IDEA
Consortium for Development of Sustainable Research Based Fellowship Training on Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Biostatistics in Africa
Project at a Glance
Coordinator
Prof. Peter Olupot-Olupot, Busitema University, Uganda
Consortium Partners
- The Open University United Kingdom
- Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)
- Mbale Clinical Research Institute (MCRI)
- Makerere University – Infectious Disease Institute
- Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation
- Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH)
- Ministry of Health and Uganda National Health Laboratory & Diagnostic Services.
Grant number
CSA2020E-3126
About the Coordinator
Bio sketch: Professor Peter Olupot-Olupot
Professor Peter Olupot-Olupot is a qualified Medical Doctor, holder of an MB.ChB, Master of Public Health (MPH) and PhD. He is a Fellow of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (FUNAS) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London (FRCP). In addition, he is a Research Associate with Liverpool University in the UK, and an EDCTP Senior Research Fellow. He is a Visiting Professor at The Open University, Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK and a Clinical Adjunct Professor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. His work experience includes 25 years of clinical work with nested clinical academic career spaning16 years. He is a Professor of Clinical and Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Busitema University. He was Head of Department of Public Health and Associate Dean at this University from 2013 - 2018. He has supervised over 30 Pre-masters interns, 22 completed masters and 6 PhDs. He is also the founding Executive Director of a Wellcome Trust supported Mbale Clinical Research Institute in Eastern Uganda. Through this institute, he advances multi-and-interdisciplinary epidemiological and applied research in infectious diseases and critical care medicine. Integrated in his research are community engagement and networking activities that have made outputs of his research relevant through Public–Patient Involvement.
His research impact on clinical epidemiology and infectious disease is recognised locally and internationally. He has published over 160 research works, of which 108 are indexed in PUBMED including 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine [ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Olupot-Olupot]. He is involved in dynamic infectious disease networks in Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe.
In the last decade, his work on infectious diseases has advanced understanding in malaria, blackwater Fever (BWF), pneumonia, meningitis, tuberculosis, HIV and COVID-19, among others. These have covered epidemiology and treatment in resource limited settings. Moreover, he has participated in critical care research including fluid management and blood transfusion. Among the genetic conditions he is researching on are sickle cell disease, thalassemia and G6PD deficiency.
Professionally, Olupot-Olupot is registered with the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) and is a member of professional medical associations/societies including the Uganda Medical Association (UMA).
About
In Uganda, advancement in field epidemiology lags behind evidence-based public health action on outbreaks and surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The current non-degree awarding, non-career training programmes in general field epidemiology in Uganda fall short of the WHO International Health Regulations standards. Through a consortium approach, the IDEA Fellowship Programme has involved key stakeholders to implement the first national infectious disease field epidemiology Master’s programme. The consortium led by Busitema University has eight partners: Uganda National Public Health Institute; Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; Uganda National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services; Uganda Virus Research Institute, Mbale Clinical Research Institute; Infectious Diseases Institute; and The Open University as a northern partner.
The overarching objective of the IDEA Fellowship programme is to train the next generation of infectious disease field epidemiologists in conducting disease surveillance, outbreak investigations and timely response, and translating data into evidence-based practice in Uganda. Ten African early-to-mid career scientists will be trained through a comprehensive, practical and hands-on Master’s in Science training in infectious disease epidemiology. The time allotted to the programme is:
Study Metrics
20%
Intensive foundational and advanced epidemiology and biostatistics.
70%
Rigorous infectious disease field epidemiology.
10%
Dissertation research project in field epidemiology.
Meet the The Fellows
Intial Cohort
Of the initial cohort of 15 IDEA fellows listed below, 13 are continuing and 2 declined. The two are being replaced.
Jimmy Patrick Alunyo
Public Health Specialist
Mr Alunyo Jimmy Patrick is a Public health Specialist, a holder of BDVS and MPH.He has 7 years of experience in public health research and social science research.
He is also a part-time research assistant for the Carter Centre Uganda and a Ministry of Health UNEPI research assistant.
Sedney Nsubuga
Clinician & Public Health Specialist
Sydney believes that all mankind’s problems are within our resolute effort. He is energized by the amazing work and potential of the global network of scientists. As a women rights advocate, Sydney believes that the world would greatly be transformed if every one of us understood the stake women hold in the development space.
