The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and KEMRI have extended their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to maintain mutual cooperation and advance joint efforts in cutting-edge research.
This partnership will cover public health emergencies and risks, as well as research and capacity building for human health at KEMRI facilities and in Kenyan communities.
In addition, it will cover any other mutually beneficial health-related research activities, staff exchanges, strengthening laboratory and research leadership, training public health professionals, sharing research materials and information in compliance with Kenyan law, and dissemination and application of research findings for policy formulation.
Since 1979, the CDC and the Kenya Medical Research Institute have collaborated. Over the course of those forty years, the CDC has funded and provided on-site technical assistance research in Kenya, as well as technology transfer from the CDC to KEMRI.
As a result, KEMRI now employs a highly skilled staff of Kenyan scientists, clinicians, laboratory technicians, and field workers.
Important technology tools that KEMRI received from the CDC have made it possible for work to be done locally, something that was previously not feasible.
The signing was done by Ag. Director General Prof. Elijah Songok and CDC Global Health Director, Dr. Kayla Laseron in the presence of the President of Kenya, HE William S. Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi, and The Ministry of Health CS, Nakhumicha S. Wafula.