UVRI pushes for science building amidst growing research demands
Scientists in a laboratory at Uganda Virus Research Institute. Photo | Eve Muganga
What you need to know:
- Prof Kaleebu noted that due to their capacity and good work, UVRI has been selected to be the East African Centre of Excellence in Virology and that they are in the final stages of contract negotiations working with the solicitor general’s office.
The management of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), wants more space to construct a mega science facility in order to carry out more research on viral diseases.
“Due to expansion, we lack space and we have now started moving offices to the residential areas which may sometimes not be ideal. We submitted to the Development Committee of the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Health, our budget for a science building, which we hope will bring together the scattered laboratories,” said Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, the UVRI Director while addressing research scientists at their End of Year party in Entebbe on Friday.
Prof Kaleebu, noted that once the Virus Research Institute acquires a big space for the science building, it would be in position to conduct extensive research and also discover vaccines that can deal with the identified viruses.
“Lack of a big science building facility has hampered clinical research and trials yet serious diseases like Ebola and Rift valley fever among others were first discovered and identified here. Our laboratories have recently confirmed the anthrax outbreak in Kyotera using both our laboratories in Arua and in Entebbe. With funding from Abbott, we have introduced use of mortuary surveillance to strengthen disease detection,” he said.
Prof Kaleebu noted that due to their capacity and good work, UVRI has been selected to be the East African Centre of Excellence in Virology, revealing that they are in the final stages of contract negotiations, as they work with the solicitor general’s office.
Prof Alison Elliot, the Head of Co-infection Studies research programme at UVRI, and also director of the Makerere University – UVRI Centre of Excellence for Infection and Immunity Research and Training, said they are committed to addressing health issues affecting Ugandans and globally.
“We have embarked on developing research on non-communicable diseases. We have a clinical diagnosis laboratory and bio bank which is recognised at the top level of clinical trials and we have set up a viral pathogen team led by Prof Kaleebu. We have also intensified efforts on virus discovery and surveillance to develop vaccines for new emerging viruses,” he explained.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health , Dr Diana Atwine, while commissioning a new virology and immunology laboratory recently, expressed concern on the increased rate of non-communicable diseases saying they are more likely to surpass communicable diseases yet there is little funding for it. She also asked management to also look beyond virus research and focus on cancer as well.
