LEA-WH Programme kick off with a Bold Vision for Women’s Health in Africa

By Gladys Mathenge

The Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Women’s Health Research (LEA-WH) Programme officially kicked off, marking a defining moment for the future of women’s health in Africa. As part of the programme’s launch activities the LEA-WH team paid a courtesy visit to Kenya Medical Research Institute’s Acting Director General Prof. Elijah Songok on 14th January 2026.

Programme Director, Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, accompanied the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM) LEA-WH Director, Dr. Gregg Margolis, Senior Program Officer, Ms. Kelly Robbins and Senior Program Assistant, Ms. Caroline Moses. Discussions during the meeting focused on the vision and implementation of the programme, which aims to advance women’s health research and innovation across the African continent.

Speaking during the meeting, Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi shared the broader vision behind the programme, emphasizing that LEA-WH goes beyond individual training.

“This programme is not just about building skills,” she said.“It’s about bringing together a strong community of African women leaders in health research. We are looking for scientist working on women health who can innovate, influence policy, and develop solutions that truly reflect our realities. When we invest in women scientists and innovators, we are ultimately investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a fairer future for Africa,” she added.

Reflecting on the importance of working across borders, Dr. Gregg Margolis, LEA-WH Director at the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, expressed pride in partnering with KEMRI on the LEA-WH Programme. “This collaboration demonstrates the power of bringing together global expertise to advance science and innovation,” he said. “Strengthening women’s health research in Africa is not only a regional priority but a global imperative, and LEA-WH sets a new benchmark for locally driven, globally connected initiatives that deliver lasting impact.”

Prof. Songok, applauded the initiative and reaffirmed institutional support, stating, “Innovation is the cornerstone of sustainable health solutions, and LEA-WH represents exactly the kind of forward looking initiative Africa needs. KEMRI fully supports this programme and applauds its strong emphasis on empowering women in science, strengthening local research leadership, and translating knowledge into solutions that can transform health outcomes for women across the continent.”

LEA-WH, a transformative one-year capacity-building fellowship, is designed to enhance research excellence, innovation capability, and scientific leadership in women’s health across Africa. Over a three-year period, the programme will support 60 mid-career African researchers and innovators, equipping them with the skills, mentorship, and networks needed to become independent leaders capable of driving impactful and scalable solutions. The programme signals a powerful commitment to strengthening African-led research, innovation, and scientific leadership in women’s health.

The programme will respond to a long-standing and widely recognised gap in women’s health research and innovation in Africa. Despite the continent bearing approximately 70 per cent of the global maternal mortality burden, women’s health remains significantly under-researched and underfunded, a challenge compounded by limited infrastructure, a shortage of locally led research, and few pathways for translating scientific discoveries into context[1]appropriate, market-ready solutions.

LEA-WH directly addresses these challenges by focusing on priority women’s health areas including sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections, menstrual health, gynaecological conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, cervical cancer, menopause and infertility, pelvic floor disorders, and contraceptive technologies.

The fellowship will feature two complementary tracks that together bridge the gap between research excellence and real-world impact. The reproductive health researchers track targets mid-career researchers in women’s health, providing advanced technical training, leadership development, and structured mentorship to support their growth into thought leaders in the field.

Further, the programme will actively engage senior researchers, product developers, regulators, and leaders in women’s health to serve as faculty members, mentors, and innovation advisors. These experts will deliver targeted training, provide individualized mentorship, and guide fellows through the complexities of refining research questions, strengthening methodologies, navigating ethical and regulatory requirements, and translating ideas into viable innovations.

The leadership team include, Programme Director, Prof. Elizabeth Anne Bukusi, Women’s Health Technical Areas Pillar Lead, Prof. Nelly Mugo, Leadership and Development Lead, Dr. Rose Bosire, Curriculum Development Lead and Head of KEMRI Graduate School, Dr. Martin Bundi and Project Coordinator, Dr. Nyawira Gitahi, translating the programme’s vision into implementation.

Applications for the LEA-WH Programme are now open, running from 13th January to 20th February 2026, while applications for faculty, mentors, and innovation advisors open from 13th January to 6th February 2026. By the conclusion of the programme, LEA-WH aims to see five to ten women’s health products reach market testing, five to ten start-up companies established, five to ten patent applications filed, between 20 and 50 per cent of fellows securing research and development grants, and between USD 3 and 5 million in follow-on funding catalysed.

As the LEA-WH Programme kicks off, it stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when visionary leadership, scientific excellence, and strategic partnerships converge. By centring African expertise and innovation, LEA-WH is not only strengthening the pipeline of women’s health researchers and innovators but also reshaping how women’s health challenges are understood and addressed across the continent.

The programme signals a decisive shift toward a coordinated and sustainable ecosystem that translates research into real-world solutions, ensuring that African women’s voices, needs, and innovations drive lasting change for generations to come.