20 years of Army research yields hope for malaria vaccine
WASHINGTON - Reports of the successful trials that could lead to the world's first malaria vaccine led the headlines of international news outlets this past week. Hidden within the story line is the critical role of researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, or WRAIR, who have worked steadfastly for more than 20 years to help bring the vaccine to reality.
USAMRU-K MISSION
- Develop and test improved means for predicting, detecting, preventing, and treating infectious disease threats to U.S. military personnel and the host nation
- Conduct surveillance, training, research, and response activities related to emerging infectious disease threats.
- Partner in executing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
- Support the AFRICOM Commander’s Health Related Theater Security Cooperation activities through engagement of nations in the region in executing our mission.
USAMRU-K ORGANIZATIONAL FOOTPRINT
USAMRU-K is composed of US department of Defense, US Embassy locally engaged staff, Kenya Medical Research Institute and Henry M. Jackson Foundation Medical Research International employees.
Primary operational sites in Kenya for USAMRU-K include Nairobi, Kericho Field Station and Kisumu Field Station.
USAMRU-K is located in Nairobi, Kenya on the campus of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and is one of five U.S. DoD overseas research laboratories. The unit was provisionally established in 1969 at the invitation of the Kenya Government and was permanently established in 1973. USAMRU-K Headquarters coordinates operations with the U.S. Embassy, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché which includes the Kenya U.S. Liaison Office (KUSLO)/Defense Attaché Office (DAO), U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and numerous Kenyan Ministries.
