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July 2, 2024Gene Drive: A New Hope for Malaria Control as KEMRI and Imperial College Discuss Collaboration
Dr. Martin Bundi at the briefing at KEMRI Headquarters recently
KEMRI welcomed a delegation from Imperial College London to discuss a potential collaboration on genetic approaches, specifically Gene Drive, to control malaria in Kenya. This meeting follows joint grant submissions by the two institutions for research and innovation funding from Horizon 2020 on June 24, 2024.
During the visit, Prof. Christophides George and Prof. Windbichler Nikolai of Imperial College were officially received by Dr. Martin Bundi, the Acting Deputy Director of Research and Development at KEMRI. Dr. Bundi, standing in for Acting Director General Prof. Elijah Songok, emphasized the critical need to leverage advanced technologies to combat malaria in Kenya.
remarks during the engagement session as Dr. Lydia Kibe and
Dr. Damaris Matoke look on.
“Malaria is an endemic disease in this country, and there is a need to control it. It is, therefore, important to embrace new technology that can assist in curbing it,” stated Dr. Bundi. He expressed confidence in Gene Drives and acknowledged the contributions of the entomology and vector control departments. Dr. Bundi also highlighted KEMRI’s openness to collaborations that enhance vector control and improve public health.
Prof. Christophides George noted the progress Imperial College has made in developing genetically modified mosquitoes, which are now ready for field testing in Kenya. He praised Kenya for its conducive environment for such research, citing the robust intellectual capacity of institutions like KEMRI and the presence of a genetic modification (GM) framework. The GM mosquitoes have shown promising results in laboratory settings, and the next step is to evaluate their effectiveness in the field.
Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Acting Deputy Director of Biotechnology Programs at KEMRI, mentioned that the institute has ample land suitable for the large-scale field tests required by Gene Drives. She also emphasized the potential for the partnership to extend into capacity-building initiatives, including exchange programs and training opportunities for students and scientists at the KEMRI Graduate School (KGS).
Dr. Lunah Kamau and research scientist Dr. Lydia Kibe
listening to presentations.
Matey makes her presentation.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Luna Kamau, Deputy Director of CBRD, Dr. Elizabeth Matei, Dr. Lydia Kibe, and Prof. Charles Mbogo, Chair of PAMCA. This collaborative effort between KEMRI and Imperial College London marks a significant step towards utilizing cutting-edge genetic research to tackle malaria, a disease that continues to pose a major public health challenge in Kenya.
