Dr. Joy Githua, CREA-N Kenya. Building partnerships that transform health outcomes. Infectious & non-communicable disease researcher. Let's collaborate!
Clinical Research Health Network (CREA-N) is a novel research institute established in 2020 with a mission to expand and strengthen clinical research across East Africa. As a trailblazer research institute we focus on building research capacity and fostering collaboration in the region.
CREA-N research facilities are strategically located in Machakos, Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and extend beyond Kenya’s borders into Rwanda—positioning us to support impactful, multi-site clinical studies.
OOur Vision
Our vision is to establish a robust regional and national presence, encompassing diverse research sites and highly experienced investigators. We are committed to driving the conduct of ethical, high-quality clinical research that aligns with ICH-GCP, as well as local and international regulatory standards.
Our goal is to make clinical trials accessible to populations across socioeconomic, geographical, and cultural divides, ensuring that patients' medical needs and well-being remain our top priority. We are dedicated to introducing innovative therapeutic regimens, treatments, medical devices, and efficient diagnostic and disease prevention methods.
Our Framework
CREA-N offers a streamlined approach to clinical research, providing a single point of access to:
A multidisciplinary team of experienced clinical investigators across various medical specialties. , A centralized clinical research management office. , Access to a large and diverse pool of potential research participants in all the site networks. , Skilled and experienced research personnel. , Comprehensive support for ethical and regulatory submissions.
Research Expertise
With a combined clinical research experience of approximately 30 years, our team of professional researchers brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Our network includes key opinion leaders in multiple specialties, with experience in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including:
Infectious Diseases: Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, HPV , Non-Communicable Diseases: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Sickle Cell Disease, Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Oncology
Research Team
Each CREA-N site is staffed by a dedicated team of highly trained and qualified professionals with extensive experience in conducting clinical research. To ensure the highest quality standards across all sites, CREA-N maintains uniform standard operation procedures (SOP) and offers specialized training programs for each of the studies being implemented.
Patient Population
Our strategically located network of sites allows us to access a large and diverse population of patients interested in participating in clinical research. This access provides exceptional research opportunities across a wide variety of clinical settings.
Facilities Description
CREA-N clinical research units are strategically positioned within healthcare institutions, providing access to approximately 1,500 inpatient beds, outpatient departments, accredited laboratories, and pharmacies. These facilities are carefully adapted to fit the unique requirements of each study.
Focus
CREA-N is dedicated to advancing clinical research in Sub-Saharan Africa, promoting innovation, and improving health care outcomes through its expansive network and commitment to quality and ethical standards. At the heart of its mission is a commitment to health equity, working to ensure that all populations have access to high-quality healthcare solutions, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
Dr. Joy Githua is a medical doctor and clinical research scientist at Clinical Research Health Network - CREA-N and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree and a Master of Science (MSc) in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine at the University of Nairobi.
With over 8 years of clinical research experience, Dr. Githua specializes in poverty-related infectious and non-communicable diseases affecting both pediatric and adult populations. As a research scientist, she has led and contributed to clinical trials and observational studies across tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infections, malaria, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), sickle cell disease, vaccine safety research, cardiac clinical trials, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) studies, and obstetric conditions. Her current work includes COPD research, vaccine safety research, disease registry creation and Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease (PTLD) research in children and adults and developing context-appropriate diagnostic and treatment solutions for resource-limited settings.
Dr. Githua is committed to building African research capacity and has been recognized with competitive awards including the University of Washington (UW)/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research New Investigator Award and the Global Women and Children's Health (WACh) Seeds for Change Award. Her research has been presented at various local and international conferences including the International Conference on Post-TB Lung Disease, Union World Conference on Lung Health, and European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), among others, contributing to the global evidence base for infectious and non-infectious disease control in Africa.