​Constance Rehema David
Research Assistant
Constance has comprehensive expertise in various public health domains, including epidemiology, community and behavioral health, health policy, and health system management. She also has vast experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods essential in evidence-based decision-making in public health practice and addressing real-world health issues.
At the Brain and Mind Institute, Constance contributes to research focused on mental health, specifically Neuropsychiatric genetics (NeuroGap-Psychosis II study), aimed at understanding and expanding knowledge of the genetic architecture of Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, in the African population. Her roles include enrolling and recruiting study participants, collecting biospecimens, managing data, and monitoring and evaluation.
Constance recently completed her Master of Public Health (MPH) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health from Kenyatta University. She has practiced clinical nursing in public and private health institutions here in Kenya.
Constance has substantial experience as an Assistant Research Officer at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, where she extensively contributed to the Neuroscience department working on a genetic study aimed at determining the genetic characterization of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability in children (NeuroDev study).
While at KEMRI, she also supported participant management and data handling for adolescent and adult HIV studies, including the HIV Associated Neuro-behavioural Disorders in Older People (HAND) and Adolescent Health Outcome Studies (AHOS) aimed at determining the mental health status and cognitive functioning of adolescents and adults living with HIV/AIDS.
Her experience and expertise in research extend to community mobilization, having worked as a community mobilization coordinator during the Kenya Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (KENPHIA) survey under the National Council for Population Development.
Constance is driven by her passion for contributing to meaningful health research and her love for giving back to the community. She believes this is achievable through enhancing public health through research and improving mental health care practices in the African population. The possibility of advancing knowledge and informing evidence-based policies that can positively impact individuals and communities motivates her, and she is committed to continuous professional development.
