A major University of Liverpool partnership in Kenya has achieved international accreditation for its air pollution research facilities, marking an important milestone for climate and health research in Africa.
The Air Pollution Centre of Excellence, based at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi, has received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the Kenya Accreditation Service for air quality testing.
The accreditation recognises the Centre’s technical competence to produce accurate, reliable and internationally recognised air quality measurement results. It also strengthens the Centre’s role as a regional hub for research, training and evidence generation to support public health and environmental policy.
The Centre was established through the NIHR CLEAN-Air(Africa) Global Health Research Unit, led by the University of Liverpool in partnership with researchers and institutions across Africa. Its facilities include a state-of-the-art air quality measurement and processing laboratory, including a robotic weighing system for gravimetric measurements of particulate matter.
Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is one of the most harmful forms of air pollution because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Reliable measurement of PM2.5 is essential for understanding exposure, evaluating interventions and informing policy decisions designed to reduce the health burden of air pollution.
Professor Dan Pope, Professor of Global Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Liverpool and Director of CLEAN-Air(Africa), said: “We are delighted to have secured this international standard for air quality measurement and analysis in Africa. This reinforces the Centre’s profile as a continental lead in air pollution, health and climate research”.
Dr James Mwitari, Co-Director of CLEAN-Air(Africa) and the Centre’s Director at KEMRI, said: “I would like to acknowledge the hard work of my team at KEMRI and colleagues from the University of Liverpool in achieving this milestone. ISO certification and accreditation (and forthcoming climate accreditation from Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority) opens a new chapter for the Centre in meeting the climate and health challenges of the region.”
The accreditation comes as CLEAN-Air(Africa) partners in Cameroon have also secured a reference-grade PM2.5 air pollution monitor at Douala General Hospital’s Air Pollution Research Centre. The new facility is expected to support air quality, climate and health research in Central Africa and provide a benchmark for calibration of low-cost monitoring technologies.
Together, the developments will help address a major gap in air pollution research across Africa, where access to reliable, high-quality monitoring data remains limited. Without reference-grade monitoring, many cities face challenges in measuring pollution exposure, understanding its impact on health and developing effective interventions.
The University of Liverpool is also developing low-cost air pollution monitoring technologies designed to widen access to real-time exposure data. Through its Liverpool Air Quality Research Centre and CLEAN-Air(Africa) partnerships, the University aims to support dense monitoring networks in African cities, building on approaches already established in Liverpool.
The KEMRI and Cameroon facilities will provide an important platform for deploying, calibrating and validating low-cost air pollution monitors across the continent, helping researchers, policymakers and communities better understand and respond to the health impacts of polluted air.
The milestone reinforces the University of Liverpool’s long-standing commitment to global health research, climate action and international partnerships that generate evidence for cleaner air and healthier communities.
For more information about the Air Pollution Centre of Excellence watch our video.
Image: Members of University of Liverpool Senior Leadership Team visiting the KEMRI Air Pollution Centre of Excellence in Nairobi in 2025.