Scholars in Global Women’s Health Research Program
Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health
Now open!
2026 Call for Applications
Applications open January 13, 2026 | Deadline February 20, 2026
To learn more about selection criteria and eligibility requirements and submit an application, please visit the below link.
*Please note this program is only open to African applicants, working in Africa, and affiliated to organizations based in Africa.
Announcing the 2026-27 Inaugural Cohort!
Check Out LEA-WH Fellow News and Updates!
About the Fellowship
The Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH) program seeks to build capacity and leadership in women’s health research and innovation across Africa. It will leverage NAM’s membership and the extensive international network of the National Academies to attract African mid-career women’s health researchers with high potential to advance into expanded leadership roles and to shape and lead impactful women’s health research and innovation efforts. The Scholars selected for the program will be provided with training delivered by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the host institution for the program, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities facilitated by NAM, to help them achieve this goal.
The program’s goals include facilitating professional development for women’s health research leaders across Africa; increasing the visibility of their work on the international stage; sharpening their skillsets to develop successful research grant proposals and lead successful research projects and programs; and equipping them with an enduring network of mentors and peers in their field. Success will be measured by tracking the Scholars’ research outputs and career advancement, including grant proposals submitted and funded; publications; promotions and appointments to government and other committees; expanded professional networks; mentorship of junior colleagues; and practical program outputs such as successful grant applications and the development, patenting, and/or commercialization of research-driven products and innovations.
Working in partnership with KEMRI, NAM will implement this three-year program to engage a cohort of up to 20 Scholars each year for three years in a series of in-person and virtual convenings, to be supplemented by asynchronous professional development activities. NAM’s specific activities will include the following:
Collaboration with KEMRI on Scholar selection.
Structured mentorship opportunities: matching Scholars with experienced mentors and providing them with guidance and an online platform to support their interactions aimed at strengthening the Scholars’ research, career development, and professional networks.
Networking and professional development: engaging the Scholars with key regional and NAM-affiliated networks and providing each with a travel budget to support their participation in NAM-organized events.
Outreach and dissemination of useful information: maintaining an online database of funding and training opportunities and creating a program website and social media presence to facilitate ongoing engagement and information sharing.
Monitoring and evaluation of activities, outputs, and impacts: collecting and analyzing surveys and participant reports.
Meet the Inaugural Cohort
2026-27 Fellows
Aamirah Mussa
Position & Affiliation: Senior Program Manager and Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Botswana Harvard Health Partnership
Country of Residence: Botswana
Advisor: Jillian Pintye, Associate Professor | University of Washington, United States
Airat Adeola Bakare
Position & Affiliation: Lecturer and Researcher, University of Lagos
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Advisor: Maria Rodriguez, Professor and Director | Oregon Health & Science University, United States
Chinelo Cynthia Nduka
Position & Affiliation: Consultant Public Health Physician, Nnamdi Azikiwe University / Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Advisor: Sabrina Assoumou, Associate Professor of Medicine | Boston University/Boston Medical Center, United States
Fezile Bongekile Khumalo
Position & Affiliation: Program Manager and Junior Research Fellow, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town
Country of Residence: South Africa
Advisor: Maria Elena Bottazzi**, Senior Associate Dean and Professor | Baylor College of Medicine, United States
**NAM Member
Gelila Biresaw Sime
Position & Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Arba Minch University
Country of Residence: Ethiopia
Advisor: Deborah Bruner**, Professor and Robert W. Woodruff Chair in Nursing | Emory University, United States
**NAM Member
Helen Habibata Habib
Position & Affiliation: Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center
Country of Residence: Kenya
Advisor: Wanda Nicholson**, Professor, Prevention and Community Health | George Washington University School of Public Health, United States
**NAM Member
Joel Alex Olang
Position & Affiliation: Founder and CEO, Urban Tech for Hope
Country of Residence: Kenya
Advisor: Michael Zager, Chief Executive Officer | Cirro Bio (Former Fred Hutch Cancer Center), United States
