The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has been working on an initiative to strengthen African leadership in women’s health research and accelerate the development of affordable healthcare solutions.

The three-year Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH) Fellowship seeks to nurture 60 African researchers and innovators, with 20 fellows drawn from 11 countries in its inaugural cohort.

KEMRI Acting Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Elijah Songok making his remarks during the LEA-WH Women’s Health Ecosystem Forum in Nairobi

KEMRI Board Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ali said the programme was a strategic investment in African scientific talent and institutional capacity, aimed at addressing longstanding gaps in research and healthcare solutions for women.

Speaking during the LEA-WH Women’s Health Ecosystem Forum in Nairobi, Dr. Ali said many conditions affecting women across Africa continued to receive inadequate research attention, investment and policy prioritization.

He noted that translating scientific discoveries into accessible, affordable and effective healthcare solutions remained a major challenge.

“Africa must not only identify and understand the challenges affecting women’s health but must also develop the scientific leadership, research capacity and innovations required to address them,” Dr. Ali said.

The fellowship, established in October 2025, is hosted by KEMRI in partnership with the United States National Academy of Medicine, with support from the Gates Foundation.

It has two pathways: research leadership, which focuses on generating evidence to inform policy and practice, and product development and innovation, which seeks to turn research findings into practical healthcare solutions.

The programme targets critical areas including reproductive tract infections, menstrual health, cervical cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, menopause, infertility, pelvic floor disorders and contraceptive technologies.

KEMRI Acting Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Elijah Songok said the initiative would help African researchers strengthen their leadership skills, access sustainable financing and translate scientific discoveries into products and interventions that reach communities.

Prof. Songok said KEMRI’s attainment of a University Charter in May 2026 had strengthened its capacity in scientific training, research and innovation.

He added that the programme aimed to advance five to 10 women’s health products towards market testing, support up to 10 start-ups, and generate new patent applications.

“Research must do more than generate publications; it must improve lives,” Prof. Songok said, calling for sustained investment and collaboration to ensure innovations deliver tangible benefits.

The four-day forum, running from November 2 to 5, brings together researchers, innovators, mentors and partners to strengthen collaboration and advance women’s health research across Africa.

The fellowship is expected to build a network of African women’s health research leaders capable of developing evidence-based interventions and innovations responsive to the continent’s healthcare needs.

by Wangari Ndirangu