii hdac, in mycobacterial infection, and the epigenetic regulation of t cell responses during tuberculosis. she has successfully secured funding for several research projects from prestigious institutions like the department of science and technology (dst) and the department of biotechnology (dbt), india.

🏆 Accolades and recognition

Ashima's contributions to science have been widely recognized with numerous awards and honors. she was named women scientist of the year 2024 by the golden jubilee biotech park for women and received the serb women excellence award in 2022. her other notable accolades include the hgk-iyba 2020-21, insa medal for young scientist 2016, and multiple keystone symposia global health travel awards. these awards highlight Tuberculosis her outstanding contributions to the field of immunology and her dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.

🌍 Impact and influence

Ashima's research has had a significant impact on the understanding of immune responses to infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis. her work on epigenetic mechanisms has provided new insights into the host immune responses to bcg vaccination, potentially influencing future vaccine strategies. as a mentor, she has also co-supervised phd students, helping shape the next generation of scientists. her international Tuberculosis collaborations and publications have further extended her influence in the global scientific community.

🔗 Legacy and future contributions

Ashima bhaskar's legacy in the field of immunology is marked by her pioneering research on epigenetic regulation and immune responses. as she continues her work at icgeb, new delhi, her future contributions are expected to further unravel the complexities of infectious diseases and immune mechanisms. her ongoing projects, including those funded by the department of biotechnology and the science and engineering research board, promise to yield new discoveries that could have far-reaching implications for public health.