2025-2026 Cohort of Visiting Scholars
Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo
Senior Lecturer and PI Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University | Kenya
Dr. Bartholomew N. Ondigo is a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Egerton University, Kenya. Trained in biomedical sciences (BSc, MSc, PhD), he specializes in host–pathogen interactions, mechanisms of immunity, and global health. His research focuses on malaria, schistosomiasis, and other infectious diseases, with publications in journals and active collaborations in Kenya and internationally. Dr. Ondigo teaches and mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students.
“Working together face-to-face allowed Dr. Azza Idris and me to develop more effective communication and created opportunities for informal discussions, both in and outside the office, that fostered a deeper sense of trust and strengthened our collaboration as scientists from different parts of the world.”
Advancing Research on Maternal Immunity Against Malaria Through Global Collaboration
During his HGHI Visiting Scholarship, Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo collaborated with Dr. Azza Idris to investigate immune responses that protect pregnant women from malaria infection, with a particular focus on placental malaria.
Building on Dr. Ondigo’s longitudinal cohort of pregnant women in western Kenya and expertise in placental malaria and field immunology, alongside Dr. Idris’s team’s expertise in monoclonal antibody technologies at the Ragon Institute, the collaboration examined antibody responses to VAR2CSA, the primary placental malaria antigen.
The research aims to identify antibody responses associated with protection against placental sequestration of infected red blood cells, define immune correlates that may inform future maternal malaria vaccines and interventions, and strengthen capacity for implementing advanced immunological approaches at Egerton University.
Read more about Dr. Ondigo’s research collaboration through the Ragon Institute.
Visiting Scholar Experience
The HGHI Visiting Scholar Program provided Dr. Ondigo with a six-week in-person research experience at Harvard, where he worked alongside Dr. Idris and members of the Idris Lab to advance their collaborative research agenda.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Ondigo noted that working together in person strengthened scientific exchange and helped align research approaches with the realities and challenges of conducting global health research.
“Working together face-to-face allowed Dr. Azza Idris and me to develop more effective communication and created opportunities for informal discussions, both in and outside the office, that fostered a deeper sense of trust and strengthened our collaboration as scientists from different parts of the world.”
Dr. Ondigo participated in laboratory meetings, scientific seminars, and research discussions across the Ragon Institute and Harvard community. He also gained exposure to laboratory approaches used by the Idris Lab, including malaria infection models, antibody detection platforms, and methods for studying pathogen transmission.
Research Exchange and Future Directions
During his visit, Dr. Ondigo presented his ongoing research on malaria in pregnancy, received feedback from investigators, and participated in discussions to refine future proposals focused on expanding the mechanistic understanding of malaria immunity.
The collaboration also contributed to new scholarly outcomes, including the publication of a jointly mentored student manuscript (Kipchirchir et al., 2026). In addition, Dr. Ondigo and members of the Idris Lab are continuing their partnership through future initiatives, including a planned Frontiers in Medicine research topic on integrated approaches to controlling co-endemic parasitic and arthropod-borne diseases.
Relevant Resources
Research Publication: Evaluation of microscopy and first response™ malaria Ag PAN/Pf RDT compared to qPCR and hemoglobin levels in pregnant women at delivery in Busia County, Western Kenya
Photo Gallery
HGHI Visiting Scholar Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo with Harvard collaborator Dr. Azza Idris at the Harvard Global Health Institute.
Dr. Ondigo with collaborators Simone Wall, Dr. Ganchimeg Bayarsaikhan, and Dr. Azza Idris.
HGHI Visiting Scholar Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo with Harvard collaborator Dr. Azza Idris.
Dr. Ondigo on the Harvard campus during his visiting scholar experience.
Dr. Ondigo with Dr. Krista Dong and research collaborator Dr. Azza Idris during his visiting scholar experience at Harvard.
Photo with family visiting Ragon Institute.
A photo of the retreat with faculty members in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Presenting research work to faculty at Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Presenting research work to faculty at Idris Lab at Harvard,
Dr. Ondigo sharing a Kenyan meal with friends from Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States during his time in Boston.
Having lunch with Bob Sifa, a laboratory technician in the Idris Lab.
Dr. Ondigo engaging in a research proposal discussion with Prof. Musie Ghebremichael of the Ragon Institute.
Dr. Ondigo with Dr. Jennifer Suurbaar, postdoctoral researcher in the Idris Lab.
Dr. Ondigo visiting the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, beside the seat used by Pope John Paul II during his historic 1979 pastoral visit to the United States.
Dr. Ondigo with Prof. Jacquin Niles, Principal Investigator at MIT.