Uganda Research Training Collaborative

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Our Uganda Research Training Collaborative creates a culture of excellence in global health research. 

The Uganda Research Training Collaborative (URTC) is a program for students with the University of Minnesota and participating institutions in Uganda, including Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, to gain hands-on experience in global health research. Under the mentorship of UMN and Ugandan faculty members, teams comprised of students from UMN and Ugandan Institutions propose small-scale research projects to be carried out as a team in about one year.

The program is facilitated by the Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, building on the strengths and infrastructure already in place through the Uganda Hub in Kampala, Uganda.

 

 

Uganda Research Training Collaborative Spotlight

A student research team from Makerere University and the University of Minnesota has reached an important milestone for any research group—they recently published findings from their study launched in 2016.

The team, led by Edwin Nuwagira, Anna Stadelman, and Joseph Baluku with contributions from Mathias Lubega, published “Obstructive lung disease and quality of life after cure of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Uganda: a cross-sectional study” in the May 2020 edition of the journal Tropical Medicine and Health.

Learn more about the collaborative team and their research study.

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Uganda Research Training Collaborative Program

The URTC provides an opportunity for inter-institutional teams of students, under the mentorship of UMN and Uganda based faculty members, to propose and carry out small-scale research projects. Research projects are carried out by a study team made up of students (UMN and Ugandan) with guidance from faculty mentors at all participating institutions. Students propose small-scale research projects to be carried out with their student collaborator(s) from the partner country over the course of about one year.
 

Uganda Research Training Collaborative Program Stages

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Stage 1: Student Research Preparation (3-6 Months)

Stage 1: Student Research Preparation (3-6 Months)

The Uganda-RTC student teams work with faculty mentors as well as through the RTC’s learning resources to develop study components such as: defining research questions, developing data collection tools, writing a study protocol, and submitting a study for human subjects review at both institutions. During this stage, student teams work through each of these elements and seek scientific and technical guidance from their faculty mentors.

Student teams who successfully complete the Stage 1 preparations are eligible for travel funding and a small amount of research money (approximately $2500) to implement the study.

Stage 2: Study Implementation (6-12 Weeks)

Stage 2: Study Implementation (6-12 Weeks)

Student teams travel to their study site working together to gather data according to the protocol they have developed. Students are not required to travel during Stage 2.

Stage 3: Data Analysis and Dissemination (3-6 Months)

Stage 3: Data Analysis and Dissemination (3-6 Months)

After data collection is complete, student teams and their mentors work to clean and analyze the data and prepare reports on their findings. Students will be expected to participate in writing workshops to improve manuscripts for publication.

Student teams will be expected to submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

Uganda Research Training Collaborative Cohorts

The URTC provides a rich opportunity for students from the U of M and partner institutions in Uganda to develop research skills. Each year, the URTC has a new cohort that is broken into teams. Our current and past cohorts are available below.

Uganda Research Training Collaborative Cohort 2

The Uganda Research Training Collaborative Cohort 2 consisted of students from the University of Minnesota and Makerere University that collaborated to advance three research projects from 2018-2019.

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URTC One Health Team

URTC One Health Team

Evaluating Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii in Uganda

Students

  • Maria Bryan, University of Minnesota, Medical School
  • Mateo Frumholtz, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  • Jacob Gizamba, Makerere University, COVAB (Wildlife Health and Management)
  • Robert Kimera, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences (Immunology & Microbiology)
  • Emilly Nandawula, Makerere University, COVAB (Vet Med)
  • Stewart Walukaga, Makerere University, School of Statistics (Population Studies)

Mentors

  • Professor Francis Ejobi, Makerere University, Veterinary Public Health
  • Lawrence Mugisha, Makerere University, Veterinary Medicine
  • Claudia Munoz-Zanzi, University of Minnesota, Environmental Health Science - Public Health
  • Sylvia Wanzala, University of Minnesota, Veterinary Population Medicine

URTC Infectious Disease Team

URTC Infectious Disease Team

Development, implementation, and assessment of an antimicrobial stewardship program at a university hospital in Uganda

Students

  • Alexia Martin, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  • Meena Murugappan, University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy/School of Public Health
  • Imelda Namatovu, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences (Nursing)
  • Jonathan Nkalubo, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Brian Nyiro, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences (Immunology & Microbiology)

Mentors

  • Amanda Beaudoin, MN Department of Health
  • Susan Kline, University of Minnesota, Infectious Disease and International Medicine
  • Henry Kajumbula, Makerere University, Microbiology
  • Mohammed Lamorde, Makerere University, Infectious Diseases Institute

URTC Reproductive Health Team

URTC Reproductive Health Team

Implementation of neonatal jaundice management among preterm newborns in selected Ugandan health facilities: a quality improvement study

Students

  • Businge Alinaitwe, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences (Nursing)
  • Charles Kato, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Petranilla Nakamya, Makerere University, School of Public Health
  • Francis Nkunzimana, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences (Clinical Epi & Biostats)
  • Emily (June) Zolfaghari, University of Minnesota, Medical School

Mentors

  • Elizabeth Ayebare, Makerere University, Department of Nursing
  • Tom Ngabirano, Makerere University, Department of Nursing
  • Jameel Winter, University of Minnesota, Division of Neonatology

Uganda Research Training Collaborative Cohort 1

The Uganda Research Training Collaborative Cohort 1 consisted of students from the University of Minnesota and Makerere University that collaborated to advance four research projects from 2017-2018.

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URTC Team 1

URTC Team 1

A study to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium Bovis in slaughtered cattle in the city abattoirs of Kampala, Uganda

Students

  • Patrick Albert, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
  • Anna Munsey, University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Sophia Namuddu, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
  • James Watuwa, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)

Mentors

  • Clovice Kankya, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
  • Lawrence Mugisha, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
  • Margaret Saimo-Kahwa, Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB)
  • Kimberly VanderWaal, University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine

Learn more in URTC Spotlight: Team 1 completes sample collection in Kampala abattoirs.

URTC Team 2

URTC Team 2

Lung function and quality of life in survivors of drug-resistant tuberculosis

Students

  • Joseph Baluku, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Mathias Lubega, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Edwin Nuwagira, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, School of Medicine
  • Anna Stadelman, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health

Mentors

  • Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Ken Kunisaki, University of Minnesota, Medical School
  • Harriet Mayanja Kizza, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Joshua Rhein, University of Minnesota, Medical School

Learn more about URTC Team 2 and their published findings.

URTC Team 3

URTC Team 3

Evaluating the first year of the routine CRAG screening program in the reduction of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda

Students

  • Bridget Griffith, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  • Enock Kagimu, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Julius Kiwanuka, Makerere University, School of Public Health

Mentors

  • Nicole Basta, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
  • David Meya, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Aggrey Semeere, Makerere University, School of Medicine

URTC Team 4

URTC Team 4

Effect of adherence and malnutrition on pharmacokinetics and virologic outcomes of atazanavir in HIV-infected adolescents

Students

  • Dave Darshit Ashok, Makerere University, School of Biomedical Sciences
  • Nana Jacqueline Nakiddu, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Aine Provia, Makerere University, School of Health Sciences
  • Erin Sodawasser, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health

Mentors

  • Sabrina Bakeera-Kitaka, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Melanie Nicol, University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy
  • Bob Opoka, Makerere University, School of Medicine
  • Christine Sekaggya-Wiltshire, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences

Learn more in URTC Spotlight: Team 4 prepares for data collection.

 

Global Health Mentorship Spotlight

What does mentorship look like in the partnership between Minnesota and Uganda? Why is it important to train the next generation of global health researchers? How do students benefit from global health research experiences?