KENYA— To spearhead research on stem cell and regenerative medicine, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), has launched the Center of Excellence in Stem Cell Research.
The new unit is established at KEMRI’s Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development and will serve as a Stem Cell Research Hub at the host institution.
The Stem Cell Unit was established under a US$542,000 infrastructure grant from the National Research Fund in 2020.
It will become the Centre of Excellence in Stem Cell Research in local, regional, and international collaborations.
Through the research, scientists at KEMRI will be able to generate healthy cells to replace those affected by cancer, road accidents, and other diseases in what is known as regenerative medicine.
The laboratory will mainly focus on research in new therapies for cancer, diabetes, burns, and Leishmaniasis (also known as kala-azar).
The Unit has been equipped with state-of-the-art modern equipment which includes Next generation sequencer, BD FACS Melody™ Cell Sorter, Cell Imager, Biosafety chamber, and a CO2 incubator.
Other equipment includes a freezer, liquid nitrogen tanks, a medical refrigerator, a refrigerated centrifuge, a Real-time PCR machine, and a Cell Counter.
The Chair of the National Research Fund, Prof. Ratemo Michieka, said the project will enable scientists to use stem cells to come up with solutions that can be used locally and internationally.
Prof. Michieka asked the Scientists to select a material that they can produce and that can help the nation in research and development in line with job creation, adding that coming out with specific areas that are their best will make their hypothesis recognized and graded globally.
The NRF lead also encouraged the institution to look for land and set up a factory for manufacturing medicine and a product that Kenya can be proud of.
“KEMRI has a name out of Kenya; you should never give up on research, promote what you can do, talk about it, explore, and create global and regional interlinkages,” stated the Chairman.
National Research Fund (NRF) CEO Dickson Andala, the Stem Cell Research Unit will carry out hence a big milestone in the health sector in the country.
Andala added that the new unit will also spearhead training of MSc, Ph.D. students, and research scientists in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine, as well as establish a repository of stem cells in Kenya.
Stem cells research the future of NCD management
According to KEMRI board Chair Abdullahi Ali, the center will impact directly in addressing a major part of the country’s sustainable development goals in NCDs.
He has acknowledged the burden of NCDs in the country, with more than 50 percent of in-patient hospital admissions and 27 percent of deaths annually being traced to these diseases.
“This calls for the urgent need to find solutions to tackle these diseases including new approaches for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of such diseases. As research scientists, we believe stem cell research will increase a deeper understanding of how diseases occur and how best to tackle them,” Ali noted.
Stem cell therapy has emerged as a beacon of hope in the medical world due to the promising potential cures for chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Currently, NCDs contribute to 50% of in-patient hospital admissions and 27% of all annual deaths in the country.
Subsequently, the therapy is based on harnessing the regenerative properties of stem cells and it has demonstrated immense promise in treating conditions that were once considered incurable.
Improve funding for research, KEMRI appeals
Considering this development, KEMRI’s board Chair also appealed for further financial support to expedite its research efforts.
At present, the allocation for medical research stands at 0.8% of GDP, falling short of the government’s target of 2%.
The call for increased funding resonates with the urgent need to bolster research institutions and recruit more talented personnel to accelerate medical innovations.
KEMRI Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Elijah Songok, who thanked NRF for the financial support, said stem cell research will enable the institute to develop new therapies to regenerate and repair tissues that have been damaged or affected by diseases, accidents singling out cancer, spinal cord injuries and burns among others.
Songok announced that KEMRI’s medical products, among them diagnostic kits, candidate vaccines, and drugs against various diseases produced by the institution, are ready for large-scale manufacturing through local and international manufacturers establishing their footprints in Kenya and the region.
KEMRI has consolidated its research activities into six categories, which include biotechnology, natural product research and drug development, infectious and parasitic diseases, public health and health systems, non-communicable diseases, and sexual, reproductive, adolescent, and child health.
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