STARS Fellows in the Spotlight
Two African STARS fellows have recently been featured by major African media platforms, highlighting how they are translating science and innovation into solutions for challenges across the continent.
Levi Hosea, a 2025 African STARS Young Professional Programme fellow based at CARE-IPD, was profiled by Africa.com about his journey from scientist and public health programme manager to health entrepreneur. The feature explores his work on RRegalis, a health-tech ecosystem designed to improve access to healthcare and medicines, and how the fellowship has shaped his approach to combining science and business.
“Preparation for greater responsibility,” is how Levi describes the fellowship.
Read more: https://africa.com/interviews/levi-hosea-2025-african-stars-young-professional-programme-fellow
Kennedy Mulungu, a 2025 African STARS Young Professional Programme fellow based at CERI, was featured by AllAfrica for his work developing biodegradable sanitary pads and wound dressings from alginate derived from seaweed. The article traces his journey from scientific research towards entrepreneurship and his ambition to turn African research into locally manufactured products that respond to community needs.
Kennedy describes the African STARS fellowship as a “bridge” that exposed him to venture building, bioprocessing, product development, and commercialisation.
Read more: https://allafrica.com/stories/202609300448.htmlstories/202609300448.htmlstories/202609300448.html
News date: 2026-10-06
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KRISP has been created by the coordinated effort of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Countil (SAMRC).
Location: K-RITH Tower Building
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN
719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa.
Director: Prof. Tulio de Oliveira