The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has received a KSh 516 million (USD 4 million) investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch a groundbreaking, Africa-wide initiative aimed at strengthening women’s health research and leadership on the continent.

The three-year programme, titled Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH), is designed to empower African scientists to lead the development of homegrown solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect women.

Officially launching in January 2026, LEA-WH will mentor early-career researchers, support startups, and foster innovation ecosystems that translate African science into tangible health outcomes.

“This programme represents a bold step toward African ownership of health research,” said Prof. Elijah Songok, Director General of KEMRI. “By equipping scientists with leadership and innovation skills, we are laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining ecosystem that drives discovery from within the continent.”

Africa currently bears some of the world’s highest burdens of maternal mortality, cervical cancer, and infectious diseases, yet contributes less than 2% of global scientific publications and patents. The LEA-WH programme seeks to address this imbalance by nurturing excellence in biomedical research, entrepreneurship, and policy influence.

KEMRI projects that the programme will support 20 to 50 scholars annually, transitioning up to half into funded research and development projects. It also aims to bring five to ten innovative women’s health products to market, test and support up to ten startups in health innovation.

In addition to direct funding, LEA-WH is expected to mobilise an extra Ksh 386 million to Ksh 643 million in co-funding, boosting investment in Africa’s research infrastructure and capacity building.

A key feature of the initiative will be the annual ScienceX Africa Summit, a pan-African platform connecting scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. The summit will highlight scalable innovations in women’s health, promote mentorship, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.

LEA-WH will also partner with the U.S. National Academy of Medicine to deliver an international fellowship component, providing African scholars with exposure to global best practices while keeping research grounded in local realities.

The programme will operate under an advisory council chaired by Prof. Songok and supported by three key departments:

• Curriculum Development, led by Dr Martin Bundi, is responsible for training modules and mentorship.

• Research and Technical Training, headed by Prof. Nelly Mugo, oversees innovation and R&D pipelines.

• Leadership Development, directed by Dr Rose Bosire, is tasked with cultivating scientific and managerial leadership among fellows.

Through this structure, KEMRI aims to redefine how health research is conducted — and who leads it. The institute envisions a future where African scientists, particularly women, drive solutions to Africa’s most pressing health challenges through African ingenuity and leadership.

“This is not just about research,” Prof. Songok emphasized. “It’s about reimagining Africa’s scientific future and ensuring that our women’s health priorities are addressed by African minds, for African lives.”

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

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https://www.kemri.go.ke/kemris-ksh-516-million-initiative-to-boost-womens-health-research-in-africa/