Kelvin Muti Karanja

Kelvin Muti Karanja is a Kenyan biomedical researcher and an AfOx Kennedy Trust Prize Scholar pursuing a DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford. He is also a Clarendon Scholar and a member of Reuben College. His doctoral research focuses on understanding the cellular and metabolic processes that maintain healthy lung tissue and how these protective mechanisms are lost with ageing and in lung fibrosis.

He is particularly interested in how age and biological sex influence susceptibility to fibrosis, with the aim of identifying new ways to prevent fibrosis or improve outcomes in chronic lung disease.

Kelvin holds a BSc in Biochemistry (Medical Option) from the University of Nairobi, where he graduated with First-Class Honours as the overall best student in his cohort. In recognition of his academic excellence, he received awards for Best Overall Student and Best Final-Year Male Student in the Department of Biochemistry.

He also completed an MPhil in Stem Cell Medicine at the Wellcome–MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. His research investigated lung regeneration after injury and involved collaboration with researchers at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.

In his spare time, Kelvin enjoys reading, journalling, and cycling. He also mentors young learners, helping them build confidence in science. He is passionate about widening access to research training and supporting the development of the next generation of African scientists.

At Oxford, Kelvin looks forward to deepening his scientific training, building meaningful connections, and contributing to research that improves global health outcomes.