Earlier this year, the 2014 Royal Society Pfizer Prize was awarded to Kenyan scientist Faith Osier for her efforts to understand human immunity to malaria in endemic areas of Kenya. 

The prize is given to young African scientists making outstanding contributions to the biological sciences on the continent. Last week, Osier, who works at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust research programme in Kilifi, Kenya, gave a presentation on her work at the Royal Society in London, United Kingdom, and was awarded a visiting professorship at the University of Oxford. 

In this interview, she explains to SciDev.Net how her team’s research into child and adult immunity to malaria can aid vaccine development, and about plans to carry out further related studies on immunity across seven African countries over the next five years. She also shares her thoughts on how to improve links between researchers and policymakers in East Africa, and on creating a more supportive environment for girls and women pursuing scientific careers in Kenya. 

http://www.scidev.net/global/malaria/multimedia/malaria-vaccine-research-africa.html

Q&A: Rolling out malaria vaccine research across Africa

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