NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has unveiled a Ksh516 million programme aimed at revolutionising women’s health research and innovation across Africa.
The three-year initiative, dubbed the Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH), is backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will commence in January 2026.
According to KEMRI, the programme seeks to strengthen Africa’s scientific leadership in women’s health by mentoring and empowering emerging researchers and innovators to design locally driven solutions for health challenges that disproportionately affect women.
“The LEA-WH Programme represents KEMRI’s continued commitment to building scientific leadership that is inclusive, innovative, and African-led,” said Prof. Elijah Songok, KEMRI Director General. “By empowering scientists to lead groundbreaking research and innovation, we are investing in the future of Africa’s health and development.”
The flagship programme will promote locally led research, nurture scalable innovations, and advance evidence-based policies tailored to Africa’s health priorities.
Through LEA-WH, KEMRI targets to:
- Bring five to ten innovative products to market testing,
- Support up to ten startups,
- Facilitate multiple patent applications, and
- Enable 20–50 percent of programme scholars to secure research and development grants.
The programme is also expected to attract an additional Ksh386 million to Ksh643 million in funding for health innovation and research across the continent.
A key feature of the initiative will be the annual ScienceX Africa Summit, designed as a collaborative platform for mentorship, partnership, and knowledge exchange among Africa’s top health researchers and innovators.
To bolster its global reach, LEA-WH will partner with the United States National Academy of Medicine to implement a fellowship component.
“Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where African researchers and innovators can lead in designing and implementing transformative solutions for women’s health,” said Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, the Programme Director.
The LEA-WH Advisory Council, chaired by Prof. Songok, will oversee the initiative with support from three key departments:
- Curriculum Development led by Dr. Martin Bundi,
- Research and Development and Technical Training headed by Prof. Nelly Mugo, and
- Leadership Development under Dr. Rose Bosire.
KEMRI says the initiative marks a major step toward building an African-led health innovation ecosystem that not only advances scientific excellence but also delivers tangible benefits for women across the continent.
