KEMRI and AIMS in Partnership Talks

The President of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Research and Innovation Centre, Prof. Wilfred Ndifon, has reaffirmed his commitment to fostering joint innovation and capacity building with the Institute to culminate in the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.

Speaking during a courtesy call on KEMRI’s Ag. Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, on 17th July 2025, Prof. Ndifon emphasized that the partnership will focus on four core objectives: capacity building, joint research, resource mobilization, and exchange programmes.

“We are a pan-African network of centres of excellence dedicated to empowering Africa’s brightest students to become innovators who will drive the continent’s scientific, educational, and economic self-sufficiency,” said Prof. Ndifon. “We are excited about the joint vision we’ve initiated through this MoU, which we hope to finalize soon.”

Prof. Ndifon was accompanied by the Director of Programmes Delivery and Reporting at AIMS Mr. Joseph Ndiritu.

The proposed MoU, which builds on earlier engagements, seeks to formalize collaboration in key scientific domains including mathematical sciences, disease modelling, data science, and artificial intelligence—critical tools for enhancing public health research, anticipating epidemiological trends, and accelerating scientific innovation.

The meeting was also attended by the Principal Statistician and lead liaison for the collaboration Dr. Collins Okoyo, representative of the Ag. Director of Research & Development, Prof. Sammy Njenga, Ag. Director for Research Capacity Building, Dr. Martin Bundi, and representative of the Ag. Director, Scientific Programmes, Partnerships and Grants Management (DSPPGM), Dr. Rose Bosire.

“We’ve been working behind the scenes to bring this partnership to life and align our efforts in advancing human health research,” noted Dr. Okoyo, stressing the importance of mutual support during the formative stages of the collaboration.

Highlighting AIMS’ continental leadership in postgraduate training, Prof. Ndifon said, “Our centre focuses on data science, quantum science, and modelling. For this partnership, we are particularly interested in deepening our work in data and modelling—areas that are well aligned with KEMRI’s strategic priorities.”

In his remarks, Prof. Songok welcomed the initiative and underscored its relevance to KEMRI’s expanding investment in AI, disease modelling, and the KEMRI Graduate School. “This discussion comes at the perfect time. We are keen to collaborate with you, leveraging your expertise to complement our ongoing work in predictive analytics and public health forecasting,” he stated.

Prof. Songok confirmed receipt of the draft MoU and expressed confidence in the Board’s readiness to finalize it. “The Board has shown great interest and is open to organizing further engagements to better understand AIMS’ strengths and identify synergies,” he said.

As part of the visit, the AIMS delegation toured several of KEMRI’s premier research centres, including the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research (CTMDR), the Centre for Virus Research (CVR), and the Eastern and Southern Africa Centre of International Parasite Control (ESACIPAC). The team expressed particular interest in KEMRI’s genomic sequencing platforms and the potential intersections between mathematical sciences and biomedical research.

The proposed KEMRI–AIMS partnership marks a significant step toward integrating data-driven science into public health, while building Africa’s capacity to address its health challenges through innovation, collaboration, and locally grounded solutions.