KEMRI Receives LSTM’s Prestigious Partnership of the Year Award

The Institute has been awarded the prestigious “Partnership of the Year” award by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), recognizing over two decades of impactful collaboration in advancing global health research and innovation.

The award was presented during a courtesy visit to KEMRI’s Acting Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, by LSTM’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Jim McKenna, and Vice Chancellor, Prof. David Lalloo, accompanied by senior LSTM officials including Prof. Sarah Staedke, Prof. Feiko ter Kuile, Ms. Hazel Snell, and Ms. Alice Kamau. The event took place at KEMRI Headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday, 15th, May 2025.

The award celebrates an external partner who has made an outstanding contribution to LSTM’s mission through excellence in student engagement, research innovation, and institutional collaboration. KEMRI was recognized for consistently exemplifying LSTM’s values, fostering strong emerging leaders, and delivering impactful research that has influenced both national and global health policy.

“We are proud to recognize KEMRI with this award,” said Mr. McKenna. “This partnership reflects a shared vision and real impact on health systems and communities. We look forward to continuing this journey, especially in building future leaders and strengthening research capacity.”

In response, Prof. Songok expressed deep appreciation for the recognition, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in driving scientific progress and health equity. “This recognition is both humbling and inspiring. It underscores what can be achieved through strategic partnerships rooted in shared purpose,” said Prof. Songok.

“We value our longstanding relationship with LSTM and remain committed to reaching even greater heights in research, innovation, and training.” The KEMRI-LSTM partnership, anchored particularly at the Centre for Global Health Research (CGHR) in Kisumu, has made significant contributions in malaria research, adolescent and maternal health, antimicrobial resistance, and health systems strengthening.

“This award is not just a celebration of our achievements — it is an invitation to deepen our shared vision for innovation, capacity building, and regional leadership,” added Prof. Songok, “We are deeply grateful to LSTM for their unwavering collaboration”.

Acting Director of Scientific Programs, Partnerships, and Grants Management at KEMRI, Dr. Maricianah Onono, echoed this sentiment: “This recognition is a testament to what strategic, values-driven partnerships can deliver. Together, we have built a thriving pipeline of African scientists and produced high-impact research that continues to shape health outcomes across Kenya and beyond. On behalf of KEMRI, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our colleagues at LSTM and to all the scientists, students, and administrators who have made this partnership a model of impact.”

KEMRI has played a central role as a field implementation and research partner, while LSTM has contributed through postgraduate training, technical mentorship, and shared funding initiatives.

The event was attended by several senior KEMRI scientists, including Dr. Martin Bundi (Acting Director, Research Capacity Building), Dr. Samoel Khamadi (Acting Deputy Director, Centre for Virus Research), Dr. Damaris Matoke (Acting Deputy Director, Biotechnology Programme), Dr. Simon Kariuki (Head, Malaria Unit at CGHR), Dr. Luna Kamau, Dr. Edith Chepkorir, Dr. Vera Manduku, Dr. Rose Bosire, and Mr. Francis Kimani, as well as Dr. Victor Akello, an LSTM alumnus and Principal Investigator for CHAMPS–Kenya Project.

Looking ahead, KEMRI and LSTM are poised to expand their collaboration into key areas such as health systems resilience, sustainable clinical trials, and the development of a biologics and biomanufacturing ecosystem in Africa. This recognition not only marks a milestone in the KEMRILSTM partnership but also affirms the transformative power of strategic global alliances in advancing science, health, and development across the continent.