generic viagra uk

For some time now, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) was better known for the controversies  swilling around it than for the sterling scientific work it was undertaking. But that is now behind it. Under new Director Dr Solomon Mpoke, KEMRI has its sights firmly focused on its core mandate of medical and scientific research; not on research for its own sake but to alleviate sickness and people’s suffering.

In this regard, it has undertaken and continues to undertake ground-breaking research in the developing of products such as the pneumococcal vaccine to be used for protection against pneumonia and other respiratory infections. It is also one of key sites being used to develop the eagerly-awaited malaria vaccine that could be used to tame Africa’s worse killer, which claims as many as five million children annually.

Indeed, even its most promising and significant discovery, Kemron, the anti-HIV/AIDS drug was sacrificed for what Dr Mpoke refers to as “politics of manufacture rather than the efficacy of the drug.”

From these challenges, important lessons have been learnt and the measures that Dr Mpoke has instituted on governance and management of funds have abundantly paid off. Collaborators, partners and researchers who had shied away as the institute struggled with the vexing issues of bad publicity, charges of poor management, loss of funds and documents are trooping back.

Other than the Wellcome Trust, which has had a long and fruitful relationship with KEMRI, its other partners include Walter Reed (American Military), CDC, KEMRI- NUITM (Nagasaki University of Japan), and several other local, regional and international research institutions and universities. Dr Mpoke has been hosting delegations from universities in the USA, Europe and Australia, which are seeking collaborations with the institute. Countries like Australia are showing keen interest in doing research in Africa and KEMRI has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a leading Australian university. In this Special Report on KEMRI, we highlight its turn around; its achievement and Dr Mpoke’s vision for the institute.  KEMRI’s life-saving work in the area of HIV/AIDS, in particular in finding a solution in the highly problematic area of mother-to-child transmission and the touchy issue of drug resistance, has been captured.

Besides, the actual scientific work, KEMRI is deeply involved in the dissemination of its research findings. But the main highlight of this Report is Dr Mpoke’s vision for the institute he heads. He talks of integrating KEMRI’s research with the country’s Vision 2030 and its change of focus to better address actual problems on the ground.

He has also been deeply involved in capacity building efforts involving both local and regional researchers, many of whom use the KEMRI facilities as a base.

He also speaks strongly on the need to invest in Research and Development, if the country is to cover lost ground in achieving economic development.

He raises the poignant question of why 75 per cent of the institute’s funding is by collaborators and partners, yet the work it does; for example, developing kits for testing for HIV/AIDS,  kits for Hepatitis, and a disinfectant for general disinfections for hard-to-kill organism such as TB are badly needed in Kenya and the region. This will require that the institute commercialises some of its operations. He wants KEMRI to develop a graduate school, way beyond its current collaborations with some of the local universities.

His vision is for the institute to run its own university, which will be a centre of excellence and where it can award Master and PhD Degrees. Lofty dreams indeed. But listening to Dr Mpoke, it is a question of when, not how or why.