The MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit hosted a collaborative research review meeting, as part of Digital Innovations and Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases in Africa (DIDIDA), a European Union and United Kingdom Research and Innovation funded project developing reliable, low-cost and mobile phone-connected tests to help detect multiple diseases at once in sub-Saharan Africa. This collaborative project between Europe and Africa also aims to strengthen research and innovation capacity in Africa through training, staff exchanges, PhD scholarships and events.

The event provided a platform for 18 PhD students across Africa to showcase their innovative research projects that offer cost effective and usable solutions to regional health issues. Four students supervised by senior scientists at the Unit unveiled on-going studies in Uganda that offer promising solutions to diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases in under-resourced settings.

Tech-enabled diabetes management
Herbert Cherukut, a PhD researcher of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Glasgow is focusing on diabetes management using wearable technology. His work leverages wearable technology to track key factors like nutrition, physical activity, stress levels, and sleep habits and link this to real-time blood glucose levels (assessed using Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)to provide insights into better diabetes management. This approach, combining lifestyle and blood glucose data, offers patients and healthcare providers actionable information for personalized diabetes care, even in resource-limited settings.

Climate and health data for disease prevention
Joan Nakibuuka’s research, also at the university of Glasgow, explores how environmental variables impact health outcomes. By integrating climate data such as temperature and air quality with health data on the District Health Information Software (DHIS) 2 platform, Joan’s work highlights the link between environmental conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and asthma. Her dynamic, interactive dashboard could guide policy decisions by visualizing climate-related health risks.

Rapid diagnostics to prevent rheumatic heart disease
Sharley Melissa Aloyo is developing a rapid, point-of-care molecular test for Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) infection, a major precursor to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which disproportionately affects children in low-resource settings. Her work aims to create an accessible diagnostic tool that could be used by community health workers in rural areas, potentially preventing complications from untreated strep infections. Designed with local health infrastructure in mind, the plan is that the test will be designed to detect other common respiratory pathogens, providing a scalable solution for rural healthcare.

Duplex Diagnostic for Malaria and Schistosomiasis
PhD student Tushabe J. Vianney’s research focuses the development of a rapid, point-of-care duplex molecular diagnostic test for both malaria and schistosomiasis, diseases that often coexist in rural areas. His PhD work also includes a community element that uses environmental sampling (of communal latrines) to assess schistosomiasis prevalence in local communities. This innovation could improve public health interventions by helping to identify infection hotspots.

In his remarks, Prof. Moffat Nyirenda, the Unit Director emphasized the vital role of local researchers in spearheading health innovations tailored to regional needs.

“Diagnostic challenges posed by diseases like mpox highlight the urgent need for consortiums like DIDIDA to support outbreak preparedness and response, with a particular focus on advancing home-based viral diagnostics for underprivileged regions,” he said. 

Learn more about the Unit’s non-communicable diseases research theme