Bullets failed to kill research on Aids
Gunman may have cut short scientist’s life but this did not block Prof Bwayo’s award

The bullets might have brought to a premature end his illustrious career but the medical world cannot forget his long and tedious search for a vaccine for HIV, the virus that causes Aids. A year after he died, Aids researcher Job Joab Bwayo was on Wednesday the 24th September 2008 awarded the pioneering award at the inaugural Health Professional of the Year Award. The Award is for the health professionals who have displayed innovation in their careers and made an impact on the profession. Yes Prof Bwayo was not merely an impact but a whole new way of looking at the virus that since its discovery in the early 1980’s, continues to puzzle researchers eager to discover a vaccine. Long and eventually fruitless trials and new “discoveries” have since become the hallmark of the search for a vaccine.

The professor’s wife could not make it to the ceremony as she was severely injured in the shooting and is still receiving treatment in the United States. The researchers have renewed hope about a vaccine for Aids following the discovery that 10 Kenyans carry powerful antibodies that neutralize HIV, stopping it from infecting new cells. Scientists have also recently said that prostitutes could still hold the key to the Aids vaccine following the discovery in Mombasa of a woman whose antibodies were so strong they killed HIV.

It was Prof Bwayo, eulogized the world over by fellow researchers and international media, who gave hope to the world when first made the announcement that prostitutes could help in the research. Prof Bwayo’s research into immunology led him to discover an apparent natural immunity among a group of 60 prostitutes in Nairobi’s Majengo slums. Despite repeated exposure due to the nature of their work, the women did not contract the deadly virus that causes Aids.

In his studies, he found out that the uninfected women had overtime developed a large number of killer T-cells, a crucial component of the immune system, which has led to the development of some of the most promising vaccines currently being studied.

Prof Bwayo helped build a world-class clinical research centre. A team at the University of Nairobi, Kenya Aids Vaccine Initiative (KAVI), joined Prof Andrew McMichael and researchers from Oxford University who went on to develop a vaccine that stimulates the formation of T-cells in Aids patients. However, the research was abandoned after initial trials showed little success.

The research work was funded by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative and led to the formation of KAVI, which is based at the Kenyatta National Hospital, and continues with research work on vaccine. But while his work has gained recognition locally and internationally, participants at the award ceremony that was held at the National Museums grounds noted that he is yet to gain official recognition through a government award.

Medical Service minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o (right) hands over the pioneering award to the director of medical services Francis Kimani. Dr. Kimani received the award on behalf of the pioneering Aids Researcher Prof Job Bwayo (right) who died last year.

Medical services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o gave an example, the recent work done by Kenyan researchers who have established that male circumcision reduces chances of infection of HIV by 60%. “The scientists, who presented their findings to traditional and political leaders from Nyanza on Monday 22nd September, 2008 at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, deserved recognition” the minister said. “This nation has honoured administrators, politicians and God knows who, but no awards have gone to people concerned with the health of the nation” said Prof. Nyong’o.