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MUCHAP Updates Synopsis February 2023

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MUCHAP, the Makerere University Center for Health and Population Research is a research and research training platform owned by Makerere University. MUCHAP runs and manages the Population-based Cohort of Iganga Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IMHDSS). The goal of the research platform is to provide longitudinal population-based
social-economic and health data to monitor, track important health indicators and population changes that allows evidence-based decision-making for planning and policy development.

Ongoing Studies and Projects

  • Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) study – is aimed at determining the cause of death using MITS. Target population is children under five (5) years.
  • ‘EMERALD’ quantitative study – Targeting 5,000 women of reproductive age who have had a
    pregnancy in the last 2 years, it is aimed at assessing the health care capacity for disabled women in the study area.
  • Adolescent health study – targeted 1,200 boys and girls between the ages of ten (10) and nineteen (19), to determining the reproductive life-style of adolescents, substance use and nutrition practices.
  • Data linkage system – for morbility surveillance. It includes the HDSS population served by Busowobi Health Center III Iganga.
  • NIRA-MUCHAP death registration study – a partnership to harmonize and improve death registration in a selected population under the surveillance area of IMHDSS.
  • Excess mortality study – to characterize all-cause (and cause-specific) mortality rates and trends, by age and sex, across a range of rural and urban settings under continuous health and demographic surveillance in order to understand the excess mortality of the COVID-19 pandemic in key LMICs.
  • RELAB-HS/USAID Network of Care (NoC) project – purpose is to strengthen the health system in relation to provision of rehabilitation services and care for persons with disabilities identified from the HDSS community.
  • IDAIR- Citizen Science study – an artificial intelligence (AI) research using citizen participatory approaches for pandemic preparedness and response.

Scientific Conferences and On-site Engagements

  • Makerere University Joint Annual Scientific Health (JASH) Conference: MUCHAP had one oral presentation and three Poster presentations.
  • Excess mortality data-analysis workshop: Took place at Wits School of Public Health in Johannesburg, South Africa from 28th November to 2nd December 2022.
  • Conference on Public Health In Africa (CPHIA) organised by Africa CDC: Was held from 13th
    to 15th December 2022 in Rwanda and brought together African researchers and scholars to showcase research outputs on public health challenges including COVID-19 and Ebola.

Other MUCHAP Engagements

  • MUCHAP participated in the WHO/MoH national polio immunization assessment survey using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method (LQAS). Field Surveyors were trained and deployed in various districts across the country to collect household-level data.
  • In August 2022, MUCHAP was engaged in a research collaboration to establish a network of care for persons with disability.
  • MUCHAP plans to establish a community laboratory. The building was built with funding from Pfizer International. Makerere Biomedical Research Centre (MakBRC) visited the offices to assess the feasibility of supporting the completion of the laboratory. The laboratory will support preprocessing and storage of samples for various biomedical research studies utilizing the MUCHAP platform.

Highlight on Finances

Snapshot of Outputs

  • Reproductive health outcomes during COVID-19 years in Rural Uganda
  • Excess mortality during the pandemic

Health

Call For Applications: Masters Support in Self-management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden

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An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences & Case Western Reserve University, partnering with Mbarara University of science and Technology are implementing a five-year project, “Self-management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden Among Adult Ugandans with Epilepsy”.

The program is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). One aspect of the program is to provide advanced degree training to qualified candidates with an interest in pursuing clinical and research careers in Epilepsy. We are aiming at growing epilepsy research capacity including self-management approaches in SSA.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Masters Research thesis support focusing on epilepsy related research at Makerere University and Mbarara University, cohort 1, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field).
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above.
  • Demonstrated interest in Epilepsy and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Epilepsy, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad Epilepsy research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Applicants are not limited to these themes; they can propose other areas.

  • The epidemiology of Epilepsy and associated risk factors.
  • Determining the factors affecting the quality of life, risk factors and outcomes (mortality, morbidity) for Epilepsy, epilepsy genetics, and preventive measures among adults.
  • Epilepsy in childhood and its associated factors, preventative measures etc.
  • Epilepsy epidemiology and other Epilepsy related topics.
  • Epilepsy interventions and rehabilitation

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Good Clinical Practice, behavioral sciences research, data and statistical analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your mentoring plan, please include who are the mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or an approved full proposal describing your project and addressing Self-Management Intervention for Reducing Epilepsy Burden Among Adult or epilepsy related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Administrator, Reducing Epilepsy Burden Project.  Email: smireb2@gmail.com; Closing date for the Receipt of applications is 1st July 2024.

