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« Back to NewsKEMRI signs landmark partnership with Wellcome and Oxford
3 April 2025
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. The £91 million agreement was signed at the Wellcome headquarters in London, marking a significant boost for medical research and training in Kenya.
Lower-dose yellow fever vaccine as effective as the current standard
20 March 2025
In a recent study, researchers at the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya have discovered that a low-dose of the yellow fever vaccine is as effective as the current standard dose.
Breaking Barriers: Dr Caroline Tigoi’s Journey in Science and Research
11 February 2025
The science field has largely been male-dominated from time immemorial and women in science are increasingly making their mark and breaking barriers through conducting and leading various ground-breaking research. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance in recognition of the critical role played by women and girls in science and the promotion of their full and equal access to participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. At KWTRP we celebrate, Dr Caroline Tigoi a dedicated scientist whose journey into microbiology and infectious disease research has not only advanced medical science but also inspired the next generation of women in STEM.
Launch of largest-ever study tracking chikungunya burden in East Africa
13 December 2024
A team of scientists in the UK, Kenya and Tanzania will soon find out the extent to which chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease causing large outbreaks in Asia and South America, is also affecting countries in East Africa.
KEMRI renews collaboration with Oxford University and Wellcome Trust
29 November 2024
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has signed a seven-year memorandum of agreement with the Wellcome Trust and the University of Oxford. Under this collaboration, Wellcome has awarded £91 million (KES 15 billion) to support research over the next seven years. KEMRI have been collaborating with the Wellcome Trust and the University of Oxford on improving health through research for over 35 years.
Rift Valley fever vaccine to enter Phase II clinical trials in Kenya
14 October 2024
A promising human vaccine candidate against the potentially deadly Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease affecting countries across Africa, is set to begin Phase II trials in Kenya. This is the most advanced stage of testing a human Rift Valley fever vaccine has reached in an outbreak-prone area to date. A team of scientists at the Nuffield Department of Medicine and the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme will lead the $3.7m trial, funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
Improving survival rates of children with sickle cell disease in Kenya
19 September 2024
Research on sickle cell disease conducted by KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) at the Nuffield Department of Medicine shows significant progress in understanding how to improve survival rates and quality of life for those living with the condition.
Hydroxychloroquine provides moderate COVID-19 prevention, large clinical trial shows
12 September 2024
Four years after being derailed by scientific fraud and politicised science in the first year of the pandemic, COPCOV, the world’s largest COVID-19 chemoprevention study, finally published results today that showed that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) does have a moderate benefit in preventing COVID-19.
KWTRP exhibits at the Kenya National Research Festival 2024
12 September 2024
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) hosted an exhibition as part of the British High Commission Pavilion during the Kenya National Research Festival 2024. Under the theme “Research Partnerships and collaborations for Socio-Economic Transformation” the festival aimed to raise awareness about the diverse spectrum of research activities in Kenya and internationally encouraging collaboration.
Seven CTMGH researchers awarded full professorships
3 September 2024
We are delighted to announce that seven of our researchers have been awarded the title of Professor, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Visit MalariaWorld
24 July 2024
The Malariaworld exhibition was developed in conjunction with World Malaria Day 2024 to raise awareness of malaria and malaria research, and to highlight some of our contributions to malaria research. You can now visit our virtual exhibition!
KWTRP Annual Policy Engagement Forum
20 June 2024
The KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) hosted its annual policy engagement forum in Nairobi. This year’s forum provided a valuable platform for deliberation between policy stakeholders and researchers, focusing on their research needs and policy priorities. The event is part of a larger consultative process towards the development of the KWTRP strategic plan.
Associate Professors 2024
17 May 2024
We are pleased to announce that six of our researchers have been awarded the title Associate Professor
Improving pneumonia recovery in malnourished African children
17 May 2024
A project by the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) at NDM highlighted the importance of future trials focussing on high-risk, undernourished children and using feeds tailored to their metabolic needs.
The KEMIS Project at KWTRP
15 May 2024
Serosurveillance remains a valuable yet underutilized tool. Through the KEMIS project, KWTRP aim to demonstrate the value of multi-pathogen serosurveillance in Kenya.
Celebrating World Malaria Day 2024
25 April 2024
On this World Malaria Day 2024, Professor Marta Maia from the KEMRI Welcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya, talks about her research work and shares her reflections on climate change and what this means to vector biology and current interventions.
Visit our exhibition: Malariaworld
17 April 2024
The Malariaworld exhibition has been developed for World Malaria Day 2024 to raise awareness of malaria and malaria research. We highlight some of the Nuffield Department of Medicine’s contributions to malaria research. Come and visit our exhibition at the John Radcliffe Academic Centre, 22-29 April 2024.
NEWRISK project awarded RIGHT 5 NHIR funding
27 February 2024
Led by Benjamin Tsofa and Jacob McKnight, the project named "A Novel Extreme Weather Risk Insurance System for Kenya (NEWRISK)” will focus on using the latest methods to provide focused data on extreme weather, population vulnerability, and health system capacity readiness across various climatic zones in Kenya.
