When the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) announced its inaugural call for funded projects in early 2024, it marked a turning point for Kenya’s academic and medical research landscape. For the first time, local scholars and scientists could access government funding to advance research that directly addresses the country’s growing cancer burden.

Among the recipients of this grant was our very own Claude Kamau, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Doctoral Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and full-time teaching faculty at Strathmore Law School. His work bridges intellectual property law, health research ethics, and genomics.

Claude Kamau presenting his work during a conference in Kigali

As a member of the Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DSI) – Law Consortium, Claude’s research focuses on the legislation of benefit-sharing in genomic and biobanking research, a subject in which he has published and contributed to policy briefs. His grant from the NCI-K, for which he is the Principal Investigator, builds on his work under the DSI-Law Consortium and examines the legal and policy aspects of benefit-sharing in cancer research in Kenya.

“Most of the funding for cancer research in Kenya has historically come from foreign NGOs and foundations,” Claude explains. “Public funding for academic research has been minimal and this has limited our ability to explore local, context-specific solutions. The NCI-K initiative is beginning to change that.”

From Curiosity to Purpose

Claude’s passion for research began while still an undergraduate at Strathmore Law School, where he served as a research assistant and was part of the founding board of the Strathmore Law Review in 2015-2016, undoubtedly one of the best student-led law reviews in Africa. Later, his postgraduate studies in intellectual property law opened a path that connected innovation, ethics and health.

After completing his LLM in Intellectual Property Law at Strathmore, Claude joined several international research projects, including one with the Cardiff Centre and another as Kenya’s research associate under the Data Science for Innovation (DS-I) Africa programme. Supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the initiative focuses on harnessing data science for innovation and health discovery in Africa.

Claude’s journey is deeply personal. Having family members who are cancer survivors and having lost relatives and members of his wider community to the HIV pandemic as a child, he was profoundly shaped by these experiences. They inspired his commitment to exploring the ethics of technological change and the role of law in advancing equitable health responses.

“The theme of health has always been close to home for me,” he says. “I became curious about how technology is transforming medicine and how the law can guide that transformation to remain ethical and fair.”

Researching the Human Side of Cancer

Claude’s project, funded under the NCI-K grant, explores benefit-sharing in cancer research. A legal and ethical question about how communities, participants and researchers should share the outcomes and rewards of scientific work.

“I’m looking at the interface between the public, research participants and the medical responses that fund this research,” he explains. “Who benefits and how do we define those benefits in legal and ethical terms?”

Claude points out that Kenya currently lacks a strong intellectual property framework to facilitate benefit-sharing in medical research. His work seeks to fill that gap, helping to shape policies around informed consent, data access, intellectual property management and technology transfer.

This research holds great transformative potential, as it reframes cancer beyond its traditional perception as a merely medical challenge. Claude views this not only as a question of justice, access, and equity in relation to the fruits of science, but also as one of realistic incentives, contextual differences, and practical strategies.  

Justice, Equity, and the African Context

Benefit-sharing has long been examined through the lens of global justice, a perspective Claude notes is particularly resonant in Africa. He reflects on how the continent’s histories of slavery, colonization, and resource extraction continue to influence its engagement with global science.

“Africa is the most genetically diverse continent in the world,” he notes. “Yet it remains the least represented in global genetic research. That means the world is missing out on important health insights that only Africa can provide.”

For him, ensuring fair benefit-sharing is about rewriting that narrative, making sure Africa is not merely a source of data, but an equal partner in discovery.

Law as a Bridge Between Science and Society

“A lot of controversies in science come from undefined concepts,” he says. “Law helps us give meaning to these terms, to know the limits of what can and can’t be done and to ensure innovation aligns with justice.”

Claude believes law has an important role in clarifying terms, setting limits and protecting the rights of both participants and innovators.

By defining clear frameworks, law can connect the lab to the community, ensuring that breakthroughs in genomics, data science and medical technology translate into real benefits for patients.

Balancing Teaching, Practice and Research

Though an active researcher, Claude still teaches at Strathmore Law School, devoting several hours each week to students while spending the rest of his time on research and supervision.

“Teaching keeps me grounded,” he says with a smile. “It reminds me why I do this work, to engage with generations of scholars who will take health law and intellectual property law further.”

To students considering a career in health law and policy, Claude offers this advice. “Understand Africa’s unique place in the world from a health equity perspective,” he urges. “Decide what excites you about health. Is it regulation, innovation or advocacy? Don’t chase topics because they’re trendy. Remember why you started,” he adds with a laugh, “And read a lot!” 

Claude’s research reflects a significant shift that views law as an equal partner in shaping a just and compassionate healthcare system. 

In his words, “The fundamental thing we all desire is health. Health of our spirits, our bodies and freedom from avoidable suffering. That’s what drives my work.”

Article written by Evans Ijakaa