Gates Foundation injects Ksh.516 million into KEMRI’s women’s health innovation program to boost African-led research

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has launched a Ksh.516 million program to revolutionize women’s health research and innovation across Africa, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dubbed the Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH) Program, the three-year initiative will officially kick off in January 2026.

According to KEMRI Director General Prof. Elijah Songok, the program aims to build Africa’s scientific leadership in women’s health by nurturing young researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to deliver African-led solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect women.

“The LEA-WH Program represents KEMRI’s continued commitment to building scientific leadership that is inclusive, innovative, and African-led,” said Prof. Songok.

“By empowering scientists to lead groundbreaking research and innovation, we are investing in the future of Africa’s health and development.”

The project seeks to advance locally led research, promote scalable health innovations, and influence policies tailored to the continent’s unique needs. It targets five to ten market-ready products, supports ten startups, and will help up to half of its scholars secure research grants.

Additionally, the program aims to attract between Ksh.386 million and Ksh.643 million in extra research and innovation funding.

KEMRI will also host an annual ScienceX Africa Summit to encourage collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange among health innovators. The initiative will work with the United States National Academy of Medicine to offer a fellowship program.

Program Director Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi said the vision is to build a thriving ecosystem for African researchers.

“Our goal is to create an environment where African scientists can lead in designing and implementing transformative solutions for women’s health,” she stated.

The LEA-WH Advisory Council, chaired by Prof. Songok, will oversee implementation through three departments: Curriculum Development led by Dr. Martin Bundi, Research and Technical Training under Prof. Nelly Mugo, and Leadership Development headed by Dr. Rose Bosire.