By John Kariuki
The Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) has kicked off its 20th Scientific Conference themed “Transforming Health through Innovative Research,” bringing together leading scientists, health practitioners, policymakers, and advocates from across Africa to advance biomedical and biotechnology research.
The three-day event aims to strengthen Africa’s research capacity, promote collaboration, and generate actionable solutions to pressing public health challenges.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni Muriuki, CBS, commended KIPRE for its continued leadership in scientific innovation and its contribution to national and regional health research.
She reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to leveraging research and innovation to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), improve disease prevention, and strengthen emergency response systems.
“The evolving global health landscape — from infectious to non-communicable diseases — demands collaborative, evidence-based approaches that integrate science, technology, and policy,” said PS Muriuki. “We call on participants to engage, share insights, and forge partnerships that will translate research into practical solutions.”
The conference is expected to produce evidence-based recommendations to guide policy and enhance Kenya’s standing as a regional hub for health innovation and biotechnology development.
KIPRE Director General and CEO, Dr. Gichuhi Mwethera, underscored the institute’s ongoing efforts in addressing snakebite envenoming — a major but often overlooked public health issue in Kenya.
He revealed that over 20,000 Kenyans suffer snakebites each year, leading to about 8,000 disfigurements and 4,000 deaths, with many more cases going unreported. Imported antivenoms, he noted, often prove less effective because they are not developed using local snake venoms.
“KIPRE is developing Kenya’s first locally manufactured antivenom tailored to local snake species,” said Dr. Mwethera. “The first batch is expected before the end of the year — a milestone that will save countless lives.”
Beyond antivenom development, KIPRE is investing in research on vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biologics, while deepening partnerships with academia and industry to boost technology transfer and regulatory standards — a step toward building a self-reliant health innovation ecosystem.