Dr Thomas Kariuki, an Honorary Professorship at LSTM, is Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer for the Science for Africa Foundation, established in 2021 to support, strengthen and promote science and innovation in Africa. A long-time advocate involved in the global effort to develop vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for poverty related diseases, Kariuki is a prolific science leader whose experience in science diplomacy has enabled the mobilisation of support and hundreds of millions in USD funding for science and innovation in Africa.
Previously he served as Director of the science programmatic platform – Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) hosted by the African Academy of Sciences; and was Director of the Institute of Primate Research (IPR), focused on biomedical R&D and conservation of biodiversity.
He is currently leading the SFA Foundation in its efforts to serve the African research ecosystem by funding excellent ideas in research and innovation; enabling interdisciplinary collaborations and building and reinforcing environments that are conducive for scientists to thrive and produce quality research that generates new, locally relevant knowledge.
Dr Kariuki’s appointment is in recognition of the collaborations, both historical and current, with LSTM. He has previously worked with Professor David Molyneux researching neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and with Professor Imelda Bates on the LSTM’s Centre for Capacity Research through the DELTAS Africa Learning Research Programme. Through the Learning Research Programme he has spearheaded the creation of collaborations between African researchers and their peers at LSTM.
Through his leadership, Kariuki is driving the SFA Foundation to establish global strategic partnerships and build a sustainable pan-African science funding organisation that contributes to the growth of science and innovation in Africa. He is leading a team that designs and funds programmes, builds innovative networks and partnerships to harness science and innovation to tackle major societal challenges in Africa and supports the training of future generations of scientists. As such, his Honorary Professor will benefit LSTM’s ongoing work to help develop the next generation of African and globally connected researchers, clinicians, innovators and policy experts able to address some of the biggest questions in global health, climate change and food security.