Joy Ifunanya Odimegwu
Position & Affiliation: Senior Lecturer / Nutraceutical Scientist and Founder, University of Lagos / Gaudium Natural Health Limited
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Advisor: Paule Joseph**, Senior Scientist | National Institutes of Health, United States
**NAM Member
Kadryn Kadasia-Tangai
Position & Affiliation: Founder and CEO, Misala
Country of Residence: Kenya
Advisor: Elizabeth Burnside, Associate Dean of Team Science and Interdisciplinary Research | University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States
Kennedy Mulungu
Position & Affiliation: Founder and CEO / Researcher, Ubhwando Group Limited Company / Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust
Country of Residence: Malawi
Advisor: Jenny Liu, Director and Professor of Health Economics | University of California, San Francisco, United States
Kenneth Toby Maduako
Position & Affiliation: Lecturer and Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist, University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Advisor: Echezona Ezeanolue, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health | IVAN Research Institute, University of Nigeria (Former University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas), Nigeria and United States
Leonard Naphazi Kambewa
Position & Affiliation: Public Health Physician, Ministry of Health Malawi
Country of Residence: Malawi
Advisor: Corrina Moucheraud, Associate Professor and Interim Department Chair | New York University School of Global Public Health, United States
Marie Therese Esengwa Keka
Position & Affiliation: Founder and CEO, Tekhi Global for Menopause Health
Country of Residence: Cameroon
Advisor: Alessandra Bazzano, Professor and Chair, Maternal and Child Health | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
Mbah Clarisse Engowei
Position & Affiliation: Researcher and Microbiologist, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies
Country of Residence: Cameroon
Advisor: Jeannette Guarner, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Emory University School of Medicine, United States
Nyasha Manyeruke
Position & Affiliation: Digital Health Consultant and Research Fellow, African Center of Excellence in Population Health and Policy / Early Childhood Development Action Network
Country of Residence: Zimbabwe
Advisor: Claire Brindis**, Distinguished Emerita Professor | University of California, San Francisco, United States
**NAM Member
Onyekachi Ewa Ibe
Position & Affiliation: Lecturer and Medical Laboratory Scientist, Ebonyi State University
Country of Residence: Nigeria
Advisor: Nancy Lane**, Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology | University of California, Davis, United States
**NAM Member
Rogers Kajabwangu
Position & Affiliation: Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist / Honorary Associate Professor, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital / Mbarara University of Science & Technology
Country of Residence: Uganda
Advisor: Friday Okonofua**, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology | University of Benin, Nigeria
**NAM Member
Sitsofe Gbogbo
Position & Affiliation: Research Fellow and Lecturer, University of Health and Allied Sciences
Country of Residence: Ghana
Advisor: Anne (CC) Lee, Professor of Pediatrics | Brown University, United States
Uduak Adiakot Okomo
Position & Affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and MRC Unit
Country of Residence: The Gambia
Advisor: Audrey Pettifor, Professor and Associate Chair of Epidemiology | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
Wepnje Godlove Bunda
Position & Affiliation: Researcher and Lecturer, Redemption Higher Institute of Biomedical and Management Sciences
Country of Residence: Cameroon
Advisor: Jennifer Downs, Associate Professor of Medicine | Weill Cornell Medicine, United States
Program Administration
Inquiries about the Scholars in Global Women’s Health Research Program should be directed to:
Kelly Robbins
Senior Program Officer
Komal Syed
Program Officer
Caroline Moses
Senior Program Assistant
Health Policy Fellowships and Leadership Programs
National Academy of Medicine
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 334-1506
Email: [email protected]
Program Advisory Committee
LEA-WH Fellow News & Updates
OCT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Presents STI Research at the IUSTI World Congress (Czech Republic)
Read More
From October 14-17, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Aamirah Mussa attended the World Congress of the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) in Prague, Czech Republic. The international conference brought together researchers, clinicians, and public health experts to discuss advances in sexually transmitted infection research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Dr. Mussa was invited to deliver an oral presentation on her work with the World Health Organization (WHO) conducting a landscaping review of ongoing STI research. She also presented a poster on the burden of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis among adolescent girls and young women in Botswana.
