Malaria Know More: Behind the Science of Gene Drive with Krystal Birungi
Malaria Know More: Behind the Science of Gene Drive with Krystal Birungi
Tags: Funding, Malaria, Policy, Stakeholder engagementMalaria No More, 2025.
Congratulations on being named a 2025 Goalkeepers Champion by the Gates Foundation! What does this acknowledgement mean to you personally and professionally as an advocate for malaria elimination?
BIRUNGI: It was pretty exciting and also very validating. Malaria has been around for so long that, for many people, it can seem like it’s no longer a big deal. It’s incredible how it can be glossed over that we’re losing over half a million people a year to a disease that we’ve been fighting for decades. You don’t often get recognized for work in this field, so it means a lot to have something I’m working towards be acknowledged.
I was also delighted that this brought such a large platform to the fight against malaria. It has helped draw more attention to what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and the potential it holds to defeat the disease. This year’s Goalkeepers event and being named a champion, is something I’m incredibly grateful for – not just for myself, but for the impact that it can have for malaria.
