A collaborative project between Makerere University and the University of California, San Francisco was established in 1998 by Dr. Moses Kamya and Dr. Philip Rosenthal. The primary focus of the MU-UCSF Malaria Research Collaboration has been the evaluation of antimalarial treatment. Since 1998, six clinical trials of antimalarial drug efficacy have been completed in Kampala, and three large cohort studies are currently ongoing to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different antimalarial combinations, home-based management of fever, and the interaction between HIV and malaria. The infrastructure of MU-UCSF has expanded to include a malaria study clinic in the outpatient department of Mulago Hospital, administration / data center office space, and a laboratory dedicated to microscopy, molecular studies of malaria, and culture of malaria parasites. In addition, our project has been active in training and capacity building, with a goal of creating a sustainable network of research activities in Uganda.
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MU-UCSF also participates in a larger collaborative project, the Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project (UMSP), involving the Uganda Ministry of Health. UMSP was established in 2001 with the purpose of creating a multi-site surveillance system for evaluating the efficacy and safety of available antimalarial therapies in Uganda, enhancing local capacity, and expanding existing infrastructure. UMSP has been highly successful to date, providing high quality data which has helped to guide malaria treatment policy in Uganda. In addition, UMSP has recently received funding from the CDC US President’s Malaria Initiative to improve malaria surveillance and control in Uganda. Additional funding for the MU-UCSF and UMSP projects has been provided through grants from the US National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Fogarty International Center, and the Gates Malaria Partnership. Our studies have led to over 30 publications, primarily addressing clinical, epidemiology, and molecular aspects of antimalarial drug resistance in Uganda, and have impacted on the management of malaria in Africa. |
- To conduct high-quality infectious disease research, focusing on malaria and HIV
- To build capacity through training, technology advancement, and strengthening of infrastructure
- To link researchers and policy-makers to facilitate dissemination of research results and evidence-based health policies
- To create a sustainable network of research activities and to contribute to malaria control in Uganda
- Established a network of researchers and key stakeholders in malaria control in Uganda
- Established a formal link with the Uganda Ministry of Health Malaria Control Program to enable evidence-based national policy on antimalarial recommendations
- Conducted state-of-the-art research on malaria, creating an impressive publication list and influencing antimalarial drug policy in Africa
- Trained Ugandan and American students and young researchers in malaria research and control, providing opportunities for international exposure and cross-cultural exchange
- Built capacity for malaria research in Kampala and at the UMSP sentinel sites by training research teams, working with the Ministry of Health, and building laboratory capacity
- Transferred technology for laboratory activities to Uganda, including microscopy and molecular studies of malaria