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Kenyan scientist Professor George Njoroge has secured a Sh446 million international research grant aimed at improving early detection and treatment of oesophageal cancer in Kenya.
Prof Njoroge, who serves as a co-lead researcher at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), received the 2026 Greater Manchester Cancer Award alongside a UK research team led by Professor Robert Bristow of the University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
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The globally respected scientist is recognised for pioneering drug discoveries and becoming the first African researcher to earn more than 100 United States patents.
The funding, provided by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will support a collaborative project involving KUTRRH, the University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
An accomplished organic chemist and drug discovery specialist, Njoroge gained worldwide recognition for helping develop Victrelis, the first hepatitis C protease inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2011.
He also played a key role in the discovery of the anti-cancer drug Sarasar, later approved as Zokinvy for treating progeria, a rare genetic ageing disease.
His achievements earned him a place in the American Chemical Society Hall of Fame as a Hero of Chemistry in 2012.
Throughout his career, he has authored over 130 scientific publications and secured more than 100 US patents, a milestone that made him the first African scientist to reach such a feat.
Njoroge has additionally received prestigious international recognitions including the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award and the Emerald Award for excellence in pharmaceutical research leadership.
Raised in Kamuchege village in Lari, Kiambu County, he studied at Kamuchege and Kiawairia primary schools before joining Thika High School and later pursuing Organic Chemistry at the University of Nairobi.
He says his inspiration to venture into drug research came from his grandmother, who was well known in the community for practising herbal medicine.
“The respect my grandmother received from society encouraged me to pursue a career where I could continue helping people in a similar way,” he said.
After completing his studies at the University of Nairobi, Njoroge furthered his education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, before working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
His scientific contributions have also advanced treatment research in ageing, diabetes and infectious diseases.
Despite his global accomplishments, Njoroge says he remains committed to addressing health problems affecting African communities.
The latest award-winning project aims to boost survival rates for oesophageal cancer patients through early screening, specialised clinician training and community outreach initiatives.
“We are very happy that the research has been successful. Early detection is critical because cancer is more treatable, less expensive to manage, and places a lower burden on society when identified at an early stage,” he said.
The research project began about three and a half years ago after experts identified delayed diagnosis as a major contributor to the high death rate linked to oesophageal cancer in Kenya.
“The realisation was that mortality from oesophageal cancer is extremely high. Once a patient is diagnosed, the chances of survival are very low because most cases are detected too late,” Njoroge explained.
To increase access to diagnosis, the research team introduced mobile clinics in Kisii, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kiambu and Meru counties.
The programme also trained more than 400 clinicians and 500 community health workers, while carrying out over 1,000 endoscopic procedures.
“A mobile clinic was stationed in the counties so that patients could access diagnostic evaluation without travelling long distances for healthcare,” he added.
Professor Robert Bristow, Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, said the initiative borrowed from Manchester’s successful mobile lung cancer screening model.
“When placed in Kenya, we were able to increase screening access, detect cancers earlier and really develop community trust with patients,” Bristow said.
Researchers now hope the findings will influence Ministry of Health policies and help expand early detection programmes for other cancers nationwide.
“We think the findings that we’ve gotten will be very useful for scaling up diagnosis of oesophageal cancer and through the Ministry of Health in Kenya, as well as the National Cancer Institute; we’re going to scale it up and do even other types of cancer,” Njoroge said.
He added that his long-term vision is to establish a biotechnology company in Africa that will mentor young scientists and drive transformative medical research across the continent.