Deborah Aujo
Epidemiologist
Deborah Aujo is currently an epidemiologist working with the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Uganda Health System Strengthening Activity. She hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology, a postgraduate diploma in Project Planning and Management (UMI) and she completed a Master of Public Health from Makerere University
Patience Birungi
Finance Officer
Patience was the PI of a study; Retention-In-Care and Associated factors among Adolescents Aged 10-19 Years Living with Sickle-cell Disease in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala-Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Mathias Ngobi Bogere
Public Health Specialist
Mathias Ngobi Bogere is a Public Health Specialist with over 18 years of experience in HIV/TB Care and Prevention. Currently, Mathias works as the Covid-19 Surveillance Advisor in Ankole region for USAID Local Partner Health Services under TASO Uganda Limited.
Micheal Mandeje
Principal Clinical Officer
Michael is currently working with Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital as a Principal Clinical Officer and Head of Department of the Outpatient Department.
Godfrey Opolot
Environmental Health Worker
Godfrey is a holder of a Masters in Epidemiology and Health Statistics from Zhengzhou University-China. He is also a graduate from the Frontline Field Epidemiology Fellowship Program.
Grace Nabaggala Ssanyu
Epidemologist
Grace is a clinical epidemiologist and biostatistician at the Department of Dentistry at Makerere College of Health Sciences. She joined the department in 2017 and has been part of the research team. She has been involved in several research projects across a wide range of areas within Dentistry.
George Paasi
Trial Medical Officer
George has 7 years of experience as a clinical trials research scientist. He has been the first Trial Medical Officer (TMO) and is currently a clinical trial lead, a lead position for trial clinical teams at Mbale Clinical Research Institute (MCRI).
Joseph Oposhia
Environmental Health Officer
Joseph has experience in disease surveillance, water quality monitoring, conducting research studies, Mentorship on DHIS, report writing and data management, and supervisor for LQAS with a Master’s Degree in public health.
Akello Sarah Racheal
Public Health Specialist
Rachael, a seasoned professional with 13 years in social work, administration, research, and community engagement, believes that coming from a social work background is instrumental in unraveling the origins and resolutions of public health threats.
William Okiror
Medical Officer
William holds MBCh.B with 8 years of clinical practice. He is registered by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC) is a member of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) and UMA SACCO.
Charles Benard Okalebo
Pharmacist
Charles is a determined researcher with an interest in furthering a career in research epidemiology, statistics, and pharmacovigilance. His training as a pharmacist and public health specialist and work environment as a quality assurance officer have offered him vast experience in clinical research.
Fellows opted out
Edity Namyalo
Laboratory Technologist
Edity is an upcoming researcher and a laboratory technologist by profession, aged 33 years. She is currently working as a Laboratory Technologist with AAR Healthcare, Uganda and also part-timing as a research assistant. She holds a Master’s degree in International Infectious Disease Management and a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology.
Marble Nasasira
Pharmacist
Marble is a registered pharmacist, epidemiologist and biostatistician who aspires to be a leading researcher working with an interdisciplinary team and communities to contribute to cutting-age solutions to health care problems across Africa.
Joseph Baluku
Internal Medicine Physician
Joseph has a passion for infectious diseases and their interaction with non-communicable diseases with 9 years’ experience in tuberculosis and HIV diagnosis, management and prevention acquired from working at the national tuberculosis treatment center and KNRH.
Allen Namala
Laboratory Technologist
Allen is a Laboratory technologist with a Master’s of science degree in international Infectious degree. She is passionate about infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control. She’s also worked with the COVID-19 response team, as a laboratory technologist in Tororo Mobile COVID-19 testing Laboratory supervised by Central Public Health Laboratory.
New Fellows
Omoding Michael Adengo
Public Health Specialist
Michael is a public health specialist committed to conducting research and developing public health programmes that directly improve the health of people living in developing countries. Michael holds MPH and PgD Monitoring and Evaluation. He is currently the head of program at mothers2mothers Uganda.
James Eudu
James is a public health specialist with a DMLT, MBChB and MPH. James is currently working as Ag. DHO Kapelebyong DLG. His experience working with patients and now as an administrator coupled with his training background drives him to public health research to an evidence-based approach to solve health problems and achieve SDG 3.
Mbale Clinical Research Institue Profiling Video
IDEA Fellowship Program
Click here for more details on how to apply.
Latest Updates
Busitema University and Mbale Clinical Research Institute Lead Study on the Association between Malaria and Climate Change in Eastern and North-Eastern Uganda.
