Professor Matilu Mwau is an infectious disease specialist, clinical researcher, and diagnostics expert who contributes to Amyloidosis Africa as Scientific Advisor – Research & Diagnostics, supporting research collaborations, diagnostic innovation, and scientific capacity building across the continent.
He is a Senior Principal Clinical Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), where he has played a leading role in advancing laboratory systems, molecular diagnostics, and biomedical research in Kenya and across Africa. His work spans immunology, virology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology, with a strong focus on improving diagnostic capacity and translating scientific discoveries into public health impact.
Professor Mwau holds training in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi, Tropical Medicine from Nagasaki University (Japan), and Clinical Medicine with specialization in Immunology from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom). This multidisciplinary training has shaped his career at the intersection of clinical medicine, laboratory science, and public health research.
Over the course of his career, he has authored more than seventy peer-reviewed publications and has supervised numerous postgraduate researchers, including over ten PhD candidates and more than thirty-five Master’s students, many of whom have gone on to become independent researchers in infectious disease and biomedical sciences.
He is widely recognized for his contributions to diagnostic innovation and infectious disease research, particularly in HIV, where his work on HIV self-testing and drug resistance has informed national treatment policies and expanded access to early diagnosis. Professor Mwau has also contributed to strengthening laboratory systems in Africa and has served on the Africa CDC Diagnostics Advisory Committee, supporting continental efforts to improve diagnostic preparedness and laboratory networks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership helped scale up Kenya’s testing capacity by repurposing molecular diagnostic platforms and supporting national strategies for pandemic response. His work also extends to vaccine research and biotechnology initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa’s biomedical innovation ecosystem.
Through his role with Amyloidosis Africa, Professor Mwau provides strategic guidance on research design, diagnostics, and laboratory partnerships, helping to strengthen scientific collaboration and support research initiatives aimed at improving the recognition and study of underdiagnosed cardiovascular diseases across African healthcare systems.
