Dr. Hastings Ozwara is a 55 year old male Kenyan born in Migori County of Kenya. He is married to Florence Gwoneki Musalia and a father to Stacy Kamonya, Hague Odiyo and Chalyne Chamwada. He speaks Luhya, Luo fluently and a bit of Dutch. Currently Dr Ozwara is a Chief Research Scientist at the Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi.

His Education background includes Bachelor of Science in Zoology (1988 to 1991, University of Nairobi), Master of Science in Parasitology (1991 to 1994, University of Nairobi) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medicine (Molecular Parasitology)

from Leiden University in The Netherlands. The research interests of Dr Ozwara include Development and application of a Plasmodium knowlesi/baboon model for diagnostics, drug, vaccine and medical devices development against malaria; Harnessing Natural Products subsector by using the best of science and business practice to add value to indigenous knowledge and associated technologies to develop unique Kenyan products for the local, regional and international markets; Indigenous knowledge systems & heritage management; Ethics in animal research; Synthetic biology; and Project Management in Health Research.

Dr Ozwara served as Director (2015 – 2021), Head Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (2007 – 2015), Senior Research Scientist (2005 – 2015) and Research scientist (1998 – 2005) all at IPR. He also performed as a Guest Scientist (1996 – 1998) and a Ph.D. student 1998 – 2003) both at Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), in Rijswijk, Holland. Between 1990 –1991, Dr. Ozwara served as a Postgraduate research assistant at The University of Nairobi, Kenya. He is a member of Bioethics Society of Kenya; Kenya Society for Immunology; Dutch Societies for Parasitology and Immunology and a Gold life member of University of Nairobi Alumni Association. Professionally he has published over 48 papers in international peer-reviewed journal and two book chapters. He has attended or presented in over 30 workshops and 32 international scientific conferences. Dr. Ozwara is active in giving back to society as Director Quaker Investment Company and Lay leadership at Friends Church, Ngong Road.

Contacts. E-mail: kamonya2002@gmail.com; ozwara@primateresearch.org;

ozwara@museums.or.ke. Telephone: Office, +25420606235/6, Cell phone +254 721 483326,

Post Office P.O. Box 24481, Karen -00502, Nairobi.