Viral metagenomics demonstrates that pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus

Details

Written on Wednesday, 26 September 2012 23:24

Dr Charles Masembe, a recipient of BecA Hub’s Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund from Makerere University, Uganda, together with colleagues from African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), ILRI Biotechnology theme , the BecA-ILRI Hub and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have recently demonstrated that domestic pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus (NDUV).

BecA-ILRI Hub Director receives prestigious TWAS award

Details

Written on Thursday, 20 September 2012 13:39

The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) awarded Segenet Kelemu the 2011 TWAS Prize for Agricultural Sciences during the 23rd TWAS General Meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday 18 September. The award was presented to her by the Chinese President Hu Jintao “for her discovery of beneficial endophytic fungi and bacteria in the tropical forage grass Brachiaria and for her contributions to the understanding of their roles in plant development and environmental fitness.

Introducing new staff at the BecA-ILRI Hub

Details

Written on Wednesday, 15 August 2012 00:42

Dr. Laura Purdie Has joined the BecA-ILRI Hub as a postdoctoral scientist in molecular diagnostics.

Laura has a strong background in molecular biology and virology. She has also gained extensive experience of PCR, DNA cloning and virological techniques from the University of Oxford and GlaxoSmithKline.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP) assay Workshop

Details

Written on Monday, 09 July 2012 00:24

A workshop on Loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP) assay for rapid detection of capripoxviruses insheep, goats and cattle will be held at the BecA-ILRI Hub from 9-13 July 2012. The workshop is being organized through the Molecular diagnosis of livestock diseases: adapting and adopting existing diagnostics for developing country laboratories, a collaborative project between BecA-ILRI Hub and the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Foreign Animal Diagnostics Laboratory ( USDA/APHIS/FADDL).

Introducing New Staff at the BecA Hub

Details

Written on Sunday, 08 July 2012 23:09

Introducing Sarah Osama, Mercy Macharia, Joyce Njuguna and Pauline Asami.

Science, technology and innovation grant 2012/2013 - Call for innovations proposals

Details

Written on Friday, 06 July 2012 05:20

National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) is a statutory institution of the Government of Kenya established by the Science and Technology Act. Cap. 250 of the Laws of Kenya. One of the main functions of NCST is to promote and coordinate matters of Science, Technology and Innovations (ST&I) in the country. The Council administers the Government ST&I grant designed to supports

The BecA-ILRI Hub's first lab management course

Details

Written on Thursday, 21 June 2012 07:15

The BecA-ILRI Hub conducted a five-day training on Introduction to Principles in Laboratory Management and Equipment Operations Workshop from 4th to 8th June 2012. Areas covered in the training included general lab design; good laboratory practices (GLP) in lab management; laboratory health and safety; laboratory biosafety and biosecurity; equipment operations and maintenance; supply chain management; shipping of biological materials; material transfer agreements; and intellectual property rights.

Dr. Bruce Pengelly - BecA Hub's partner of the year, 2011

Details

Written on Thursday, 05 April 2012 00:58

During his visit to the BecA Hub on 5th March 2012, CSIRO’s Partnerships leader Dr. Bruce Pengelly was awarded the Hub’s Outstanding Partner of the Year for2011. This award recognizes Bruce’s exemplary contribution to the BecA Hub. It appreciates his relentless commitment to Africa and his outstanding dedication to ensuring the BecA-CSIRO partnership works well and achieves impact for Africans.  Bruce always displays a deep respect to all stakeholders and partners and reiterates the importance of BecA’s work throughout the African region and internationally to his networks.

Next Generation Science - a part of the Global Livestock Agenda

Details

Written on Saturday, 17 March 2012 01:22

On Tuesday 13 March 2012, a delegation of experts from various international organizations concerned with advancing livestock development took an extensive tour of the facilities at the Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub. The visit to the Hub was the culmination of a high level consultative meeting on The Global Livestock Agenda by 2020 held at ILRI and co-chaired by the Director General of ILRI – Jimmy Smith and Livestock Advisor for the World Bank – François Le Gall.

Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund 2012 Research Fellowships - Call for Applications

Details

Written on Thursday, 08 March 2012 22:06

The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF) is a competitive grant that enables scientists from national research institutes and universities within the eastern and central Africa region to conduct research at the world-class research facilities of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sida's program for development research (U-Forsk)

Details

Written on Thursday, 08 March 2012 21:51

Call for applications to “Sida’s program for development research 2013”

The call for applications to “Sida’s program for development research 2013” is now open, closing date is April 3rd, 2012. During 2013 the total budget is 114 MSEK out of which 30 MSEK will be available for new applications. Applications within the area of global health research are handled by Vetenskapsrådet

The BecA-ILRI Hub annual letter, 2011

Details

Written on Monday, 27 February 2012 03:37

We are delighted to share with you the tremendous progress we have made in 2011. With the critical support of many partners and investors, we have continued to expand our programme of research, capacity building, and research-related services.

Australia Awards - PhDs for Agriculture

Details

Written on Wednesday, 18 January 2012 03:49

The Australian Government is offeringPhD Scholarships for Agriculture-related Study, commencing in Australia in 2013.
Call for applications is now open.
Closing date: 30 April 2012.

BecA Director awarded the 2011 TWAS Prize for Agricultural Sciences

Details

Written on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 04:06

The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) is awarding the 2011 TWAS Prize for Agricultural Sciences to Segenet Kelemu “For her discovery of beneficial endophytic fungi and bacteria in the most economically important tropical forage grass Brachiaria and for her outstanding contribution to our understanding of their roles in plant development and environmental fitness.”  TWAS Prizes are awarded to individual scientists in developing countries in recognition of an outstanding contribution to knowledge in eight fields of science: agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics, medical sciences and physics.

Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub receives funding boost from two major donors

Details

Written on Monday, 24 October 2011 05:32

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub (BecA Hub) at the International Livestock Research Institute has received US$ 12 Million from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs towards improving Africa’s agricultural productivity.  The research program will focus on efficient genetic improvement and pest and disease management of crops and livestock.  Enhancing individual and institutional capacity in biosciences across Africa underpins the program. The BecA Hub will manage and implement the research in collaboration with a team of African national and international research partners.

Kenya President Mwai Kibaki officially opens Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub

Details

Written on Monday, 08 November 2010 00:25

From Kenya’s State House News comes the following report Friday 5 November 2010 on the visit by His Excellency, President Mwai Kibaki, to the official opening of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa  (BecA) Hub, which is hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), at its Nairobi headquarters and laboratories. 

Biosciences for Africa: Fuelling Africa’s agricultural revolution from within

Details

Written on Friday, 05 November 2010 00:00

 A world-class research facility, the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub, was officially opened in Nairobi, today, by Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki. This opening follows a scientific conference, Mobilizing Biosciences for Africa’s Development, which was held the day before at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), which hosts and manages the new facility.

The BecA Hub is open for use by researchers from Africa and around the world who are working to improve African agriculture. The BecA Hub puts Africa’s research capacity on par with some of the world’s most advanced research institutes.

Welcoming Dr. Negussie Zenna to the Hub

Details

Written on Friday, 16 July 2010 05:33

Negussie and Bramwel at the bench

Negussie Zenna is a postdoctoral fellow with the Africa Rice Center in Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania. He is currently working on the Stress Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project funded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project aims to accelerate the development and delivery of improved rice varieties that are tolerant to five major abiotic stresses; drought, submergence, salinity, iron toxicity and low temperature.

New Graduate Fellows, June 2010

Details

Written on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 23:07

Meghan Filbert is a Masters student at Cornell University where she is studying animal nutrition and nutritional toxicology.  Her research is focused primarily on aflatoxin contamination of groundnuts and peanut butter, but will be working with other scientists to study maize contamination in Kenya.  Kenya is a hotspot for aflatoxin, which makes her research very relevant and connected to current issues. 

Samuel Muiru: A short term trainee at the BecA-ILRI Hub

Details

Written on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 00:28

Dr. Samuel Muiru is an Associate Professional Officer in the Plant pathology department of ICRISAT-Malawi and is based in Lilongwe the Capital City. Samuel has been in the Hub since 7th June to learn how to detect the various virus components associated with groundnut rosette disease (GRD).