During the congress, Dr. Mussa connected with researchers and global health leaders and explored opportunities for future research collaboration and engagement with WHO. Her presentations also generated interest from other conference participants, providing opportunities to discuss her findings, expand her professional network, and identify new research questions and directions for her future work.
Sharing her reflections on the experience, Dr. Mussa shared, “Attending the IUSTI World Congress provided a valuable opportunity to increase the international visibility of my research, share findings from Botswana and contribute to discussions on global STI research priorities.”
OCT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Advances Gynecologic Oncology Knowledge and Collaboration at IGCS Annual Meeting (Canada)
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From October 1-3, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Kenneth Toby Maduako attended the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) 2026 Annual Global Meeting in Montreal, Canada. The meeting brought together gynecologic cancer experts and healthcare professionals from around the world to exchange knowledge on advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and approaches to strengthening women’s health outcomes across diverse settings.
Through scientific sessions and professional engagement, Dr. Maduako gained insights relevant to his clinical practice and research in Nigeria, including minimally invasive approaches to cytoreductive surgery, multimodal use of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer management, and recognition of rare vulvar malignancies. He also established new professional connections and explored opportunities for clinical training, academic development, and future collaboration in gynecologic oncology. Following the meeting, Dr. Maduako plans to share key lessons with colleagues and trainees, apply relevant evidence in teaching and practice, and develop new women’s health research opportunities.
Reflecting on the value of the travel grant experience, Dr. Maduako shared, “The conference provided an important platform for scientific exchange, professional engagement and exposure to developments in gynecologic oncology, while offering opportunities to consider how advances in research and clinical practice can improve women’s health outcomes in Nigeria.”
SEPT/OCT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Presents Menopause Research at the 20th World Congress on Menopause (Brazil)
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From September 30-October 3, 2026, LEA-WH Innovation Track Fellow Dr. Joy Odimegwu attended the 20th World Congress on Menopause in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she presented a poster titled “Nutritional Modulation of Hormonal Aging: Broccoli and Cinnamon Enhance Progesterone Balance While Preserving Physiological Estrogen Levels.” The congress brought together more than 4,000 participants from around the world, with plenary sessions featuring leading experts in women’s health and menopause research. Her presentation highlighted preclinical findings from her nutritional intervention research examining how specific food-based approaches may influence hormonal balance during menopause.
Dr. Odimegwu engaged with menopause researchers, clinicians, and other participants from around the world, generating interest in both her research and its potential applications. She also identified prospective collaborators and commercial partners in India and the United States, opening opportunities for future discussions related to research collaboration, product development, and international distribution.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Odimegwu shared, “I was able to interact extensively with other menopause researchers, gain new perspectives on menopause science, and better understand the novelty and potential of my research.”
SEPT/OCT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Explores Digital Health Innovation at the Africa HealthTech Summit (Rwanda)
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From September 30-October 2, 2026, LEA-WH Innovation Track Fellow Dr. Leonard Naphazi Kambewa attended the Africa HealthTech Summit 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. Held under the theme “Wellness for All, Powered by Intelligent Health Systems,” the summit brought together leaders, innovators, policymakers, researchers, and health-sector stakeholders from across Africa to explore how digital technologies, data, artificial intelligence, and innovation can strengthen health systems and improve access, quality, efficiency, and equity in healthcare.
Dr. Kambewa contributed to discussions as a public health physician, implementation scientist, and digital health innovator working to strengthen women’s health systems in Malawi. Through the summit, he gained insights into digital health systems and approaches to integrating technology into healthcare, while expanding his professional network and identifying opportunities for collaboration in digital health, artificial intelligence, women’s health, and locally led health innovation. He also joined the Africa Digital Health Network, creating opportunities for continued learning and knowledge exchange beyond the summit.
Speaking to the impact of the travel grant experience, Dr. Kambewa shared, “Through this summit, I gained valuable insights into how Rwanda is leveraging digital health systems, data, and technology to transform healthcare delivery.
