Uganda Planning Big On The Pathogen Economy

Uganda has made significant strides in international medical research, as evidenced by a recent grant awarded to Ugandan scientists led by Dr. Sheila Balinda, a molecular virologist at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The grant, totaling 2 million UK Pounds (approximately 10 billion Uganda shillings), aims to develop a premier vaccine against the Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). 

This grant was announced during a function attended by various stakeholders, including government officials, international researchers, and media, at the Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe. The funding from UK Innovate will support a two-year research project, with the potential for further funding based on outcomes, according to Prof. Pontian Kaleebu, former Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute and a co-researcher on the project.

CCHF, listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a disease of epidemic potential, currently lacks any medication or vaccine. It has a mortality rate of about 40% among those affected. The disease, suspected to be transmitted by primates such as chimpanzees, monkeys, and baboons, has occasionally surfaced in regions including the Democratic Republic of Congo, the border areas of Western Uganda, Tanzania, and some European and Asian countries. Similar to Ebola in its symptoms, CCHF is characterized by high fevers, body aches, bleeding, and liver damage.

Dr. Balinda's project will collaborate with multiple institutions, including Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), the California National Primate Research Centre (CNPRC), the Medical Research Council-Uganda Virus Research Institute - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit (UVRI/MRC LSHTM), and the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. The research builds on the capacity Ugandan scientists developed during their efforts to create a vaccine for COVID-19. The team will use the AdenoVector platform, developed using chimpanzee cell material in 2022, during the COVID-19 vaccine research.

Initial tests for the CCHF vaccine will be conducted on mice and monkeys, which will be procured internationally. By the end of the two-year project, the researchers must present and review the results to assess the vaccine's potential immunological efficacy and safety, determining the prospects for further funding and possible human trials. Prof. Kaleebu expressed optimism that a successful outcome would be a significant development for both Uganda and Africa in addressing their health challenges.

Dr. Brenda Nakazibwe, from the Science, Technology, and Innovation department in the Office of the President (STI-OP), highlighted the project’s alignment with the President's vision for Uganda and Africa to engage in the 'Pathogen Economy.' She noted that this effort could see Uganda earning up to 9% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the vaccine ecosystem by 2040. To achieve this, the government aims to train up to 10,000 scientists across various fields within the vaccine ecosystem.

Dr. Atunga Nyacheo, Chief of Research from the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, commended Dr. Balinda's outstanding work, emphasizing the need for Africa to drive its vaccine agenda rather than relying on expertise from elsewhere. He highlighted that the benefits of this research should extend beyond Uganda to the entire continent.

During the event, participants urged the government to prioritize patenting scientific work to protect intellectual property and called for early engagement with the media to improve vaccine uptake and counter misinformation. They also stressed the importance of establishing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and identifying early markets to commercialize the vaccine swiftly upon a breakthrough.

Dr. Charles Ayume, the Koboko Member of Parliament and former chair of the House Committee on Health, pledged parliamentary support in terms of necessary legislation, advocacy, and funding. Prof. Morffat Nyirenda, Director of UVRI, praised the government's commitment to developing Uganda's medical research capacity and expressed pride in Dr. Balinda's leadership. 

Dr. Monica Namayanja from COVAB (MUK) highlighted the high cost of research, explaining that a single rat used for such studies could cost up to US $3,500 (about 13 million Uganda shillings), a fact that elicited surprise from participants. She emphasized that these specialized animals, including the C57BL/6 mice, Swiss Albino rats, and BALB/C mice, are essential for conducting rigorous scientific research.