Monique Wasunna

Dr. Wasunna is the Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative Africa Regional Office. She is a physician, an infectious disease, and tropical medicine specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Nairobi, an MSc and a Ph.D. in medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Royal College of Physicians of London. She is well-published in peer-review journals. She is the Founding Chairperson of the Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform which promotes clinical research and capacity building for this neglected and deadly disease. Dr. Wasunna is a former member of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO. She has been one of the leading women in science in the African continent, carrying out relevant research in Africa for Africans and mentoring many young African scientists. She has contributed to building clinical trial capacities in the region, maintaining strong south-south and north-south partnerships.   Her achievements have earned her many accolades including a Distinguished Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Researcher Award from the Kenya Ministry of Health and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Partnership Award from KEMRI, and honoured as Mycetoma Ambassador by the Mycetoma Research Center in Sudan in 2019 for her exemplary advocacy efforts to build awareness of this disease. Recently in 2020, she was awarded the National Order of Merit “Officier de l’ordre national du mérite”, by the French Government in recognition of her exemplary work helping people with Neglected Tropical Diseases and advocating for better treatments for neglected patients in Africa. Dr. Wasunna also uses her vast clinical trial experience to serve on many scientific boards and technical committees. She is a fellow of the East Central and Sothern Africa College of Physician and a a member of the African Vaccine Delivery Alliance of the Africa CDC.