SEPT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Advances Women’s Health Product Development Through Global Manufacturing Partnership (Turkey)
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At the end of September 2026, LEA-WH Innovation Track Fellow Dr. Kadryn Kadasia-Tangai undertook a manufacturing partnership and product development site visit in Ankara, Turkey, to advance product development and supply planning for her company, Misala. During the visit, she toured a manufacturing facility, reviewed clinical and technical documentation for candidate formulations, discussed product specifications and regulatory requirements, and worked with the company’s leadership team to align on commercial strategy for the East African market.
The visit focused on deepening an established manufacturing partnership and moving Misala’s product development plans closer to launch. Dr. Kadasia-Tangai gained firsthand insight into the manufacturer’s quality systems, clarified key regulatory considerations for market entry in Kenya, and identified an alternative product formulation to support the company’s launch plans.
Dr. Kadasia-Tangai highlighted the value of this in-person engagement, sharing, “I left with direct, verified confidence in a production partner, a clearer regulatory path to market entry in Kenya, and an agreed formulation and go-to-market plan for our first product.”
SEPT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Presents at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2026 (Hong Kong)
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From September 24-26, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Chinelo Cynthia Nduka attended the UICC World Cancer Congress 2026 in Hong Kong, which brought together more than 2,000 cancer control professionals, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and people affected by cancer from more than 120 countries to exchange knowledge on advances and challenges in cancer prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship, health equity, and health systems. Dr. Nduka actively contributed to these global discussions through three presentations highlighting her work in cervical cancer prevention, women’s health, and cancer control in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
During the Congress, Dr. Nduka also connected with international experts to explore opportunities for collaboration related to her implementation research. These conversations provided an opportunity to strengthen her professional network and identify potential pathways for advancing research and implementation partnerships focused on women’s cancer prevention and equitable access to care in Nigeria and across Africa.
Looking back on the experience, Dr. Nduka shared, “Presenting three pieces of my research work at the World Cancer Congress increased my confidence in contributing to global cancer control discussions and allowed me to receive perspectives from researchers, practitioners, and advocates working across different health systems and settings.”
SEPT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Participates in the 6th Course in Hereditary Cancer Genetics (Italy)
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From September 22-25, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Onyekachi Ewa Ibe participated in the 6th Course in Hereditary Cancer Genetics in Italy, where she engaged with experts on inherited cancer risk, genetic testing, early detection, and cancer prevention. She contributed actively to workshops from a women’s health and African research perspective, sharing insights from her work in Nigeria while strengthening her knowledge of hereditary cancer genetics and its applications to cancer prevention.
During the course, Dr. Ibe developed new research connections that are expected to support future collaborative work aimed at strengthening understanding of women’s cancers and inform cancer prevention strategies.
Dr. Ibe highlighted the value of the experience, “Attending this course gave my work international visibility and connected me with collaborators who will support joint grant applications.”
SEPT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Builds Infectious Disease Modelling Skills at Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
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From September 14-25, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Aamirah Mussa attended the Mathematical Modelling for the Control of Infectious Diseases course at Imperial College London in London, United Kingdom. The course provided practical training in mathematical modelling of infectious disease transmission, including outbreak analysis, estimation of transmission dynamics, and evaluation of public health interventions. Dr. Mussa strengthened her understanding of how modelling approaches can be applied to her own research, particularly to assess interventions and better understand patterns of infectious disease transmission.
During the course, Dr. Mussa connected with several infectious disease modelling experts from Imperial College London, as well as fellow participants working in infectious disease epidemiology across a range of global settings. These connections expanded her professional network and created opportunities for continued learning and potential future collaboration as she incorporates modelling approaches into her research.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Mussa shared, “The course gave me practical modelling skills, valuable new connections, and a renewed sense of excitement about how I can apply these approaches to my future research.”
