Dr Felix Munkonge

We are saddened to share the news that King's alum and former Head of the Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Felix Munkonge, has died at the age of 64. He will be remembered as a larger-than-life character with a great sense of humour.

Felix was a biochemist recognised for the key role he played in coordinating the clinical testing of gene therapy as a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis. He was also a contributor to the team at AstraZeneca that supported the manufacturing capability of the COVID vaccine. His efforts advanced both medical research and pandemic response.  

From Zambia to England 

Felix's journey began in Kasama, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). He was born to Magdalena, a teacher and entrepreneur, and her husband, Geoffrey, a permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance. Raised in Lusaka, Felix's life took an adventurous turn at the age of 13 when he moved to the UK to study at Redrice boarding school in Hampshire. Felix made lifelong friends here.  

Venturing to the bustling streets of London, Felix pursued a BSc in Biochemistry (1979-81) at Chelsea College, University of London (now Chelsea College of Science and Technology). Eager to learn more, he continued his academic journey at King's, where he undertook a PhD in 1982. He then went to the University of Southampton for his postdoctoral training. 

Devoted family man  

In 1988, Felix returned to live in London and joined the Thrombosis Research Institute as a postdoctoral research fellow. 

Felix was a devoted family man. He married Jane Laredo in 1989 and they had two children. Felix adored spending time with loved ones, whether friends or family. His deep connection to his Zambian heritage remained steadfast and he delighted in numerous visits to his homeland over the years.  

In 1992, Felix embarked on an exciting journey at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), where he remained for more than a decade. He played a pivotal role in the team. He contributed to the gene therapy programme for cystic fibrosis led by the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College. He established himself as a go-to expert in cell biology and was often consulted by other scientists.  

Transitioning to a consultant biochemist role, Felix joined King's in 2016 to lead the team at the Centre for Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine until 2020.  

Then, amidst the pandemic peak, he joined AstraZeneca as a Project Manager. Felix was responsible for managing laboratory-scale collaborations with chief medical officers across the globe. This work made a significant contribution to supporting the global availability of the vaccine.  

Throughout his career, he interpreted, authored and co-authored 38 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. 

Our sincere thoughts and condolences are with Dr Munkonge's family and friends.

Details of this obituary have been taken from Felix's daughter, Mandalena's writing for The Guardian.