KEMRI signs seven-year MoU with Wellcome and University of Oxford to spur health research in Kenya
LONDON, United Kingdom, Mar 29 – The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 27 2025 with UK based Charitable foundation Wellcome and University of Oxford seeks to boost medical research and training in Kenya.
Wellcome and the University of Oxford under the partnership will support research activities with a funding commitment of up to GBP 91 million (KES 15 billion) over the next seven years.
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) 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, emphasizing 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,” said Prof Songok.
Dr. Røttingen reiterated on 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 said.
Prof. Screaton reiterated 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,” stated Prof Screaton.
Thursday’s agreement further builds upon a previous Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on 27th, November 2024 which renewed formal collaborations following 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.
In addition the collaboration has facilitated development and testing of critical vaccines including two malaria vaccines and the Rift Valley Fever vaccine under the One Health approach.
“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,” stated Prof. Songok.
