KENYA – Belgian biotech firm Univercells Group, through its Unizima S.A, has partnered with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to establish a Bio-manufacturing Training hub in the country.
The company is best known for making biologics, which are medical products made from living organisms or contain components of living organisms.
The announcement was made when President William Ruto visited Univercells Group’s biotech centre in Belgium, in the company of Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Nakhumicha Wafula.
“We are therefore delighted to initiate a collaboration with Unizima and the Univercells Group as we share a common mission and values,” the President said.
“This new partnership is an important step towards building local training and workforce capacities in Kenya, which is crucial for health and wellbeing of the fastgrowing Kenyan population.”
Under the initiative, KEMRI will partner with Unizima to advance and formalize their commitment to building a thriving biopharma skills base in Kenya and the wider East Africa region.
The collaboration will include among other areas, building the right training and research ecosystem, that will ensure that end to end research and development and manufacturing of biologicals, expertise, advisory support, and technology transfer.
Kenyan healthcare and research leaders who are driving this initiative include; KEMRI, Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital, Kenya Biovax Institute, Egerton University and the Pharmacy and Poison Board.
As Kenya prepares for significant inwards investment in biotechnology and biomanufacturing over the coming years, the government is building the human capital and workforce development needed to ensure this investment brings real improvement in access to vaccines and biotherapeutics for patients in Kenya and the region.
KEMRI’s Ag. Director General Prof. Elijah Songok welcomed the move citing that KEMRI will be at the forefront in leading other Kenyan institution in providing Research and Development.
“We are excited about this partnership with Unizima in Belgium that will surely provide KEMRI with expertise, advisory support, training and technology particularly in the area of biomanufacturing ecosystem which is fundamental to the Kenyan people,” he said.
“KEMRI is living its mission of providing leadership in human health research, capacity building and service delivery, and this landmark initiative with the Belgians is a clear indication.”
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