A consortium of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the University of Washington has won US$ 1.4 million grant by the Fogarty International Center to train the next generation of HIV researchers. This fund aims to strengthen HIV research capacity in Kenya by equipping early-career scientists with the necessary skills and resources to combat the epidemic.
The grant will support comprehensive training programs, mentorship, and collaborative research initiatives. These efforts are expected to enhance the country’s ability to address the evolving challenges of HIV prevention, treatment, and policy implementation.
In a strategic move to ensure the effective implementation of the grant, representatives from the three institutions convened Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at JKUAT to discuss key priorities and establish a roadmap for the training initiative.
Speaking at the event, Acting JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ikua, lauded the partners emphasizing the research’s potential to drive positive impact in the country.
“This grant provides a unique opportunity to empower young researchers and strengthen Kenya’s HIV research landscape. By leveraging the expertise of our partners, we are confident in producing cutting-edge research that will contribute significantly to the global fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Prof. Ikua.
Prof. Ikua emphasized that the collaboration will cultivate synergy and maximize collective efforts to drive a greater impact.
He recognized the College of Health Sciences as a Center of Excellence, where dedicated researchers have worked relentlessly to elevate JKUAT’s reputation across diverse research fields, especially during the COVID-19 era when the country needed all hands-on deck.
Carey Farquhar, a professor at the University of Washington in the Departments of Global Health, Medicine, and Epidemiology, revealed that the grant has a 35-year legacy, which the partnership aims to further extend.
Prof. Farquhar stated that inter-university collaborations are much stronger when two reputable institutions join forces with a research organization like KEMRI.
Prof. Elizabeth Bukusi, a Senior Principal Clinical Research Scientist at KEMRI, stated that HIV has been a persistent and costly epidemic, and the grant is a welcome resorce in the effort to build more capacity do eal with the health challenge.
Prof. Bukusi acknowledged the challenges in HIV research, revealing that the scope of the research has been limited by dwindling resources and small pool of experts.
Prof. Kenneth Ngure, the Principal Investigator of the project from JKUAT’s School of Public Health, emphasized that securing this prestigious grant, a first for JKUAT, marks a significant milestone.
He noted that the funding will provide invaluable support to both postgraduate students and faculty, fostering advanced research and academic excellence within the School of Public Health and the broader university community.
The meeting was also addressed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, Production and Extension, Prof. Jackson Kwanza, who noted that JKUAT takes pride in collaboration with local and international partners who aim to solve societal problems. The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Prof. Robert Kinyua also noted that collaborations are key part of the university’s strategic direction to deliver sustainable solutions to challenges facing humanity.
Other speakers included Adriane Berman, a programme manager at the University of Washington and the Principal of the College of Health Sciences at JKUAT, Dr. Reuben Thuo among others.
