Dr. James Richard Otieno 😎
Dr. James Richard Otieno

Consultant Bioinformatician

World Health Organization (WHO)

Biography

James R. Otieno is a Pathogen Genomic Epidemiologist and Bioinformatician.

He is passionate about advancing public and global health through innovative research in infectious disease epidemiology, with a particular focus on genomic epidemiology and bioinformatics. His work explores the evolution, host dynamics, and spatial-temporal spread of pathogens at different scales; predominantly viruses, but ocassionally persuaded to work with bacteria too. He is deeply committed to strengthening research and response capacity in LMICs, actively designing and delivering genomic epidemiology and bioinformatics training programs that support rapid outbreak investigation, laboratory diagnostics, and data-driven decision-making.

Interests
  • Genomic and Spatial Epidemiology
  • Bioinformatics and Cloud Computing
  • Data Driven Public/Global Health
  • Capacity building in LMICs
  • Open and Reproducible Research
Education

  • Certificate in Global Health Project Management, 2020

    University of Washington (USA)

  • PhD, 2019

    The Open University (UK)

  • MSc in Bioinformatics, 2013

    University of Leicester (UK)

  • Certificate in Leadership Development in Global Health, 2012

    University of Washington (USA)

  • BSc in Biochemistry, 2008

    Moi University (Kenya)

Recent Publications

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Edyth Parker, Ifeanyi F Omah, Delia Doreen Djuicy, Andrew Magee, Christopher H Tomkins-Tinch, James Richard Otieno, Patrick Varilly, Akeemat Opeyemi Ayinla, Ayotunde E Sijuwola, Muhammad I Ahmed, Oludayo O Ope-Ewe, Olusola Akinola Ogunsanya, Alhaji Olono, Femi Mudasiru Saibu, Philomena Eromon, Moïse Henri Moumbeket Yifomnjou, Loique Landry Messanga Essengue, Martial Gides Wansi Yonga, Gael Dieudonné Essima, Ibrahim Pascal Touoyem, Landry Jules Mouliem Mounchili, Sara Irene Eyangoh, Alain Georges Mballa Etoundi, Linda Esso, Inès Mandah Emah Nguidjol, Steve Franck Metomb, Cornelius Chebo, Samuel Mbah Agwe, Hans Makembe Mossi, Chanceline Ndongo Bilounga, Olusola Akanbi, Abiodun Egwuenu, Odianosen Ehiakhamen, Chimaobi Chukwu, Kabiru Suleiman, Afolabi Akinpelu, Adama Ahmad, Khadijah Isa Imam, Richard Ojedele, Victor Oripenaye, Kenneth Ikeata, Sophiyah Adelakun, Babatunde Olajumoke, Áine O'Toole, Mark Zeller, Karthik Gangavarapu, Daniel J Park, Gerald Mboowa, Sofonias Kifle Tessema, Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Onikepe Folarin, Anise Happi, Philippe Lemey, Marc a Suchard, Kristian G Andersen, Pardis Sabeti, Andrew Rambaut, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Idris Jide, Ifedayo Adetifa, Richard Njouom, Christian T Happi (2025). Genomics reveals zoonotic and sustained human Mpox spread in West Africa.. Nature.
DOI
Christopher Ruis, Eddy Lusamaki, Aine O’Toole, James R Otieno, Rachel Colquhoun, Cornelius Roemer, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga, Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya, Daan Jansen, Jean-Claude Makangara, Anurag Agrawal, Laith Jamal Abu-Raddad, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Ahidjo Ayouba, Esam I Azhar, Leon Caly, Christian Drosten, Nuno R Faria, Adeola Fowotade, Ana Hoxha, Baoying Huang, Bette Korber, Olivier Le Polain De Waroux, Rosamund F Lewis, Laurens Liesenborghs, Nada M Melhem, Vincent J Munster, Dimie Ogoina, Bas B Oude Munnink, Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris, Gustavo Palacios, Martine Peeters, Paola Resende, Anne W Rimoin, Senjuti Saha, Yee Sin Leo, Tadaki Suzuki, Koen Vercauteren, Pragya Yadav, Maria D Van Kerkhove, Richard Neher, Tulio De Oliveira, David Ulaeto, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Jason Kindrachuk, Marion P G Koopmans, Meera Chand, Anne Von Gottberg, Lorenzo Subissi, Andrew Rambaut (2025). A systematic nomenclature for mpox viruses causing outbreaks with sustained human-to-human transmission. Nature Medicine.
URL DOI
Julia Wangui, George Gachara, Victor Mobegi, Charles Agoti, James Otieno, Silvanos Opanda, Benjamin Opot, Joseph N Ngeranwa, Regina Njeru, Wallace Bulimo (2025). Molecular Analysis of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Group B Strains Isolated in Kenya Before and During the Emergence of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.
URL DOI
James R. Otieno, Christopher Ruis, Anyebe B. Onoja, Krutika Kuppalli, Ana Hoxha, Andreas Nitsche, Annika Brinkmann, Janine Michel, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Muntasir Mohammed Osman, Hanadi Hussein, Muhammad Ali Raja, Richard Fotsing, Belinda L. Herring, Mory Keita, Jairo Mendez-Rico, Lionel Gresh, Amal Barakat, Victoria Katawera, Karen Nahapetyan, Dhamari Naidoo, R. Andres Floto, Jane Cunningham, Maria D. Van Kerkhove, Rosamund F. Lewis, Lorenzo Subissi (2024). Global genomic surveillance of monkeypox virus.. Nature medicine.
URL DOI
D. Collins Owuor, Zaydah R. De Laurent, John W. Oketch, Nickson Murunga, James R. Otieno, Grace Nabakooza, Sandra S. Chaves, D. James Nokes, Charles N. Agoti (2024). Phylogeography and reassortment patterns of human influenza A viruses in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific Reports.
URL DOI
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Experience

  1. Consultant - Bioinformatician

    World Health Organization

  2. Genomic Epidemiologist (Contractor)

    Theiagen Genomics

  3. Genomic Epidemiologist

    Theiagen Genomics

  4. Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

    National Institutes of Health

  5. Postdoctoral Fellow

    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  6. Career Development Fellow

    KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

  7. Research Officer

    KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

  8. Intern

    KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

  9. Medical/Pharmaceutical Representative

    Europa Healthcare Limited

  10. Volunteer Teacher

    Kuja Special Secondary School for the Deaf

Education

  1. Certificate in Global Health Project Management

    University of Washington (USA)

  2. PhD

    The Open University (UK)

  3. MSc in Bioinformatics

    University of Leicester (UK)

  4. Certificate in Leadership Development in Global Health

    University of Washington (USA)

  5. BSc in Biochemistry

    Moi University (Kenya)
Languages
100%
English
100%
Swahili
50%
French
100%
Dholuo
50%
Sign Language