Approved Research This page provides a searchable list of all research protocols that have been reviewed and approved by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology(UNCST).
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Name Title Nationality Approval Date Expiry Date Field of Science/Classification Trial Type Research Type  
Specioza Namakula
ID: UNCST-2025-R021710
EMPOWERING MOBILITY: Assessing the Impact of Buffalo Bicycles on Refugee and host Communities in Uganda. A case study of Bidi Bidi, Rhino Camp and Palabek refugee settlements
REFNo: SS4566ES

I. To generate data that will support Learning and evidence-based decision making.
II. To provide systematic and objective information for bicycle usage in refugee communities.
III. Generating information that is required to inform advocacy and further bicycle provision for vulnerable communities.
IV. To determine the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of bicycles in improving accessibility to essential services like education, health and economic empowerment.
Uganda 2025-10-29 16:20:00 2028-10-29 Social Science and Humanities Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Victor Musiime
ID: UNCST-2021-R013794
Enhancing Novel Research for Inflammation and Cognitive Health among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Perinatally Acquired HIV and Adversity (ENRICH+)
REFNo: HS6607ES

Specific Aim 1: Investigate differences in ID and NCI in demographically matched, virally suppressed PHIV and HHIV, as well as HUU AYA (15-25 years old) in Uganda while controlling for chronic adversities. Hypothesis 1 (H1): Both ID and NCI will be respectively higher in PHIV vs. HHIV vs. HUU AYA. H2: Within the two HIV groups, those with delayed ART initiation and lower nadir CD4 cell count at ART initiation will have higher ID and worse NCI.

Specific Aim 2: Investigate the relationship between ID and NCI in AYA within all three groups (PHIV, HHIV and HUU) controlling for chronic adversities. H3: There will be a positive association between ID and NCI in each group. H4: In a subset of PHIV and HUU AYA with prior repeated measures of ID, worsening trajectories of ID in PHIV across 6 years will be associated with worse NCI.

Specific Aim 3: Investigate the effects of co-occurring adversities (i.e., profiles) on the relationships between HIV, ID, and NCI. H5: Adversity profiles will be more severe respectively in PHIV vs. HHIV vs. HUU. H6: The strength of association between medical and psychosocial (e.g., stigma, mental health) adversities, ID and NCI will be strongest in PHIV vs. HHIV vs. HUU, respectively.


Uganda 2025-10-29 16:07:10 2028-10-29 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Henry Mugerwa
ID: UNCST-2019-R000420
A5402 An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial of Pramipexole versus Escitalopram to Treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Comorbid MDD with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (MND) in Persons with HIV
REFNo: HS6604ES

1.2 Primary Objectives

1.2.1 To compare pramipexole to escitalopram in the treatment of MDD (and comorbid MDD with MND) based on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II/BDI-2) total score [Beck 1996] from baseline to week 24.

1.2.2 To evaluate the safety of pramipexole and escitalopram in PWH having MDD (and comorbid MDD with MND) from baseline to week 24.

1.3 Secondary Objectives

1.3.1 To compare pramipexole to escitalopram in the treatment of MDD using MDD caseness, neurocognitive outcomes, and functional status from baseline to week 24.

1.3.2 To compare the depression, neurocognitive, and functional status outcomes in PWH with MDD alone and with comorbid MDD with MND treated with pramipexole versus escitalopram from baseline to week 24.

1.3.3 To compare the impact of pramipexole and escitalopram on all outcomes above by female versus male sex (assigned at birth) from baseline to week 24.

1.3.4 To determine the impact of pramipexole compared to escitalopram on the measure of HIV-1 RNA viral load in the peripheral blood.

1.4 Exploratory Objectives

1.4.1 To characterize associations between escitalopram trough concentrations and treatment efficacy (BDI-II/BDI-2 total score) as well as participant adverse events (adverse event frequency, severity, and discontinuation rates).

1.4.2 To characterize associations between escitalopram trough concentrations and genetic polymorphisms that affect metabolizing enzymes of escitalopram (known metabolizing enzymes include CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4).

1.4.3 To explore associations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of escitalopram and BDI-II/BDI-2 total score.

1.4.4 To evaluate adverse events potentially related to drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and escitalopram and pramipexole, respectively.

1.5 Substudy Objective

1.5.1 CSF Substudy

To compare the impact of pramipexole and escitalopram on biomarker outcomes in a CSF substudy of participants with MDD alone.

Uganda 2025-10-29 16:04:25 2028-10-29 Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Abel  Kakuru
ID: UNCST-2022-R009193
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine versus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine alone for the prevention of febrile illnesses in children with sickle cell anemia: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
REFNo: HS6294ES

1.
To compare the incidence of all-cause febrile illness among children with sickle cell anemia randomized to receive monthly SP vs. monthly DP+SP.
2.
To compare the incidence of adverse events among children with sickle cell anemia randomised to receive monthly SP vs. monthly DP+SP.
3.
To compare the prevalence of markers of antimalarial resistance, including those associated with SP and DP resistance, among parasitemic children with sickle cell anemia randomized to receive monthly SP vs. monthly DP+SP.
Uganda 2025-10-29 15:55:44 2028-10-29 Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
Jane  Kabami
ID: UNCST-2021-R012588
Peerled Dynamic Choice HIV Prevention for Women. The Peer-led DCP Study
REFNo: HS6556ES

To refine and pilot test a Peer-led Dynamic Choice HIV Prevention intervention for women at elevated HIV risk in southwestern Uganda
Uganda 2025-10-29 12:53:43 2028-10-29 Medical and Health Sciences Non-Clinical Trial Non-degree Award
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