SEPT 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Presents at the Vaginal Microbiome Dynamics Conference and Expands Research Collaborations (France)
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From September 13-14, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Onyekachi Ewa Ibe attended the Vaginal Microbiome Dynamics Conference in Paris, France, where she delivered an oral presentation highlighting findings from a Nigerian cohort on vaginal dysbiosis, cancer vulnerabilities, and cellular changes that may support diagnosis. She engaged with leading experts in the field, strengthening connections relevant to her research in women’s health and cancer prevention.
Following the conference, Dr. Ibe continued her research engagement in France through visits to research institutions in Lyon and Paris. In Lyon, she met with a cancer research team to explore potential collaboration in cancer prevention and engaged with the International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on Cancer Prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa. She also completed a one-day research observership at Institut Pasteur in Paris, focused on vaginal dysbiosis, gaining exposure to research approaches and laboratory workflows while discussing opportunities for future collaboration. These conversations included the possibility of developing a joint grant application involving Institut Pasteur, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, and her LEA-WH technical mentor, Dr. Seth Bloom of Harvard Medical School.
Sharing the impact of the experience, Dr. Ibe noted, “Presenting our Nigerian cohort research internationally gave me an opportunity to share evidence on vaginal dysbiosis and cancer vulnerabilities and engage directly with leading experts in the field.”
JUL 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Participates in Excellentium 2026 (France)
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From July 7–9, 2026, LEA-WH Innovation Track Fellow Kennedy Mulungu attended Excellentium 2026, the Global Biotech Revolution Leadership Forum, held at Emlyon Business School in Lyon, France. The program brought together 100 emerging biotechnology leaders from more than 40 countries with senior executives from academia, industry, venture capital, and global health organizations to explore leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the responsible translation of science into societal impact.
Kennedy contributed perspectives on women’s health innovation and translational science from Malawi and Africa while connecting with representatives from organizations including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sanofi, QIAGEN, bioMérieux, McKinsey & Company, International Agency for Research on Cancer, among others.
Reflecting on the experience, Kennedy shared, “This experience has strengthened my belief that leadership is the bridge between scientific discovery and lasting impact, and I am grateful to LEA-WH for making this opportunity possible.”
JUL 2026
LEA-WH Fellow Presents at the Menstruation Research Conference (United Kingdom)
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On July 7–8, 2026, LEA-WH Reproductive Health Research Track Fellow Dr. Sitsofe Gbogbo attended the Menstruation Research Conference in Brighton, United Kingdom, where she delivered an oral presentation titled “Beyond the Pain: Understanding Lived Experiences and Mental Health Impacts of Menstrual Pain among Adolescent Girls in the Volta Region, Ghana.” Her presentation shared findings from a qualitative study involving adolescent girls from five districts in Ghana’s Volta Region, demonstrating how menstrual pain affects mental health, school participation, and overall well-being.
She also connected with experts and organizational leaders from various global institutions, including the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, and the African Empowerment Hub Uganda, exploring opportunities for future research collaboration, regional partnerships, and menstrual health interventions aimed at supporting girls’ health and education across Africa.
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Gbogbo shared, “I returned inspired, encouraged, and even more committed to ensuring that the voices and experiences of adolescent girls are heard and reflected in research, policy, and practice.”
JUN 2026
LEA-WH Fellow at Africa Digital Health Summit (Nigeria)
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From June 24–26, 2026, LEA-WH Fellow Dr. Nyasha Manyeruke attended the 6th Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS), themed “Moving from Pilots to Scale: Growing Africa’s Digital Health Ecosystem.” The summit brought together more than 100 government leaders, innovators, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss innovations that can be scaled across Africa’s digital health ecosystem.
At the summit, Nyasha strengthened relationships with existing collaborators at the Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy, Nigeria, and connected with potential new collaborators from BES International, Australia. Following the summit, she continued discussions about potential collaborations in the women’s digital health space while gaining exposure to approaches ranging from supply-chain management to the use of renewable energy to support rural hospitals.
Reflecting on the experience, Nyasha shared, “Through the LEA-WH travel grant, I was able to attend the ADHS in person, present my work in developing digital surveillance tools in women’s health to colleagues across the continent, deepen relations with existing collaborators, and gain exposure to new ideas on the role of digital health within the women’s health space.”
