Prof. Kamija Phiri: the impact of the EDCTP Scientific Leadership Prize on global health research
On 9 November 2023, at the Eleventh EDCTP Forum in Paris, France, Professor Kamija Phiri of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi received the EDCTP Scientific Leadership Prize. This Prize recognises distinguished scientists whose contributions have propelled advancements in their fields and aims to foster ongoing leadership in research. The award comprises a recognition trophy and a monetary prize of €20,000, which Professor Phiri has strategically used to bolster his research initiatives and community engagement in global health.
Advancing research projects
The recognition of the EDCTP Prize has not merely served as a validation of Professor Phiri’s contributions to global health research but has also equipped him with essential resources to extend his impact. Using part of the prize funding, he hosted a pivotal Post-Discharge Malaria Chemoprevention (PDMC) Consortium meeting in January 2024 in Kampala, Uganda. This gathering was an essential milestone for his research network, convening key research partners, including Makerere University, KEMRI-Kisumu, University of Bergen, Training and Research Unit of Excellence, University of Cape Town, and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
During this collaborative meeting, Professor Phiri and his colleagues developed two significant research proposals. The first proposal targeted the implementation of Post-Discharge Malaria Chemoprevention in children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while the second explored the comparative effectiveness of malaria vaccines versus PDMC. These proposals were later submitted to the Global Health EDCTP3 Malaria Implementation Call and the UKRI (Medical Research Council) Malaria Highlight Call, resulting in the successful funding of both initiatives. The PDMC proposal secured £2 million from UKRI-MRC, while the malaria vaccine comparison study obtained joint funding of €10 million from Global Health EDCTP3 and UKRI-MRC. These achievements underline the critical role that collaborative research plays in addressing pressing health challenges.
Promoting collaborative networks
Further to advancing his research, Professor Phiri employed a portion of the prize to facilitate a regional scientific symposium aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This event gathered researchers, policymakers, and healthcare practitioners from both Africa and Europe, creating a platform to discuss the emerging challenges and opportunities within global health. The symposium proved to be a fertile ground for exchanging ideas, strengthening existing partnerships, and identifying new avenues for collaborative research.
Moreover, the prize funding enabled Professor Phiri to attend two significant international conferences in 2024. In April, he presented his research at the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where he showcased the advancements and impacts of the PDMC and malaria vaccine studies. Later in November, he participated in the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) conference in New Orleans, USA, further disseminating his findings and engaging with global experts. These platforms facilitated invaluable opportunities for collaboration and enriched international partnerships.
Dissemination of the Prize recognition
The recognition associated with the 2023 EDCTP Prize was widely celebrated by Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), which disseminated the news across their official social media platforms, including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This outreach effectively engaged a broad audience of stakeholders, collaborators, and the general public. Furthermore, Professor Phiri was featured in the KUHeS newsletter, which highlighted the significance of the award and its influence on his research and leadership contributions. This dissemination not only served to celebrate his achievements but also inspired students, researchers, and the broader academic community at KUHeS and beyond.
Community engagement and outreach
The visibility and recognition afforded by the EDCTP Prize have enabled Professor Phiri to assume pivotal leadership roles within the realm of global health research. In 2024, he was appointed as Chair of the Global Health Fellowship Award Committee for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for a term of three years. This influential role allows him to shape the trajectory of global health research, particularly in nurturing emerging leaders within the field. Additionally, he was appointed to the Wellcome Trust’s Population and Public Health Advisory Group, where he plays a crucial role in overseeing Career Development Fellowships and Discovery Awards, further amplifying his capacity to support innovative research in population and public health.
The 2023 EDCTP Scientific Leadership Prize has proven instrumental in amplifying the impact of Professor Kamija Phiri’s work and in supporting the broader scientific community. Through his investments in research, collaboration, dissemination, and community engagement, he has embodied the spirit of the prize and significantly contributed to the EDCTP’s mission of improving global health outcomes. The successful funding of both the PDMC and malaria vaccine proposals highlights the tangible benefits derived from this recognition.