KEMRI Hosts Official Kick-Off Meeting for SkincAIr Study on AI-Based Diagnosis of Skin NTDs

The Institute hosted the official kick-off meeting of the SkincAIr study from 7th to 10th July 2025, marking the launch of a pioneering research project that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strengthening the diagnostic capacity of frontline health workers (FHWs) for skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (skin-NTDs) across subSaharan Africa.

The event was officiated by Ag. Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, who engaged with the project team led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Maurice Odiere, the project Coordinator Prof. Gustavo Hernandez from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Spain, research scientist Dr. Ruth Nyangacha and other partners who form the consortium.

While addressing the partners during the kickoff meeting Prof. Songok expressed enthusiasm on the prospects of the study stating, “I am elated with the prospects of this project, especially its role in capacity building in the use of AI in health, more so for skin NTDs.”

On his part, the Principal Investigator of the study Dr. Maurice Odiere, also shared his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating that: “This study reflects KEMRI’s commitment to collaborative innovation. We are confident it will generate practical solutions to improve early detection and clinical decision-making for skin NTDs at the community level.”

The project Coordinator, Prof. Hernandez echoed the sentiments of the other speakers. “This groundbreaking five-year project will revolutionize the diagnosis of skin infections, that form part of the major Neglected Tropical Diseases, by harnessing the power of AI and mobile health technology,” he noted.

Over the four-day meeting, partners had the opportunity to present their respective work packages, outlining specific objectives, implementation timelines, and deliverables. Through these presentations, participants gained a deeper understanding of how each component contributes to the overall project. A comprehensive five-year roadmap was also developed, detailing key milestones and aligning partner contributions and synergies to ensure the successful execution of the SkincAIr project.

The SkincAIr study is a multi-country effort comprising 12 partner organizations from 10 countries globally including Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, United Kingdom, Estonia, France, Spain, Switzerland and Kenya. It seeks to address the diagnostic challenges posed by skin NTDs, which affect an estimated 1.8 billion people globally, particularly in marginalized and rural communities where access to dermatologists and diagnostic tools is limited. Kenya, for instance has an estimated 59 dermatologists covering a population of over 52 million. Many people in these settings rely on frontline health workers (FHWs) for treatment, but these workers often lack specialized training in skin diseases, making diagnosis difficult.

The SkincAIr project will evaluate the effectiveness of an AI-powered mobile application in improving the diagnostic accuracy of frontline health workers in detecting skin NTDs. Additionally, it will assess the retention of diagnostic skills after the withdrawal of AI assistance, thereby exploring long-term capacity building in healthcare delivery. The project is funded through the HORIZON-JUGH-EDCTP3-2024-01-06 as part of Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027), under the 2024 work programme of the Global Health EDCTP3 JU.The focus on digital health innovation, the SkincAIr Study represents a critical step toward bridging the dermatological care gap in underserved regions. KEMRI’s role as a host and Scientific leader in this initiative highlights its leadership in advancing research and innovation for public health improvement.