Baylor College of Medicine
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
Baylor-Uganda actively participates and fosters a culture of collaborative research in order to meet her vision of becoming a leading Clinical research entity in the region. The aim is to continually impact health policy and improve the lives of children, adolescents and families infected and affected by HIV. To achieve this, Baylor-Uganda conducts clinical and operational research and program evaluations as part of providing evidence-based solutions to global health challenges.
As of June 2020, there were 23 active studies; seven of which are randomized control trials (RCT) and 18 are observational studies. We also had 05 studies in preparatory stage (three RCT’s and 02 observational studies). For a synopsis of the studies, visit our research studies
Publications focused majorly on paediatric and adolescent HIV treatment and prevention, and paediatric haematology and oncology care. The full list of recent publications can be accessed at https://www.baylor-uganda.org/publications/.
The number of international conference presentations increased from 27 2018/19 to 36 in 2019/20. A scientific writing workshop was conducted by the research core team in Oct 2019, 26 participants were trained; out of which 19 (73%) staff successfully wrote and submitted abstracts, 17 (89.5%) abstracts were accepted and presented in various international scientific meetings. Baylor-Uganda staff successfully submitted 36 abstracts out of which 25 (69.4%) were accepted for presentation at international conferences.
Baylor-Uganda collaborative research partners include; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, IMPAACT Network, HPTN, MRC-CTU at UCL, KAROLINSIKA Institute, H3Africa, THE UNION, CDC, DNDi, EGPAF, PENTA, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity (JHCHE), Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), University of California, Yale School of Public Health, EDCTP, MAKCHS, Rutgers University and University of Oxford.
The Baylor-Uganda Community Advisory Board (CAB) was engaged in the dissemination of preliminary findings of IMPAACT 2009 (PK component) in May 2020, and IMPAACT 2010 in March 2020. The HOPe project preliminary findings were also disseminated at the launch of the CDC-funded Child and Adolescent Tuberculosis Center of Excellence (COE) for Sub-Saharan Africa held in Uganda in July 2019.
Research conducted at Baylor-Uganda continues to impact local and international health policies (table below). Details about studies that have impacted healthcare policies can be accessed at https://www.baylor-uganda.org/publications/.
Baylor-Uganda, working closely with her partners, has implemented a successful capacity building model for researchers; with the goal of developing research that addresses community problems and informs healthcare policies. The capacity building activities span both individuals and institutional capacity. These include but not limited to;
The Baylor-Uganda COE lab achieved another year of accreditation by CAP, emphasising the culture of quality research and clinical care at Baylor-Uganda. The laboratory consistently maintains internal quality control and external quality assurance systems, maintenance plans for the laboratory equipment, timely upgrades of the sample management system (freezer works) and a highly trained human resource. Baylor-Uganda Laboratory has also developed partnerships with specialized laboratories to meet the needs of the growing research and development landscape.
The DAIDS –approved research pharmacy installed a chemosphere that now facilitates conduct of research on injectable ART. On-site training was done for pharmacists on use of a chemosphere in the research pharmacy for preparation of investigational products. The Baylor-Uganda research pharmacy was also selected by NDA as one of the reference pharmacies for. The Baylor-Uganda CRS pharmacist of record, Dr Rogers Sekabira and the clinic Manager Dr Jacqueline Kanywa leading a US delegation visiting the Baylor-Uganda research pharmacy.
The regulatory affairs office ensures that all studies at Baylor Uganda are conducted in compliance with the applicable research regulations i.e. local, international and sponsor regulations. The regulatory affairs office has established an electronic (e-regulatory) filing and monitoring system for all its functions related to research at Baylor.
The CAB educates communities of interest about new and on-going studies at Baylor Uganda. Conversely, CAB also receives the communities’ views or perceptions of the studies, their fears, likely barriers and enablers for recruitment in the community. The CAB has been active in meeting stakeholders in Key population/ Priority populations to inform them about the new research in PrEP; and participated in dissemination of the IMPAACT 2009 and IMPAACT 2010 results to HIV treatment and prevention stakeholders in Uganda.
Baylor Uganda research teams continued study participants’ follow up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Innovations using the approved courier systems to deliver study products for Odyssey and IMPAACT P1115 study participants whose movement from district to district was restricted as part of government safety measures were used to ensure study product compliance.
The PHO program is currently implementing the CAPP-Study (clinical and pathological phenotypes of paediatric cancers in sub-Sahara African setting). The main purpose of the CAPP Study is to accurately characterize the clinical and pathological phenotypes of childhood cancers, and their determinants that are critical to adapt treatment modalities and protocols that have been successfully used in Europe/USA so that children in SSA achieve survival outcomes that are at par with their counterparts in high income countries.
There are also two quality improvement (QI) projects conducted by Joan Nakabiri (Mucositis assessment of paediatrics patients receiving chemotherapy at MNRH) and Cosiate Abenawe (Paediatric advanced warning signs assessment in children with cancer at MNRH)
