Congratulations Prof. George Warimwe

Congratulations to George Warimwe for being conferred the title full Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford. “I’m truly honoured by this recognition. It is testimony to the excellent mentorship received over the years and the immense contribution to vaccine R&D in Africa by the team of amazingly talented scientists that work with me in Kenya and Oxford” said Prof Warimwe. Prof Warimwe was among six researchers awarded, in recognition of their distinction in research, and their contributions to teaching, and to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine in Oxford University.

Prof Warimwe works on viral infections transmitted between humans and animals in Africa, developing vaccines for their control. An example is Rift Valley Fever – a mosquito-borne viral illness that primarily affects humans and livestock (sheep, goats, cattle) in Africa – for which Prof Warimwe has developed a novel chimpanzee adenovirus vectored vaccine, that is highly efficacious in livestock and is currently in human phase I clinical trials. His previous work includes a similar One Health vaccine for use against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in camels and humans, with his veterinary research programmes continuing to inform advances in human vaccinology.

Prof Warimwe’s other work includes addressing the global shortage in Yellow Fever (YF) vaccine supply through leadership of trials to evaluate the utility of fractional vaccine dosing for epidemic control. Findings from this work will have a major impact on the number of doses that can be given based on the current global stock of YF vaccine and the number of doses that are produced for future use. His recent work on COVID-19 serology in Kenya has informed decisions on the national pandemic response and remains one of the most comprehensive COVID-19 seroepidemiological programmes in Africa to date.

Congratulations again Prof Warimwe!