An assessment of Makerere University College of Health Sciences: optimizing health research capacity to meet Uganda’s priorities
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC International Health and Human Rights
Abstract
Health research is critical to the institutional mission of the Makerere College of Health Sciences
(MakCHS). Optimizing the alignment of health research capacity at MakCHS with the health needs and priorities of
Uganda, as outlined in the country’s Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP), is a deliberate priority, a responsibility, and
a significant opportunity for research. To guide this strategic direction, an assessment of MakCHS’s research grants
and publication portfolio was conducted.
Methods: A survey of all new and ongoing grants, as well as all publications, between January 2005 and
December 2009 was conducted. Research, training, and education grants awarded to MakCHS’ constituent faculties
and departments, were looked for through financial records at the college or by contact with funding
organizations. Published manuscripts registered with PubMed, that included MakCHS faculty authors, were also
analyzed.
Results: A total of 58 active grants were identified, of which 18 had been initiated prior to 2005 and there were
an average of about eight new grants per year. Most grants funded basic and applied research, with major focus
areas being HIV/AIDS (44%), malaria (19%), maternal and child health (14%), tuberculosis (11%), mental health (3%),
and others (8%). MakCHS faculty were identified as Principal Investigators (PIs) in only 22 (38%) active grants. Grant
funding details were only available for one third of the active grants at MakCHS. A total of 837 publications were
identified, with an average of 167 publications per year, most of which (66%) addressed the country’s priority
health areas, and 58% had MakCHS faculty or students as first authors.
Conclusions: The research grants and publications at MakCHS are generally well-aligned with the Ugandan Health
Ministry priorities. Greater efforts to establish centralized and efficient grants management procedures are needed.
In addition, greater efforts are needed to expand capacity for MakCHS faculty leadership of grants, as well as to
continue to expand the contribution of MakCHS faculty to lead research publications.
Description
Keywords
Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Health research capacity, Priorities
Citation
Nankinga et al.: An assessment of Makerere University College of Health Sciences: optimizing health research capacity to meet Uganda’s priorities. BMC International Health and Human Rights 2011 11(Suppl 1):S12. doi:10.1186/1472-698X-11-S1-S12