Dr John Kagira is a Senior Lecturer in the Department Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology. He completed his PhD at University of Nairobi in 2010 and his research work has mainly focused One Health approach in investigating the epidemiology, economic importance and control of zoonoses in East Africa.

His research has been funded by various donors including World Bank, National Research Fund and Bill and Melinda Gates, amongst others.  
Kagira’s area of interest is One Health approach with focus on investigating the bacterial and parasitic diseases transmitted between animals and man. He has supervised 2 PhD and 9 MSc students. Currently he is supervising 4 MSc students who are investigating the molecular epidemiology of antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from dairy cattle and goats in Kenya.  He is also supervising several PhD (4) and MSc students (5) undertaking research in epidemiology of zoonoses as well as development of novel drugs against bacterial and parasitic zoonoses. Kagira has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles and has presented his research findings at several conferences and workshops. Besides research, he is also involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

Project – The Human-Animal Health Barrier: The Role of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under Pastoralist and Sedentary Farming Systems in Kenya
The project is using One Health approach in investigating the emergence and spread of Methicillin Associated Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic resistant bacteria at the human-animal interface in Kajiado and Kiambu Counties in Kenya. The study is a continuation of Kagira’s work on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock in Kenya. Preliminary work by Kagira and a team of researchers have shown high prevalence of AMR in bacteria isolated from ruminants having mastitis. Consumption of milk/milk products contaminated with resistant bacteria as well as close interaction between livestock and people is a critical entry point of these microorganisms into the food chain. Indeed, recent studies in Kenya have shown high prevalence (>84%) of MRSA at human hospital settings leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and financial constraints. The current project is geared towards using modern molecular tests such as genetic typing to provide the much needed evidence that livestock associated-MRSA and other resistant bacteria are able to breach the livestock-human barrier and cause severe disease in man. Results of the project will be used in informing One Health policies on surveillance and management of AMR where veterinary and medical authorities work together in managing the menace.