Dr. Sylvia Opanga is the winner of the Institut Mérieux – KAVI-ICR Young Investigator Award 2021.

Prof. Walter Jaoko, Director of the KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi is part of the founding scientists of the The Sisulu Foundation

A congratulatory fete was held at the KAVI-ICR on 25/06/2021 to fete Dr. Robert Langat one of our staff who completed his PhD doctorate program (PhD in Immunology) from Imperial College London, UK in late 2020. The award was done in early 2021.

A Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a common mechanism used to promote community engagement in clinical research. At KAVI-ICR, CAB represents a formal community advisory mechanism by which communities can have a direct impact on research efforts. This is reflected historically by the response to the AIDS pandemic in which communities have played an important role in shaping the prevention, care, and research agendas, in dialogue with scientists and policymakers.

The University of Helsinki and the University of Nairobi are joining their forces and forging a strategic partnership to solve some of the most pressing challenges of our times. In this kick off event that marks the beginning of the collaboration, Rector Sari Lindblom and Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama open the event and sign the collaboration agreement.

There are high hopes COVID-19 vaccines will help end the pandemic. However, there have been claims about these vaccines that have received mixed reactions from all quarters some advocating for the vaccines and others heavily criticizing the vaccines based on the manner in which the vaccines were hurriedly developed and approved raising safety and effectiveness concerns.

We sat down with Prof. Walter Jaoko, Director KAVI Institute of Clinical Research sheds more light on the safety to set the record straight on some of the myths circulating about COVID-19 vaccines.

It seems a lifetime ago since I joined KAVI as a scrawny pimply young doctor on 12th January 2004. After working 7 years at a busy A/E department, I knew clinical practice wasn’t for me. I had tried my hand in ENT surgery but that didn’t work out either. Somewhat lost and disillusioned, I needed out but didn’t know what I wanted. Joining KAVI was a stepping stone to the unknown. Little did I know then that in KAVI I would find the true purpose of my career in medicine in the field of clinical research.