For more information, inquiries and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Prof. Mark Kaddumukasa:  kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Mbarara University

Ms. Josephine N Najjuma: najjumajosephine@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews.

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Health

Call For Applications: Masters Support in Brain Health

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Artistic illustration of Medical Science at the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Research Training and mentorship to strengthen brain health program is a five-year project, funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Fogarty International Center (FIC). The Major goal is to strengthen brain health research through multidisciplinary training and build a sustainable faculty and institutional capacity for research to improve brain health across the Lifespan in Uganda.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Master’s training support in Brain Health-related research at Makerere University/UMU, 5th Cohort, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field at Makerere University/UMU.
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above and ready to start their thesis development.
  • Proof of admission onto a master’s program at Makerere or UMU
  • Research work should be related to their selected research area in brain health
  • A letter of support from a mentor and another letter from the department committing to give the candidate protected time to study.
  • Demonstrated interest in Brain Health and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Brain Health, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad Brain Health Research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Meningitis, encephalitis, traumatic brain injury, seizures/ epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, Autism, cerebral palsy, mental health disorders, stroke, dementias, Parkinson’s disease and nerve disorders plus “other brain-related topics”

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Implementation science, behavioral sciences research, qualitative and quantitative research methodology, data analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your Mentoring plan, please include who are the proposed mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with a detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or approved full proposal addressing a brain health or neurological disease related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Training Coordinator, Brain Health Project.

Email: brainhealthtraining@gmail.com.

Closing date for the Receipt of applications is 10th June 2024.

For more information, inquiries and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Prof. Elly Katabira, katabira@infocom.co.ug;

Dr. Mark Kaddumukasa. kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews

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Call For Applications: Masters Support in Reducing Stroke Risk Factors

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The Dean’s Gardens with Davies Lecture Theatre (Right), College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Mulago Hill, Kampala Uganda on a bright sunny day. East Africa

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Case Western Reserve University, partnering with Mbarara University of Science and Technology are implementing a five-year project, “A targeted self-management Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk Factors in High Risk Ugandans”.

The program is funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). One aspect of the program is to provide advanced degree training to qualified candidates with an interest in pursuing clinical and research careers in Stroke. Trainees will be expected to develop and maintain a productive career devoted to Stroke Research, Clinical Practice, and Prevention. We are aiming at growing Research Capacity in Stroke Risk Reduction and training the next generation of Stroke health in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Project is soliciting for applications for Masters Research thesis support in stroke-related research at Makerere University and Mbarara University, cohort 5, 2024/2025.

Selection criteria

  • Should be a Masters’ student of the following courses; MMED in Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Surgery and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Public Health, Master of Health Services Research, MSc. Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Nursing or Masters in the Basic Sciences (Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry or any other related field).
  • Should have completed at least one year of their Masters training in the courses listed above.
  • Demonstrated interest in Stroke and Neurological diseases, care and prevention and commitment to develop and maintain a productive career and devoted to Stroke, Clinical Practice and Prevention.

Research Programs

The following are the broad brain health research priority areas (THEMES) and applicants are encouraged to develop research concepts in the areas of; Applicants are not limited to these themes, they can propose other areas.

  • The epidemiology of Stroke and associated risk factors.
  • Stroke risk factors and outcomes (mortality, morbidity) for stroke, stroke genetics, and preventive measures in among adults.
  • Stroke in childhood and its associated factors, preventative measures etc.
  • Stroke epidemiology and other stroke related topics.
  • Stroke interventions and rehabilitation

In addition to a formal masters’ program, trainees will receive training in bio-ethics, Good Clinical Practice, behavioral sciences research, data and statistical analysis and research management.

The review criteria for applicants will be as follows:

  • Relevance to program objectives
  • Quality of research and research project approach
  • Feasibility of study
  • Mentors and mentoring plan; in your mentoring plan, please include who are the mentors, what training they will provide and how often they propose to meet with the candidate.
  • Ethics and human subjects’ protection.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an application letter accompanied with a detailed curriculum vitae, two recommendation letters from Professional referees or mentors and a 2-page concept or an approved full proposal describing your project and addressing Stroke Risk Factors or a stroke related problem.

A soft copy should be submitted to the Training Coordinator, Reducing Stroke Project.

Email: reducingstroke@gmail.com. The closing date for the Receipt of applications is 10th June 2024.

For more information, inquiries, and additional advice on developing concepts, please contact the following:

Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Prof. Elly Katabira: katabira@infocom.co.ug

Dr. Mark Kaddumukasa:  kaddumark@yahoo.co.uk

Mbarara University

Ms. Josephine N Najjuma: najjumajosephine@yahoo.co.uk

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for Interviews.

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