Photo of Dr Sam Kinyanjui

Dr Samson Kinyanjui a senior researcher at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has been awarded the 2019 Chalmers Medal by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), in recognition for his work in capacity building and training of scientists in Kenya and all around the continent. KEMRI reports.

According to KEMRI’s Website, the scientist’s win was declared at the 2019 European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health held recently in Liverpool, UK.

The Chalmers medal is given to researchers in tropical medicine on international health, who obtained their last relevant qualification between 15 to 20 years ago and has demonstrated evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators and other forms of capacity building.

Dr KinyanjuI has revolutionized capacity building in Africa through the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL), which he heads. Notably, the initiative strives to attract young African researchers and has trained 800 African scientists to date.

Prof. Yeri Kombe, the Director General congratulated Dr Kinyanjui for his diligence in the development and implementation of a comprehensive research career framework for attracting, training and retaining African research leaders. “Congratulations are in order for this great young scientist whose efforts has placed KEMRI on the global map,” said Prof. Kombe.

The Chalmers Medal was first awarded in 1922. Dr Albert John Chalmers MD, FRCS, DPH was an investigator who took great interest in the work of younger researchers. With this in mind, the Medal is awarded annually and only to researchers aged 46 or under.

Photo courtesy of Google

Article by Jedidah Mwangi,

https://www.kemri.org/778-kemri-scientist-wins-prestigious-rstmh-award