Expanding Access to Discovery by Building Biophysical Capabilities in Kenya

In a laboratory at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), a new instrument is now ready for use.

The Prometheus, a high-tech system for assessing protein stability, was officially received by Vice Chancellor Prof. Solomon Shibairo and significantly expands the University’s biophysical and biomedical research capabilities.

For researchers and students who will use it, Prometheus is more than just an important new laboratory device. It represents an extraordinary set of new possibilities.

More experiments can now be run locally, skills can be taught hands-on, and important questions no longer have to wait on long-distance connections.

Cross-Continental Partnership

The arrival of a Prometheus at MMUST marks a growing relationship between the Societies of African Biophysical Society (SABS) and NanoTemper Technologies.

What began as conversations among scientists curious about what global collaboration could look like has evolved into a broader program that reaches beyond any single institution.

The dialogue started at a MOSBRI gathering in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where biophysics facility leaders discussed how to extend support networks globally. They realized that scientific progress depends not only on collaboration, but also on reliable access to the tools that enable meaningful research and teamwork possible.

Rooted in Scientific Leadership

The instrument will support advanced protein stability and biophysical analysis as part of an ongoing research effort led by Dr. Philip Amuyunzu Mang’are, a researcher at MMUST and Executive President of the Society of African Biophysical Societies (SABS).

His work focuses on the integrated analysis of mechanostructural and protein biophysical properties to advance more efficient drug delivery research and reflects the growing capabilities of the region’s scientific ecosystem.

Local Focus – Global Impact

For NanoTemper, this partnership reflects something we genuinely believe in: that the impact of biophysical analysis should not be confined to any one region.

Promoting scientific progress worldwide requires investing in knowledge-rich communities that are still developing their infrastructure.

“Scientific progress depends on access to the right tools, reliable data, and hands-on experience. We are proud to support MMUST, its researchers, and students through this donation,” said Stefan Duhr, CEO and Co-founder of NanoTemper Technologies. “With high-quality biophysical data available on site, MMUST can take on complex scientific questions with confidence and continue to grow as a regional leader. We look forward to seeing what these scientists discover.”

Science without Borders

Working with SABS, Dr. Philip Amuyunzu, Professor. Maria Sunnerhagen of the European Biophysical Societies’ Association, Professor Juan Sabin, and NanoTemper’s co-founder and executive chair, Professor Philipp Baske, have focused on local training, local ownership, and long-term sustainability.

With Prometheus on-site, MMUST can support advanced research on protein stability, train the next generation of scientists, and strengthen its position as a regional research hub.

When biophysics thrives in more places, global science becomes stronger.

Science doesn’t need borders. It needs access.