Addressing Emerging and Re-emerging infectious diseases through international partnerships and Multidisciplinary training in Uganda (ADEPT) - Project Summary
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
(EID/REID) have increased since the turn of the millennium. The 2014 Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD) outbreak in West Africa that resulted in more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths,
exposed critical gaps in the region’s capacity to conduct EID/REID research, such as: the lack
of clinical experience in EVD; poor health systems infrastructure; the small pool of researchers
with expertise and experience in clinical research conduct; and ill-equipped ethical review
systems. Research training programs focused on expanding the pool of highly skilled
infectious disease research professionals are needed to bridge the aforementioned capacity
gaps. Riding on existing collaborations between Makerere University (Uganda) and the
University of Minnesota (USA), the consortium led by Makerere University Walter Reed Project
(MUWRP) proposes to develop a research training program focusing on research training in
EID/REID with emphasis on viral hemorrhagic fevers, anthrax and zoonotic influenza as
prioritized by Uganda’s National One Health Platform. The proposed training program shall
leverage the established research and training expertise of the participating institutions. The
proposed training program planning process objectives are to: 1) identify priority training gaps
and resources needed to undertake the proposed training program; 2) develop a robust
strategy/plan for developing a multidisciplinary EID/REID research training program and
define the roles of collaborating institutions; 3) define a pool of the best potential trainees and
trainee recruitment strategies; and 4) prepare and submit a D43 application for the proposed
training program. To achieve these objectives, the consortium shall utilize a consultative
approach consisting of two face-to-face consortium meetings, one consultative workshop with
key stakeholders, three local workshop meetings with all Ugandan-based collaborators and
stakeholders, nine in-depth interviews with subject-matter experts, and several desk review
activities. The planning process activities will be spearheaded by a Steering Committee
headed by the Program Director and working through various Technical Working Groups. The
day-to-day coordination of planning process activities shall be entrusted to the Planning
Process Coordinator, who shall work closely with the Steering Committee and the Program
Director.
