KEMRI Scientist Wins Prestigious RSTMH Award

A KEMRI researcher is the recipient of this year’s prestigious Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) award. Dr. Samson Kinyanjui was declared the winner of the 2019 Chalmers Medal Award for his contribution in capacity building of young researchers not just in Kenya, but throughout the African continent.

Dr. Kinyanjui, a senior researcher at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust programme and a founder director of the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL), based at the Institute’s Center for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast (CGMRC).

The Scientist was awarded during the 11th, European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health held recently in Liverpool, UK. The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. James Kiiru, the Head of Economic Section at the Kenya High Commissioner in the UK.

The chalmers award is bestowed to researchers in tropical medicine on international health who obtained their last relevant qualification between 15 to 20 years and have demonstrated evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators and other forms of capacity building on the continent.

Through, Ideal, Dr. Kinyanjui has revolutionised capacity building at the programme for the benefit of many young African researchers.

While congratulating Dr. Kinyanjui, Director General, Prof. Yeri Kombe lauded his diligence in the development and implementation of a comprehensive research career framework for attracting, training and retaining African research leaders. “Congratulations are in order for this great young scientist whose efforts has placed KEMRI on the global map,” said Prof. Kombe.