The Kenya Medical Research Institute has secured $45.6 million (Sh7 billion) USAid funding to advance HIV vaccine research.
It is hoped the five-year study will lead to the discovery of an HIV vaccine by African scientists for Africa based on the circulating HIV viruses in the continent.
Speaking during the launch at Kemri Kericho yesterday, Kemri director general Prof Elijah Songok said the institute is part of a consortium working on the initiative.
It is working in conjunction with the Walter Reed Project Clinical Research Site.
The consortium is called Bringing Innovation to Clinical and Laboratory Research to End HIV in Africa through New Vaccine Technology (Brilliant).
“This consortium will develop and evaluate HIV vaccine candidates emanating from the African continent,” Prof Songok said.
The funding, he said, will support African scientists and institutions that design and test HIV vaccine candidates, including Kemri Kericho scientists, to improve and advance the most promising HIV vaccine candidates toward clinical trials.
Brilliant will focus on leveraging existing capacity, scientific expertise and investments made in community engagement in sub-Saharan Africa to advance an HIV vaccine from discovery through clinical trials.
“As part of the consortium, Kenyan scientists will join forces with research colleagues from Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe,” Prof Songok said.
The partners in the consortium will direct HIV vaccine development efforts, and adjuvant (catalysts) design, and identify appropriate delivery mechanisms.
Prof Songok said they will also conduct HIV research, including basic science, pre-clinical (animal) studies and human clinical trials, using novel vaccine formulations across all phases of research, from phase 1 to 3.
“This will be achieved on a foundation of robust community engagement and advocacy, capacity building and utilisation of reference laboratories that will support safety and immunology analysis,” he said.
Kemri Kericho has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and county governments, and proactively engaging local communities in all research since 1999.
The community engagement includes Community Board, Fieldworkers, Community Health Promoters and Healthcare Workers.
It is done in collaboration with partners such as the Walter Reed Project and the Henry Jackson Foundation.
“We have cultivated specialised capabilities, capacity and infrastructure dedicated to advancing HIV and other infectious disease vaccine and therapeutics research,” Prof Songok said.
He said the funding is not a just testament of Kemri leadership capabilities and strength in matters of vaccine trials in Africa and the world over.
“The award will no doubt accelerate the discovery of an HIV vaccine that Africa and the world at large desperately needs to end HIV and Aids menace. The study will shape the future of HIV research in Africa,” Prof Songok added.