Overview
Background
About & Research Focus
Associate Professor Sheila Cecily Ommeh is a computational biologist, and biotechnology specialist with over three decades of research leadership spanning infectious disease dynamics, multi-omics, and translational biosecurity at the One Health interface. Her research program focuses on the rational design of next-generation biodetection platforms, point-of-care diagnostics, novel therapeutics, modern livestock vaccine platforms to safeguard animal production systems, biosecurity, and food security and exploring animal biodiversity for resillience.
Career Journey & Scientific Heritage
Born on the slopes of Mount Elgon—an extinct volcano straddling Kenya and Uganda—she grew up on the foothills with her grandmother, a smallholder farmer. Witnessing early on the devastating impacts of infectious diseases and climatic extremes on rural livestock and community livelihoods shaped her dedication to agricultural resilience and veterinary health. She was profoundly inspired and mentored by her late mother, an accomplished scientist and visionary leader who fostered her early career in STEM.
A seasoned research strategist, A/Prof Ommeh brings extensive experience establishing, funding, and directing large-scale, multidisciplinary initiatives across global academic consortia and international research networks. Her leadership unites computational biologists, field researchers, veterinary authorities, and cross-sectoral collaborator seamlessly aligning diverse teams to translate fundamental discovery science into robust research frameworks, policy-informing datasets, and durable institutional research capacity. Her scientific journey over the past 30 years encompasses a comprehensive One Health continuum across leading global research centres:
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Vector-Borne Human Pathogens: Commenced research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) investigating Leishmania, subsequently advancing to human malaria molecular epidemiology with the KEMRI–Wellcome Trust Research Programme.
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Livestock Genomics & Biodiversity: Transitioned to agricultural biotechnology at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Seoul National University (Republic of Korea) and Paco Tecnologico Padano (Italy), focusing on avian genetics, viral disease resistance, and livestock adaptive resilience.
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Pathogen Surveillance & Wildlife Interfaces: At Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), she led the Animal Biotechnology Research Group at the Institute for Biotechnology Research (IBR). Her work spearheaded research on several indigenous poultry species and emerging livestock species. She also expanded into broad-scale pathogen surveillance, viral genomics, and biodiversity characterization across multi-species ecosystems; including domesticates, wildlife reservoirs, and vector populations with collaborators from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), University of Hasselt (Belgium) and Pirbright institute (UK) among other international collaborations.
Postgraduate Supervision & Student Opportunities
A dedicated academic mentor and educator, A/Prof Ommeh has supervised over 20 Higher Degree by Research Scholars (HDRs) to successful completion.
She actively welcomes prospective PhD, MPhil, and Honours students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, with backgrounds or interests in:
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Computational Biology & Bioinformatics: Genomic pipelines, molecular phylodynamics, and pathogen evolution.
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Molecular Biosecurity & Next-Generation Diagnostics: Translation of molecular and deep-tech sensing platforms for rapid, remote field detection.
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Rational Vaccine & Therapeutic Design: Computational epitope mapping and modern platform engineering for high-impact veterinary diseases.
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One Health & Animal Biodiversity: Exploring adaptive traits, disease tolerance, and resilient emerging protein resources.
Students joining the research group gain hands-on expertise in interdisciplinary computational pipelines, multi-omics, advanced genomic sequencing, and translational animal health biosecurity, benefiting from strong international networks and industry-aligned research environments.
Availability
- Associate Professor Sheila Ommeh is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Tuscia University
Research interests
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Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Molecular Biosecurity
Developing ruggedized, rapid biodetection platforms tailored for remote livestock production systems and wildlife interfaces. This research integrates advanced molecular assays, biosensing modalities, and field-ready nucleic acid detection to identify notifiable animal pathogens crush-side. The aim is to deliver actionable diagnostic intelligence within minutes to protect agricultural economies, mitigate outbreak impacts, and safeguard international livestock trade.
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Viral Genomics and Molecular Phylodynamics
Applying high-throughput computational biology and long-read sequencing technologies to track infectious disease transmission dynamics across species boundaries. This work investigates viral evolutionary trajectories, pathogen diversity, and molecular epidemiology at the human-animal-wildlife interface. Research outputs establish robust early-warning surveillance frameworks to identify zoonotic risks, trace transmission pathways, and inform national and regional biosecurity decision-making.
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Rational Vaccine Design: 'in silico' approach
Leveraging reverse genetics, computational epitope mapping, and structural bioinformatics to engineer next-generation veterinary vaccines and targeted therapeutics. The primary objective is constructing safe, marker-compliant platforms that differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). These interventions address priority livestock diseases while preserving trade status and advancing durable herd immunity without conventional cold-chain constraints.
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One Health and Resilient Animal Genetic Resources
Characterising the genetic diversity, disease tolerance, and climate adaptation traits of indigenous and emerging livestock species. Employing population genomics and functional annotation, this research uncovers candidate genes linked to heat resilience and pathogen resistance. The program supports sustainable protein diversification, pastoralist livelihoods, and climate-resilient agricultural systems through collaborative One Health frameworks.
Research impacts
Infectious disease outbreaks in livestock threaten national biosecurity, food security, and primary producer livelihoods. Associate Professor Sheila Ommeh’s research translates advanced computational biology, long-read sequencing, and next-generation biodetection platforms into practical, field-ready biosecurity tools that protect livestock industries, rural communities, and export markets.
Her research delivers tangible impacts across four key areas:
Safeguarding Agricultural Economies and Biosecurity
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Early Outbreak Interception: Developing rapid, point-of-care diagnostic and biodetection platforms enables animal health officers and producers to identify notifiable diseases crush-side within minutes rather than waiting days for centralised laboratory clearance, directly reducing containment costs during disease incursions.
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Protecting Export Trade Status: Rationally designing differentiating vaccine platforms (DIVA compliance) ensures livestock herds can be vaccinated during an outbreak without triggering trade bans or border restrictions from international trade partners.
Enhancing Smallholder and Pastoralist Livelihoods
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Livestock Disease Resilience: Identifying key genetic markers and adaptive traits in indigenous livestock species has enabled the development of breeding and management frameworks that withstand viral challenges, extreme heat, and climate-induced stressors.
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Sustainable Protein Security: Characterising resilient and emerging domesticate species provides rural communities with viable, climate-adapted alternatives to traditional livestock, diversifying income and strengthening food systems against climate volatility.
Informing One Health Surveillance and Policy
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Real-Time Pathogen Tracking: Applying long-read genomic sequencing and molecular phylodynamics to vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens enables health authorities to trace transmission pathways at wildlife–livestock–human interfaces, improving biosecurity early-warning systems.
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Evidence-Based Biosecurity Guidelines: Research findings from viral surveillance across multi-species ecosystems have directly informed regional biosecurity protocols and disease containment strategies.
Capacity Building and Workforce Leadership
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Mentoring Next-Generation Scientists: Having supervised more than 20 PhD and MSc researchers to successful completion, A/Prof Ommeh has actively built computational biology, genomics, and diagnostic pipeline capacity across global research hubs, equipping the agricultural and public health sectors with highly skilled biosecurity leaders.
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She is continuously engaged in mentoringearly career researchers, equipping emerging scientists with the strategic and leadership skills required to drive the future of the agricultural biotechnology, and public health sectors.
Works
Search Professor Sheila Ommeh’s works on UQ eSpace
2010
Journal Article
Ten simple rules for organizing a virtual conference—anywhere
Gichora, Nelson N., Fatumo, Segun A., Ngara, Mtakai V., Chelbat, Noura, Ramdayal, Kavisha, Opap, Kenneth B., Siwo, Geoffrey H., Adebiyi, Marion O., El Gonnouni, Amina, Zofou, Denis, Maurady, Amal A. M., Adebiyi, Ezekiel F., de Villiers, Etienne P., Masiga, Daniel K., Bizzaro, Jeffrey W., Suravajhala, Prashanth, Ommeh, Sheila C. and Hide, Winston (2010). Ten simple rules for organizing a virtual conference—anywhere. PLoS Computational Biology, 6 (2) e1000650. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000650
2008
Journal Article
Mitochondrial DNA origin of indigenous Malagasy chicken: implication for a functional polymorphism at the Mx gene
Razafindraibe, Hanta, Mobegi, Victor A., Ommeh, Sheila C., Rakotondravao,, Bjørnstad, Gro, Hanotte, Olivier and Jianlin, Han (2008). Mitochondrial DNA origin of indigenous Malagasy chicken: implication for a functional polymorphism at the Mx gene. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1149 (1), 77-79. doi: 10.1196/annals.1428.047
2008
Journal Article
Effect of folate derivatives on the activity of antifolate drugs used against malaria and cancer
Nduati, Eunice, Diriye, Abdi, Ommeh, Sheila, Mwai, Leah, Kiara, Steven, Masseno, Victor, Kokwaro, Gilbert and Nzila, Alexis (2008). Effect of folate derivatives on the activity of antifolate drugs used against malaria and cancer. Parasitology Research, 102 (6), 1227-1234. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-0897-4
2004
Journal Article
In vitro activities of 2,4-diaminoquinazoline and 2,4-diaminopteridine derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum
Ommeh, Sheila, Nduati, Eunice, Mberu, Eddy, Kokwaro, Gilbert, Marsh, Kevin, Rosowsky, Andre and Nzila, Alexis (2004). In vitro activities of 2,4-diaminoquinazoline and 2,4-diaminopteridine derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 48 (10) 3711, 1-4. doi: 10.1128/AAC.48.10.3711-3714.2004
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Sheila Ommeh is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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