Professor Omu Anzala Prof. Anzala is a Professor of Virology & Immunology in the Department of Medical Microbiology; The first Director of KAVI – Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi, Kenya.  He holds a degree in MBChB from the University of Nairobi, Kenya; a Diploma in Epidemiology - Tufts University in USA; a Masters in infectious diseases and PhD in virology and immunology - University of Manitoba, Canada and Postdoctoral Fellow at Molecular Immunology Institute, Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Oxford University, UK.

Prof. Anzala pioneered the establishment of Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) in the year 2000 as a research unit at the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Nairobi aimed at conducting HIV vaccine clinical trials, basic science, and epidemiology of HIV in Kenya. Additionally, in 2013 Prof. Anzala was the center of the growth of KAVI from a research unit to a fully-fledged Institute of the University of Nairobi namely: KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research expanding its research mandate beyond HIV/AIDS to include research in infectious diseases, research in non-communicable diseases and knowledge synthesis & translation.


As the first Director of KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research Professor oversaw unprecedented growth of the institute in infrastructure, implantation of research projects in immunology, virology (all under one health), behavioral Science, grants management and establishment of PhD training program for the next generation of scientific leaders.


Prof. Anzala’s academic career spans over 30 years, coupled with vast experience in grants writing, grants management, presiding on more than $2 million in grants per year for over 15 years, fostering both local and international collaboration, fostering community engagement, training, supervision, and mentorship. Supervised more than 30 master’s students and more than 13 PhD students to successful completion and continues to supervise and mentor. Additionally, authored and co-authored more than 200 publications in peer reviewed journals and presented abstracts in multiple international conferences.


Prof. Anzala is a member of Kenya National COVID-19 Task Force, Team lead of the University of Nairobi COVID-19 modelling committee, Member of African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), Member of Kenya national Vaccine safety Advisory Committee, Member of African Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (AAVS), member of the Ministry of Health (MoH) Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Task Force, Board Member and Director of Walter Sisulu Foundation, Co-Chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region Vaccine Safety Committee and Member of the Africa CDC Advisory Committee on Research Prioritization.