School Leavers Attachment Scheme
22 February 2024
KWTRP hosted 153 students for the Annual School Leavers Attachment Scheme (SLAS) Open Day. The SLAS open day targets top performing students in Kilifi to give them an opportunity to information from various stakeholders and scientists that would help them firm up or redefine their career aspirations. It is an opportunity to give the students information about the need to take science and health related careers with the focus on creating the next pool of researchers in Kenya, Africa and beyond.
12 Remarkable African Life Scientists– An inspirational book for young people
18 February 2024
Dr Tabitha Mwangi, a former KWTRP scientist now working in the UK, has written an inspirational book targeted at High school going children but also useful in shaping students already in university in shaping their career journeys.
New interim director for the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme
1 February 2024
It is a bittersweet moment for the KWTRP family as we make changes to our Leadership team. After 10 years of tremendous growth and change in the Programme, Professor Philip Bejon officially steps down as the KWTRP Programme Executive Director. Professor Edwine Barasa takes over as the Interim Executive Director.
KWTRP Consultative Workshop on Data Access and Use for Public Health Planning and Decision-making
20 November 2023
The KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) convened stakeholders for a follow-up session on data access and use for public health planning and decision-making. This forum focused on discussing pathways to implementing priority recommendations generated during the first consultative workshop.
Celebrating World Pneumonia Day 2023
12 November 2023
We commemorate World pneumonia Day on the 12th of November annually, a reminder that pneumonia remains a preventable and curable disease.
Bohemia: exploring ivermectin for malaria control in Kwale county
24 October 2023
The Broad One Health Endectocide-based Malaria Intervention in Africa project (BOHEMIA) begins its mass drug administration (MDA) activities in Kenya’s Kwale County. The MDA in Kenya is being implemented by the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and led by co-principal investigators Dr Marta Maia and Dr Joseph Mwangang
R21 Phase III trial results
3 October 2023
After the successful completion and positive results from the Phase I (Kenya) and II (Burkina Faso) R21 vaccine trials, researchers have now published the results of the Phase III trial ahead of peer review.
Three CTMGH researchers awarded Professorships
19 September 2023
We are delighted to announce that three of our researchers have been awarded the Professor title, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
New collaboration to tackle antibiotic-resistant sepsis in African newborns
3 August 2023
The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme from NDM has participated in a new European-African consortium to improve the way infections in newborns are treated. This project, called SNIP-AFRICA, aims to reduce mortality among neonates in hospitals with sepsis in Africa, in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance.
KWTRP Media Engagement
25 July 2023
KWTRP hosted journalists from South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya who visited the programme for a tour that aimed to enrich the journalists’ training experience as part of a science communication training workshop for journalists in Mombasa. The team interacted with Dr Eunice Nduati who presented on IAVI work and they toured the research labs. The training will empower the journalists to communicate scientific concepts accurately and effectively to a broader audience.
Hypertension Control in Rural Africa(IHCoR) NIHR Global Health Research Group meeting
24 July 2023
KWTRP hosted the Improving Hypertension Control in Rural Africa (IHCoR) NIHR Global Health Research Group meeting dubbed the Kilifi Dialogues. The meeting brought together more than 30 leading researchers from various parts of the world to discuss the landscape of hypertension research in sub-Saharan Africa.
KWTRP School Leavers Attachment Scheme
10 July 2023
This year’s School Leavers Attachment Scheme (SLAS) cohort have successfully concluded. The cohort included 9 students drawn from secondary schools in Kilifi who scored highest in aptitude tests and interviews. The 3-month attachment, which started from 1st March to 31st May, involved two-week long rotations in the HSRE, Neuro, ICT, Labs, Wards and ED departments and bi-weekly tutorials.
Achieving maternal, newborn, and child health
23 June 2023
KWTRP and HSC researchers attended the International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference 8-11 May 2023 in Capetown, South Africa. This conference is held biannually to track progress made towards achieving maternal, newborn, and child health SDG targets as we get to 2030.
KWTRP Gender, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy
20 June 2023
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) has put in place the Gender, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy to provide guidelines to be followed in the management of the Programme human resources to ensure consistency and compliance with the labour laws in the application of all policies across the Programme.
How mathematical modelling can support policy decision making
6 June 2023
Researchers at the Kemri Wellcome Trust in collaboration with colleagues from various modelling groups and the World Health Organization have designed a framework to guide the use of mathematical modelling in evidence-based policy decision making.
Four CTMGH researchers awarded Associate Professorships
23 May 2023
We are delighted to announce that four of our researchers have been awarded the Associate Professor title, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Global team of humanities and social science researchers to explore Just Transitions for antimicrobial resistance
9 May 2023
'Just Transitions to mitigate antimicrobial resistance' is a multidisciplinary social science and humanities programme funded by the British Academy. Led by Dr Sonia Lewycka and Professor Phaik Yeong Cheah, its team of 20 researchers will convene global and regional dialogues, engaging with key stakeholders to co-create equitable and sustainable solutions to manage antimicrobial resistance.
