Kenyan wins Sh7.6m for research on malaria

By Elizabeth Mwai

A Kenyan scientist has won an award for research on childhood malaria.

Dr Collins Ouma received more than Sh7.6 million (£60,000) for his research on severe malarial anaemia (SMA), a leading cause of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ouma has been investigating the functional impact of variation within key immune mediator genes in regulating the development and clinical outcomes of SMA in children less than three years of age in plasmodium falciparum (one of the species of parasites that cause malaria in humans) transmission area of western Kenya.

"I feel privileged at being selected the 2010 winner of the Royal Society Pfizer Award. I appreciate the recognition by the Royal Society Pfizer committee of my efforts, those of my mentors and of my co-investigators in our studies investigating the genetic basis of severe malarial anemia in children from western Kenya," said Ouma.

The research involves identifying critical genes that can play a significant role in the immuno pathogenesis of severe malaria and hence condition the clinical outcomes of childhood malaria.

The investigations focus on important genes that link the innate and adaptive immune systems.

The results from the study will enhance the ability to successfully identify genotypes that condition susceptibility to SMA in children.

Breakthrough

Ouma said the information would be important as the primary goal of genetic based investigations is to identify susceptible groups for targeted therapeutic interventions.

He said the award would help in identifying additional immune mediators associated with susceptibility to severe malaria in children from this plasmodium falciparum transmission region.

Ouma said the findings would help to identify children at an increased risk of severe malaria.

Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society Lorna Casselton said the work that African scientists do is hugely important in helping to relieve suffering on the continent.

Prof Casselton said Ouma’s work on severe malarial anemia could lead to a breakthrough in fighting malaria. "It is also very exciting that the prize will enable him to pass his expertise on and encourage other young African scientists," said Casselton.