Third CVR Symposium Calls for Research to Translate into Greater Health Impact

BY GIDEON KIRUI 

As the 3rd CVR Symposium came to a close, health stakeholders called for a stronger focus on knowledge translation to ensure that scientific advances are converted into practical solutions that improve public health.

The call marked the close of a three-day symposium that brought together seasoned and emerging scientists, policymakers, academics, students and other stakeholders from government, the private sector and institutions of higher learning to exchange knowledge, share emerging evidence and explore pathways for translating scientific advances into meaningful public health impact.

KEMRI Acting Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Elijah Songok, hailed the discussions at the symposium, describing its theme as timely and closely aligned with both the government’s priorities and KEMRI’s mandate to advance research that serves the public interest.

Prof. Songok said the symposium, themed “Shaping the Future of Virus Research: Defining the End Game and Impact,” captured the growing need for research to move beyond knowledge generation and publication towards translating scientific evidence into products, services and interventions that address real-world health challenges.

“It is not just the publications that you do, or the workshops, or conferences that you do, but also translation of knowledge into impactful products and services,” he said.

He noted that the shift towards knowledge translation was not only a national priority but also a regional and continental imperative, particularly as African countries seek to strengthen their capacity to respond to emerging and re-emerging health threats.

Prof. Songok commended CVR for successfully convening the symposium for the third time, noting that the Centre was setting an important precedent for scientific engagement within the Institute. He encouraged other KEMRI centres, programmes and departments to embrace similar platforms that promote collaboration, scientific dialogue and the translation of research into meaningful impact.

Under the leadership of the Symposium Organizing Committee Chair, Dr. Joseph Mwangi, the third edition of the symposium kicked off at the KEMRI Headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, 29th September 2026. It was officially opened by the Acting Deputy Director, Biotechnology Programme, Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia, on behalf of Prof. Songok, who noted that the evolving viral landscape calls for closer integration of surveillance, genomics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and advanced laboratory systems.

Across the four-day programme, participants engaged in four keynote addresses, eight scientific sessions and two panel discussions covering areas including virology, epidemic preparedness, genomics and surveillance, data science, public health and scientific workforce development.

The discussions provided an opportunity for participants to examine how scientific knowledge can be better connected to policy, practice and decision-making, while strengthening collaboration across sectors and disciplines.

The event also highlighted CVR’s work in arboviruses and viral haemorrhagic fevers, influenza and acute respiratory infections, viral hepatitis, polio, HPV, HIV and One Health, while calling for greater application of genomics, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, advanced molecular diagnostics and data science to generate actionable intelligence.

One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba, who is the Regional Director of the Africa CDC Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, brought a regional perspective to the discussions in her address, “From Evidence to Action: Strengthening and Sustaining Africa’s Scientific Leadership and Regional Collaboration for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness.”

Dr. Mazaba called for collective action among African countries, noting that pathogens do not respect national borders. She also emphasised the importance of trust and responsible data use, a One Health approach, an enabled workforce and measurable impact.

To strengthen scientific leadership across the continent, she called on African countries to better align research questions with decision-making, strengthen regional pathways and invest in sustainable routine systems.

On his part, the Centre’s Acting Deputy Director, Dr. Samuel Khamadi emphasised the importance of building a supportive institutional environment in which scientists and other staff can grow and thrive together.

Speaking during a retreat on the outskirts of Nairobi following the symposium on Friday, 2nd October 2026, where CVR staff and the organising committee met to reflect on the event’s outcomes and engage in team-building activities, Dr. Khamadi called for greater unity and teamwork among Centre staff. He urged senior scientists to take a more active role in mentoring young scientists and students attached to the Centre, stressing that career development should go hand in hand with consideration for colleagues’ welfare and holistic professional growth.

“Mentorship is critical in building the next generation of scientists and ensuring continuity of scientific excellence,” he said.

The call for mentorship was further reinforced by the launch of the Big Brother Big Sister Initiative, a STEM mentorship programme domiciled at CVR. The initiative seeks to address persistent gaps in access to mentorship, role models, career guidance, practical learning opportunities and professional networks among young people pursuing or aspiring to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The closing event also provided an opportunity to recognise outstanding performance among symposium participants and CVR staff. The roll of honours was as follows:

Outstanding Symposium Presenters

• Best Student Presenter – Mr. Daglus Ameyo
• Best Senior Staff Presenter – Dr. Juliana Makau
• Best Rising Star Staff Presenter – Mr. Francis Musili

Outstanding Staff

• Outstanding Senior Scientist – Dr. Limbaso Konongoi
• Outstanding Rising Star Scientist – Mr. Stephen Ombija
• Outstanding Technical Staff – Ms. Nancy Lagat
• Best Administrative Staff – Ms. Caroline Opwapo

The recognition underscored the importance of celebrating excellence across the different cadres that contribute to the Centre’s and KEMRI’s scientific and operational work.