May 22, (Daily Nation/GNA) – A Kenyan researcher has won an international award for outstanding research on throat cancer. Prof George Njoroge, chief scientific advisor at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), received the Greater Manchester Cancer Award from the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.
The award-winning research was an international partnership between the University of Manchester, The Christie NHS, and KUTRRH. The collaborative team, co-led by Prof Njoroge and Prof Robert Bristow of the University of Manchester, won the award for improving oesophageal (throat) cancer survival in Kenya.
The research was awarded Sh446 million by the National Institutes of Health (UK) to reach communities through a mobile clinic.
The award celebrates researchers, volunteers, National Health Service staff, and community workers who go beyond to improve cancer care, patient experiences, and survival outcomes. This year, over 100 entries were received across eight categories.
Prof Njoroge said the study explored ways to transform early detection of oesophageal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Kenya.
“I feel humbled and honoured to be one of the leaders in this project that has generated information beneficial to early detection of throat cancer in our nation and the world at large,” he said. “The success of this project has been highlighted, celebrated in the UK, and awarded as a finalist in the research area on May 12 of this year. We are happy it has been very successful.”
Prof Njoroge notes that in Kenya, oesophageal is the third most common cancer but has the highest mortality of all cancers: 4,400 deaths per year.
According to a study published by the National Institute of Medicine, Kenya lies within Africa’s oesophageal cancer corridor, one of the highest incidence regions worldwide. The country’s prevalence rate stands at 17.6 per 100,000.
Yet, research on the condition in Kenya has gone largely unnoticed. The study noted that only a few hospitals treat oesophageal cancer patients, including KUTRRH, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Tenwek Mission Hospital, Kijabe Mission Hospital, and M.P. Shah Hospital/Cancer Care Kenya.
Through a co created hub and spoke model, the international research team combined community engagement, rapid pathology, and new genomic capacity to tackle oesophageal cancer, a disease often diagnosed too late. Working across five counties (Kisii, Nyeri, Nakuru, Kiambu, and Meru), the team co designed community awareness campaigns, trained over 400 clinicians and 500 community health workers, and introduced a mobile endoscopy service that has performed more than 1,000 procedures.
“This partnership has revealed vital insights that will benefit patients in Kenya and those of African and Black ancestry in Manchester and across the UK,” said the official statement from the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. “The programme is now informing national policy discussions and shaping future early detection strategies. This model of shared leadership, community partnership and reciprocal training offers a blueprint for equitable cancer detection across global and local systems.”
According to Prof Njoroge, the project began three and a half years ago in partnership with the University of Manchester. The idea came after realising that the prevalence and mortality rates for oesophageal cancer are nearly equal.
“That means if one is diagnosed with oesophageal cancer when they go to see their doctor, the chances that they will succumb to the disease is greater than 99 per cent,” he said.
He explained that patients often present with symptoms like cough, sore throat, or heartburn, and receive cough suppressants or other medications. By the time they return, they struggle to swallow food.
“At that point, the cancer has already advanced from stage one or two to stage three or four, which is more difficult to treat.”
In 2022, the team wrote a proposal and developed a small camera – an endoscope that can be passed down the throat. With it, clinicians can see what is happening inside the throat cells.
“It is a very important effort by the endoscopist, because they are able to tell whether the cells in the throat are cancerous or might become cancerous within a given time,” said Prof Njoroge, adding: “The whole idea was to give patients access to this evaluation without travelling long distances. To create demand, they raised awareness through television, radio, and churches.
During screening, suspected cases underwent endoscopy to confirm cancer. The team diagnosed several cases, including pre cancerous cells.
One major advantage, according to Prof Njoroge, is that identifying cells at an early stage allows treatment to begin sooner, leading to better health outcomes.
He noted that the findings will help the Ministry of Health shape policy for early detection of oesophageal cancer.
“The findings will be important in saving lives through detecting throat cancer at a very early stage when it is treatable, less expensive, and less of a burden to society.”
GNA/Daily Nation