Building capacity for global infectious disease research training in schistosomiasis in sub-saharan africa - africa bears direct morbidity and mortality from poverty-related and neglected tropical…

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center awarded Makerere University College of Health Sciences $137,008 on August 15, 2026, under the International Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.989) to build research training capacity in schistosomiasis in Uganda.

The award funds a comprehensive collaborative multi-disciplinary schistosomiasis research training program comprising modular short courses and a focused cohort of graduate fellows and postdoctoral researchers. The program targets at least 50 trainees including faculty, scientists, and health professionals, plus 8 master's-level, 4 PhD, and 4 postdoctoral fellows engaged in mentored schistosomiasis research projects. The training initiative addresses Uganda's limited critical mass of scientists and health professionals with capacity to develop, analyze, model, and predict clinical case management systems and biological interventions for schistosomiasis control. The program responds to schistosomiasis endemic to Uganda, where up to 50 percent of the population faces infection risk and associated complications including portal hypertension and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and where foreign travelers, missionaries, Peace Corps volunteers, military personnel, and immigrants face exposure through contaminated freshwater.

Place of performance is Uganda. The period of performance runs through April 30, 2031.

Building capacity for global infectious disease research training in schistosomiasis in sub-saharan africa - africa bears direct morbidity and mortality from poverty-related and neglected tropical diseases including schistosomiasis which remains endemic in uganda; with up to 50% of the population at risk of schistosomiasis infection, and the associated complications of portal hypertension and fatal upper gastro-intestinal bleeding. Foreigners, including american adventure travelers, ecotourists, missionaries, peace corps volunteers, military personnel and or immigrants, are exposed to schistosomiasis through contaminated freshwater in endemic international regions like uganda. Based on our schistosomiasis training needs assessment (under planning grant-D71 TW12564 MPI nakanjako and elliott), efforts to control schistosomiasis in uganda are constrained by a) incomplete understanding of the pathogen, disease manifestations, transmission mechanisms, and preventive measures, and b) limited critical mass of scientists and health professionals with sufficient capacity to develop, analyze, model and predict relevant clinical case management systems and biological interventions for schistosomiasis control in uganda. We therefore propose a comprehensive collaborative multi-disciplinary schistosomiasis research training program comprising modular short courses widely accessible to at least 50 trainees (faculty, scientists and health professionals) and a focused cohort of 8 master's, 4 PHD and 4 post-doctoral fellows, with mentored schistosomiasis research projects to build uganda's critical mass and capability to conduct high-quality research in this crucial field to schistosomiasis risk among ugandans and foreign travelers exposed to contaminated fresh water.