Latest News & Announcements

Metropolis Laboratory visit

The University of Nairobi PEARLS Study team conducted a strategic visit to Metropolis Laboratory to assess laboratory readiness for the upcoming MATRIX phase.

The visit provided valuable insights into the laboratory’s diagnostic capacity, quality systems, specimen management processes, and biobanking infrastructure.

The STEP-Mag trial and the fight against maternal deaths

High blood pressure in pregnancy known as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is one of the biggest threats to mothers worldwide. Every year, these conditions take the lives of thousands of women.

In Asia and Africa, they cause about 1 in 10 maternal deaths, while in Latin America, it’s nearly 1 in 4. Sadly, women in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya are hit the hardest, with far more complications and deaths compared to wealthier countries.

REACH Trial Study

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a major contributor to maternal mortality, particularly in low- resource settings where 99% of such deaths occur. Oxytocin, the World Health Organization’s recommended first-line uterotonic for PPH treatment, requires cold chain storage—posing significant challenges in these environments. While misoprostol is heat-stable and widely available, it has been shown to be less effective than oxytocin. This underscores the urgent need for an alternative uterotonic that combines the efficacy of oxytocin with the storage advantages of misoprostol.