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Developing capacity for implementation and evaluation of vaccine trials in Uganda: Perspective of the Makerere University Walter Reed Project


Prossy Naluyima
Betty Mwesigwa
Allan Tindikahwa
Stephen Mugamba
Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba
Ezra Musingye
Grace Mirembe
Hannah Kibuuka
Fred Wabwire-Mangen

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious diseases and neglected tropical diseases continue to be a major challenge in resource limited settings, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Although vaccines are a key biomedical prevention tool, resource limited settings often lack the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skilled human resource to conduct vaccine clinical trials. To address this gap, the Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) was established and has contributed to vaccine research in Uganda and globally.


Methods: This was achieved through training a strong vaccine clinical trial workforce; development of requisite clinical trial infrastructure for research activities and management of investigational products; conducting phase I-III vaccine trials and contribution to national ethical and regulatory frameworks that protect participants.


Results: As of 2022, MUWRP had successfully conducted and completed five phase I/II HIV vaccine clinical trials, five for Ebola and Marburg, while one phase I/II Schistosomiasis and one phase III COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial are ongoing.


Discussion: The completed vaccine trials provided critical scientific knowledge on the safety and immunogenicity of investigational products which informed the design of better vaccines for diseases of global health importance.


Conclusion: Academia, through establishment of appropriate partnerships can contribute to the identification of solutions to complex public health challenges.


Keywords: Vaccines; community participation; developing countries.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905