Dr Christabel Khaemba is a pharmacist with specialised expertise in pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance, and extensive experience in regulatory science and strengthening systems that support the safe, effective monitoring, and responsible use of health products and technologies. She holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance from the University of Nairobi and a PhD in Medical Sciences from Karolinska Institutet. She serves as Deputy Director, Product Safety at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya, providing strategic and technical leadership across clinical trials oversight, pharmacovigilance, post-marketing surveillance and medicines information.

Her work spans the health product lifecycle, from clinical development and regulatory oversight to post-marketing monitoring, with expertise in safety assessment, signal detection, causality assessment, risk management, benefit–risk evaluation and active surveillance, translating evidence into informed regulatory and public health decisions.

She has supported the integration of safety monitoring into public health programmes, including vaccine safety, mass drug administration, and monitoring of medicines used in HIV, malaria, and maternal, newborn and child health programmes.

At the regional and continental level, Dr Khaemba has contributed to regulatory strengthening initiatives through the East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and AUDA-NEPAD. She is a Former Vice President of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP), African Chapter, reflecting her contribution to advancing pharmacovigilance and medicines safety in the region.

Her professional interests include regulatory science, risk-based approaches, clinical research oversight, medicines information, digital approaches to safety monitoring, regulatory reliance and work-sharing, data quality and interoperability. She is committed to strengthening evidence-based regulatory systems and translating scientific knowledge into timely action that protects patients and improves health outcomes.