TANZANIA – Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) has announced the appointment of Tanzanian medical scientist Professor Gibson Kibiki as the Chief Executive Officer.

The Africa Research Excellence Fund was established by the UK Medical Research Foundation to nurture and invest in talented, emerging sub-Saharan African health researchers working in Africa on Africa’s health challenges.

AREF also carries out Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshops facilitated by world-class research experts and experienced research managers with extensive experience in writing successful grants, managing grant review panels and developing research leadership.

Prof. Gibson Kibiki MD, MMed, PhD brings in-depth industry expertise in all matters of health, policy formulation and health-related research from his years of experience in healthcare and innovation.

Kibiki is the Founding Executive Secretary of the East African Health Research Commission of the East African Community (EAC).

He is credited for the establishment of the Digital Regional East African Community Health (Digital REACH) Initiative with implementation approval by the EAC council of ministers of health and endorsed by the presidents of the EAC countries.

He also led the establishment of the East African Health Research Journal of the East African Community where he is the journal’s Editor-In-Chief.

Kibiki was actively involved in the establishment of the Pan-African Consortium for the Evaluation of Antituberculosis Antibiotics, the Malaria Capacity Development Consortium and the African Poverty Related Infection Oriented Research Initiative.

Among other research capacity building programmes such as the East African Consortium for Clinical Research, the Molecular Biomarkers for MAMS trials, the Tanzania Zambia and Botswana Network for Capacity Building in HIV Prevention and the Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer African Prevention Effort.

Moreover, Kibiki is a Professor of Medicine serving as an academician in Africa, North America and Europe, a clinician, a research scientist and a leader in the health sector for the past two decades prior to his current position.

He is a Consultant Physician with super-specialty in Interventional gastroenterology and Respiratory system endoscopy and a believer in the fundamental role of health research in optimizing health services.

AREF Founder and Co-President Sir Tumaini Corrah said that Gibson’s proven track record of providing sound leadership and developing strategic programmes will be instrumental in the next phase of enhancement and growth for AREF.

I am thrilled that Prof Kibiki is taking on this role. His knowledge, understanding and experience on what Africa needs to do to excellent science is remarkable,” Sir Tumaini Corrah added.

Commenting on his new role Gibson Kibiki said, “Effective research capacity is imperative to detect and respond to health challenges and I have long supported AREF’s mission to strengthen health research capacity in Africa. With support from donors, we can ensure it has global success and impact.”

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