Engagement between the Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee and Principal Investigators of the Corona-virus Special Needs Projects

Once again, the purpose of the Government Research and Innovations Fund is to seek evidence through research and innovations in order to fast track the attainment of the Government of the Republic of Uganda’s development agenda. It is therefore important that the impact of such evidence, when generated, is maximized. 

In this regard, the morning of Tuesday August 6, 2020 saw the Makerere University Grants Management Committee members successfully engage with Principal Investigators of the Corona-virus Special Needs Projects. The purpose of this engagement was to; 

1. Share about each project while highlighting progress to-date.
2. Highlight key results for accomplished projects.
3. Share ‘what next’ for each project.
4. Discuss how to maximize the significance and impact of each study to the country and globally.

The projects engaged included the following;

1. Building mathematical framework for guiding decision making and assessing potential intervention policies in the wake of novel COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
2. Purchase of COVID-19 Sars-Cov Project- Makerere University Immunology Lab.
3. Characteristics of persons screened, tested and diagnosed with Corona Virus disease-19 at health facilities in Uganda https://rif.mak.ac.ug/makerere-university-releases-results-characteristics-and-outcomes-of-index-patients-diagnosed-and-treated-for-covid-19-in-uganda/
4. Assessment of the feasibility and safety of Immune/Convalescent Plasma Treatment among COVID 19 patients in Uganda (COVID Trial) https://rif.mak.ac.ug/kick-off-of-the-coronavirus-immune-therapy-covidit-study-june-16-2020
5. A randomized Open Phase II Clinical Trial to determine the Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine for Treament of COVID-19 in Adults in Uganda
6. Development of an open design Low Cost Ventilator in Response to the COVID-19 Need https://rif.mak.ac.ug/unveiling-progress-of-the-low-cost-medical-ventilator-bulamu-ventilator/
7. Analysis of the social and economic impact of CoVID-19 on Uganda’s Economy. 
8. Investing Data and Evidence to Inform Education Policy in response to the new Normal Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic. 
9. Virtual Center of Excellence for Sustainable Health to Support the COVID-19 Response and Post-COVID Recovery Process.
10. COVIDCanIDoIt: A COVID-19 Daily Activity Risk Assessment Tool. 

Overall, all these projects are making great strides towards contributing to Uganda’s Development Agenda. Keep in touch with us and read more specific updates about each of these projects. 

‘Thanks very much for the successful meeting. I was truly amazed at how much valuable work is being done by Ugandan Scientists and supported by the Government of the Republic of Uganda through Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund. Thank you Prof. William Bazeyo for your visionary leadership’ shared Dr. Sabrina Kitaka one of the Makerere University Grants Management Committee members.

‘We successfully conducted a workshop with the Emergency COVID-19 projects in which we got a clear picture of their achievements to date, but also discussed with them how they can amplify the impact of their studies’ noted Dr. Roy William Mayega, Mak-RIF Coordinator