 Previously, Dr. Wasunna served as the Regional Director of DNDi Eastern Africa. She also was Chief Research Officer and Assistant Director of Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and served as the Director, Centre for Clinical Research, KEMRI, and, subsequently, as Acting Director KEMRI.
She was a member of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO, Kenya National Bioethics Committee, the Kenyatta National Hospital and University of Nairobi Scientific and Research Ethics committee, and currently is a member of the Expert Committee of Clinical Trials of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya. She is also a founding chair and member of the Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform, which promotes clinical research and strengthens research capacity for leishmaniasis in the region.
Dr. Wasunna is a physician and an infectious disease and tropical medicine specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from the University of Nairobi as well as an MSc and PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also holds a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Royal College of Physicians of London. Dr. Wasunna is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and the Eastern, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians.
She has been recognized for her contributions to neglected disease research and for her dedication and service to neglected communities. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Neglected Tropical Diseases Researcher Award from the Kenyan Ministry of Health and the National Order of Merit (Officier de l’ordre national du Mérite) from the French government. Additionally, she has been honored with a Collaboration and Partnership Award from the Kenya Medical Research Institute and was named a Mycetoma Ambassador. Dr. Wasunna has been a researcher and a principal investigator in visceral leishmaniasis, malaria and HIV studies. Her contributions are well-documented in peer-reviewed journals. |