KEMRI signs Sh15 billion deal to bolster health research in Kenya

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has officially entered into a seven-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wellcome, a UK-based charitable foundation, and the University of Oxford to boost medical research and training in Kenya.

Under the partnership, Wellcome and the University of Oxford will support research activities with a funding commitment of up to Ksh 15 billion over the next seven years. KEMRI’s Acting Director General and CEO, Prof Elijah Songok, signed the MoU alongside Dr John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive Officer of Wellcome, and Prof Gavin Screaton, Head of Medical Sciences at Oxford’s Nuffield Department.

Prof Songok highlighted the strategic importance of the KEMRI-Wellcome-Oxford Programme, emphasising its contribution of over 30 percent of KEMRI’s research output. “The Programme remains one of KEMRI’s flagship research and training initiatives, continuously making impactful contributions to health research and capacity building,” he stated.

Dr Røttingen underscored Wellcome’s focus on supporting science to address the most urgent global health challenges facing everyone, including mental health, climate change, and infectious diseases. “We are proud of what our collaboration has achieved over the years and are excited to continue contributing towards better health outcomes in the years to come,” he noted.

Prof Screaton reiterated the University of Oxford’s commitment to fostering equitable research collaborations worldwide, particularly with researchers across Africa. “We are dedicated to advancing learning and research that positively impacts millions of lives globally,” he remarked.

The ceremony was attended by, among others, Dr Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali, Chairman of the KEMRI Board of Directors, Veska Kangongo, Advisor, Strategy and Execution from the Executive Office of the President, Mr. Christopher Marwa, KEMRI Board Director, Margaret Rigoro, Acting Director of Legal Services, KEMRI and James Wodera, Principal Corporate Communications Officer and Head of Media, Communications, and Publications, KEMRI.

The team representing Wellcome included, Dr Jimmy Volmink, Executive Director, Equity, Chris Bird, Chief Legal Officer, Dr Julia Kemp, Head of Major International Programmes and Yolisa Nalule, Senior Manager, Major International Programmes.

The University of Oxford delegation comprised Prof Susan Dunachie, Director of the Nuffield Department of Medicine Centre for Global Health Research, Prof Chris Price, Divisional Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, Medical Sciences Division and Ed Gibbs, Chief Operating Officer, Nuffield Department of Medicine.

The agreement builds upon a previous Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on November 27, 2024, which renewed formal collaborations following the expiration of earlier agreements which also at the time, coincided with Wellcome’s commemoration of 60 years of presence and collaboration in Kenya.

KEMRI’s partnership with Wellcome and the University of Oxford, which spans over 36 years, has yielded groundbreaking research in malaria, pneumonia, meningitis, HIV, malnutrition, and COVID-19, among others. This continued collaboration has also facilitated the development and testing of critical vaccines, including two malaria vaccines and the Rift Valley Fever vaccine under the One Health approach.

The partnership has significantly contributed to generating evidence for advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya and the region, further cementing KEMRI’s position as a leader in health research and innovation.

“As we embark on this renewed journey with Wellcome and the University of Oxford, we are reaffirming our commitment to cutting-edge research and innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. This partnership is not just an investment in research; it’s an investment in healthier, more resilient communities across Kenya and beyond,” Prof Songok said.