The Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, through Kenya National Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center (KNMRC) organized & hosted the Third (3rd) Regional Hands-on NMR Training Workshop which was officially opened by the CEO, NRF, Professor Dickson Andala on 31st July 2023. KNMRC was established as a national NMR center through a grant from the National Research Fund (NRF), Kenya to provide Nuclear Magnetic Resonance analytical services that include capacity building to scientists, not only in the country but also in the region.
In his opening remarks, Chairman, Department of Chemistry acknowledged the strides KNMRC has made since its inception. " This is the Third Hands-on NMR training workshop organized & hosted by the KNMRC since 2022. The trainings have gained traction, becoming quite competitive. In this call(3rd) NMR training workshop, there were about 140 applicants, but only 15 vacancies were available for sponsorship due to funds constraints. It was therefore prudent to spread the catchment to include as diverse and many countries as possible. This cohort, therefore, has participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda who are expected to not only learn themselves, but also be trainers of trainers(ToT) when they get back to their countries."
The Director, Research, Innovation & Enterprise representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor, RIE, during his opening remarks, singled out the financing received from the NRF for infrastructure support to establish the Kenya National Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center( KNMRC) as well as Royal Society of Chemistry for sponsoring the event. " As you all recall the inaugural KNMRC webinar which was held virtually on August 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic to sensitize all stakeholders regarding services provided by KNMRC. I am happy to note that more than 322 participants from Universities, Research Institutes and Industries from different countries attended the event."
CEO, NRF in his opening remarks, acknowledged the tireless effort the University Management & the KNMRC project team have put to complete and operationalize the NRF infrastructure project. " I am glad the equipment acquired for the establishment of the KNMRC Center through infrastructure support from the National Research Fund(NRF) are being utilized for local and regional training. I also take note that one of the key objectives of the KNMRC project was to Enhance Research capacity and to train local and regional staff in the use of NMR instruments through training workshops. I am happy to learn that the 60MHZ NMR and the support facilities acquired through the NRF Kenya infrastructure grant will be used for this training in applications such as determining the structures of organic compounds and more importantly in the identification of the constituents of medicinal plants.
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