The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has received a KSh 516 million (USD 4 million) grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate women’s health research and innovation across Africa.
The three-year program will begin in January 2026 and aims to strengthen Africa’s capacity to address women’s health challenges through scientific leadership and innovation.
“The Institute has announced a KSh 516 million (USD 4 million) initiative to accelerate innovation and leadership in women’s health research across Africa,” KEMRI reported.
KEMRI to Empower Women in Science
The initiative, known as the Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH), will mentor and equip emerging African women scientists to design homegrown solutions for the continent’s most pressing health concerns.
According to Acting Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, the programme will play a central role in shaping the future of medical research in Africa.
“The LEA-WH Programme represents KEMRI’s commitment to building scientific leadership that is inclusive, innovative, and African-led,” said Prof. Songok.
Songok added that empowering scientists through capacity building and mentorship would ensure sustainable progress in women’s health.
Driving Homegrown Health Solutions
Reportedly, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to face a heavy burden on women’s health conditions that are often underfunded and under-researched.
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The LEA-WH initiative seeks to bridge this gap by supporting locally driven research, scalable innovations, and policies that promote evidence-based decision-making.
Through the program, KEMRI will collaborate with the US National Academy of Medicine and be guided by an advisory council chaired by Prof. Songok.
The leadership team includes Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi as Program Director, Dr Martin Bundi (Curriculum Development), Prof. Nelly Mugo (Research and Technical Training), and Dr Rose Bosire (Leadership Development).
“Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where African researchers and innovators lead in developing transformative solutions for women’s health,” said Prof. Bukusi.
By 2033, the program targets to bring 5–10 innovative products to market testing, support several startups, facilitate patent applications, and enable up to half of its fellows to secure independent research grants.
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It also aims to attract an additional KSh 655 million (USD 5 million) in follow-on funding.
Building a Continental Platform
As part of its long-term strategy, KEMRI will host an annual ScienceX Africa Summit to provide a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange among African researchers.
The summit will also promote partnerships between academia, industry, and policymakers.
“By empowering scientists to lead groundbreaking research, we are investing in the future of Africa’s health and development,” stated Prof. Songok.
Through this strategic investment, KEMRI aims to inspire a new generation of women scientists, strengthen research capacity, and advance equitable healthcare outcomes across the continent.
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