Human Resource for Health Stakeholder Engagement
4 May 2023
The KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme hosted various stakeholders for a discussion on Human Resource for Health in Kenya. The meeting discussions centered on themes around health workforce production, the impact of health workforce on quality of care and health workforce governance and management.
Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System 20th Anniversary
3 May 2023
The Kilifi Health and Demographic Surveillance System, housed within the Epidemiology and Demography Department of the KEMRI Kilifi Wellcome Trust Research Programme, celebrated two decades of its existence. The event was an opportunity for the team to reflect on its values, strengths and connect with the future.
Webinar: African country experiences with institutionalizing Health Technology Assessment
2 May 2023
Health Economics Research Unit, based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, in collaboration with Africa Health Technology Assessment Network and Africa Health Economics Association, hosted a webinar on African country experiences with institutionalizing Health Technology Assessment. This approach to evidence-based priority setting provides a mechanism for making choices about purchasing decisions in the health system.
Rift Valley fever vaccine trial shows positive results
12 April 2023
Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Medicine’s KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and the University of Oxford have recently reported promising results from a phase 1 clinical trial of their ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine against Rift Valley fever in humans.
KWTRP Advanced workshop for Bioinformatics workflows
4 April 2023
KWTRP hosted the 2nd Advanced workshop for Bioinformatics workflows between 27th -31st March with 28 participants from Kenya, Uganda, DRC-Congo, Malawi and Nigeria, with support from NGS Academy for the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative.
KWTRP NeoSep trial site initiation visit
31 March 2023
The NeoSep1 trial team hosted a site initiation visit which included a training conducted by the Trial Management Group that includes St. George’s Hospital in London and the UK Medical Research Council’s Clinical Trial Unit. NeoSep1 trial is a randomised controlled trial to improve antibiotic treatment for babies.
DELTAS Africa II Launch
16 March 2023
The Science for Africa Foundation launched the Developing Excellence in Leadership Training and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa II) on 14th March 2023 in Nairobi Kenya. DELTAS Africa II brings together 14 grantees from across the continent including The Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL), based at the KEMRI – Wellcome Trust Research Programme.
Celebrating Women and Girls in Science
11 February 2023
Women have made significant contribution in research despite the numerous challenges they face. To celebrate the women and girls in science we asked some women at KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research programme to share their journey in research, their achievements, and a word of advice to fellow women in science.
VAnguard Launch
6 December 2022
KWTRP hosted the launch of the VAnguard research project. The NIHR Funded Project Builds Knowledge-base on Factors Influencing Vaccine Impact among Communities in Kenya and Uganda. The project aims to strengthen collaborations between national and international stakeholders in the identification of social and biological factors that impair vaccine impact in African communities, to develop integrated strategies and recommendations to optimize vaccine impact, and to contribute to health equity in Africa. The launch concurrently took place in Kenya and Uganda from 28th – 30th November 2022.
Four CTMGH researchers awarded full professorships
30 August 2022
We are delighted to announce that four of our researchers have been awarded the title of Professor, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.
Quality of care, health workers’ well-being and COVID-19
19 July 2022
Nurses are central players in the provision of quality health care globally. Although neonatal units have not been at the epicenter of the current COVID-19 pandemic, challenges have also been raised for neonatal nurses. KWTRP share their COVID-19 related experiences and challenges, highlight strategies they used to manage the challenges and show how elements of the communication skills and emotional competence course helped them cope.
High prevalence of antibodies against COVID-19 within the general population: Evidence from Nairobi and Kilifi
5 July 2022
By May 2022, 69% of individuals residing within the Kilifi Health and Demographic System (HDSS) and 91% residing within the Nairobi Urban HDSS had evidence of an immune response to COVID-19 resulting from natural infection and/or vaccination, i.e., anti-spike IgG antibodies.
Taking relationships seriously
17 June 2022
Community Engagement (CE) is a critical aspect of health research because of its potential to make research more ethical, relevant, and well implemented. Many research programmes now aim to incorporate CE activities at all stages of their work. This KWTRP brief summarises key findings from a malaria trials, and provides an illustration of how CE works more generally. It highlights facilitators and challenges to engagement, and the ethical issues that are particularly relevant in LMIC settings with under resourced health systems.
Congratulations to our new Associate Professors
8 June 2022
Our heartfelt congratulations to Melissa Kapulu, Francis Ndungu and Emelda Okiro from KWTRP, and to Hoa Thi Ngo and Sophie Yacoub from OUCRU who have been awarded Associate Professorships
Congratulations Professor Kathryn Maitland, awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
7 June 2022
Kathryn Maitland, Professor of Paediatric Tropical Infectious Diseases and based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours