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Ya Jankey JAGNE

Senior Research Associate

Vaccines and Immunity

Orcid identifier0000-0001-5235-8475
  • Senior Research Associate
    Vaccines and Immunity
  • MRC Unit the Gambia, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Banjul, The Gambia

BIO

I am a post doctoral Immunologist working within the Vaccines and Immunity Theme. My research focuses on understanding the immune response to infectious diseases and vaccination particularly in early childhood. I have gained extensive experience in various immunological and molecular techniques over the years and have applied these skills in a diverse range of studies on infectious diseases such as malaria, influenza, SARS CoV-2, and Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS). I currently co-lead the Group A strep Immunology work in The Gambia. 

 

I also support the Immunology research laboratories platform at MRC Unit, The Gambia which host permanent research groups for Infant Immunology, TB Immunology and Malaria with more than 60 technical and research staff using the facilities. 

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Senior Research Associate
    Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Bakau, Gambia3 Jul 2023 - present
  • Higher Scientific Officer/ PhD student
    Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Bakau, Gambia12 Jun 2017 - 5 Jun 2023
  • Higher Scientific Officer
    Medical Research Council, Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Bakau, Gambia1 Sep 2014 - 5 Jun 2017
  • Scientific Officer
    Medical Research Council, Viral Diseases Programme, Bakau, Gambia2 Mar 2009 - 1 Sep 2014
  • Trainee Scientific Officer
    Medical Research Council, Viral Diseases Programme, Bakau, Gambia3 Mar 2008 - 9 Mar 2009

DEGREES

  • PhD
    The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom1 Apr 2017 - 31 Mar 2023
  • MSc
    London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom24 Sep 2012 - 13 Sep 2013
  • BSc
    University of the Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia17 Sep 2001 - 12 Sep 2005

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Scientific Writing Workshop
    Duke Medical Center, Durham, United States19 Jan 2026 - present
    A 2-days (January 19th & 22nd, 2026) Scientific Writing Workshop hosted by Duke Global Health Institute, the University of Global Health Equity, and the University of Rwanda
  • Grant writing, Researcher Leadership and Mentorship workshop 6-8th Feb 2024
    MRC Unit the Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia
    The 3-day workshop was designed to give the early career researcher the tools and skills needed for professional and personal career development in health research and provide them with the soft skills to lead and advance global health research programs.
  • Introductory Statistics with Genstat and Minitab
    MRC Unit the Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia20 Mar 2017 - present
    Introductory Statistics with Genstat and Minitab with the MRC Gambia data team

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review