Abstract
Background: The Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Centre of Excellence for Infection & Immunity Research and Training (MUII) is a collaborative programme supporting excellence in Infection and Immunity (I&I) research in Uganda. Set up in 2008, MUII aims to produce internationally competitive Ugandan and East African I&I research leaders, and develop human and infrastructural resources to support research and training excellence. We undertook an internal evaluation of MUII's achievements, challenges and lessons learned between 08-2008 and 12-2019, to inform programmes seeking to build Africa's health research expertise. Methods: Quantitative data were abstracted from programme annual reports. Qualitative data were obtained in 03-04/2019: a cross-sectional evaluation was undertaken among a purposefully selected representative sample of 27 trainees and two programme staff. Qualitative data was analysed according to pre-determined themes of achievements, challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for improvement. Results: By 12-2019, MUII had supported 68 fellowships at master's-level and above (50% female: 23 Masters, 27 PhD, 15 post-doctoral, three group-leaders) and over 1,000 internships. Fellows reported career advancement, mentorship by experts, and improved research skills and outputs. Fellows have published over 300 papers, secured grants worth over £20m, established over 40 international collaborations, and taken on research and academic leadership positions in the country. Key lessons were: i) Efficient administration provides a conducive environment for high quality research; ii) Institutions need supportive policies for procurement, including provisions for purchases of specific biological research reagents from international manufacturers; iii) Strong international and multi-disciplinary collaboration provides a critical mass of expertise to mentor researchers in development; and iv) Mentorship catalyses young scientists to progress from graduate trainees to productive academic researchers, relevant to society's most pressing health challenges. Conclusions: Sustainable academic productivity can be achieved through efficient operational support, global collaboration and mentorship to provide solutions to Africa's health challenges.
Highlights
From its inception in 2008 as a training programme, and transition in 2016 to a Centre of Excellence, the Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Centre of Excellence for Infection & Immunity Research and Training (MUII) has earned a reputation for building Ugandan capacity in infection and immunity (I&I) research
Programme description MUII supports a centre of excellence in I&I research and training, with a secretariat based at UVRI
By December 2019 these fellows, since joining MUII, had published over 300 peer-reviewed publications and received over 20 million Pound Sterling worth of additional funds for research (Figure 2). These were all desired outputs of the programme demonstrating the achievement of the goal, “...to allow the Fellows to develop into independently funded research leaders” (EMEL028, M, key informant interviews (KII), Centre Staff)
Summary
From its inception in 2008 as a training programme, and transition in 2016 to a Centre of Excellence, the Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Centre of Excellence for Infection & Immunity Research and Training (MUII) has earned a reputation for building Ugandan capacity in infection and immunity (I&I) research. MUII supports graduate training (master’s and doctoral students) and early career scientists (post-doctoral and group leaders) in I&I disciplines. The Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Centre of Excellence for Infection & Immunity Research and Training (MUII) is a collaborative programme supporting excellence in Infection and Immunity (I&I) research in Uganda. We undertook an internal evaluation of MUII’s achievements, challenges and lessons learned between August 2008 and December 2019, to inform programmes seeking to build Africa’s health research expertise. Key lessons for success include the following: efficient administration provides an enabling environment; institutions need version 1
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