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  
Tyler Zoanni
ID:
In the Image of God: Christianity and Disability
REFNo: SS11ES

My research investigates the ideas and practices related to disability that arise within Christian disability ministries in Uganda, where they have become major providers of care and support (housing, advocacy, education, etc.). My research will answer the following questions: 1) In what sense are people with disabilities understood as made in the “image of God”? What ideas about disability, models of disabled personhood, and practices of disability sociality and politics do Christian groups in Uganda enact? 2) Why are Christian disability-focused efforts flourishing? 3) What catalyzed the rise of disability ministries? To what extent have ideas and practices centering on disability changed in recent Ugandan history in the context of Christian engagements with disability?
USA 2017-05-09 2020-05-09 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
John Simaika
ID:
Developing and testing methods for wetland health assessment using dragonflies
REFNo: NS10ES

A major objective of my study is to adapt biomonitoring tools for use on wetlands of Uganda. My project is planned for a two-year period to incorporate seasonal changes with a high degree of confidence. This work will close the knowledge gap on two more objectives to: (1) quantify the robustness of using dragonflies as indicators of wetland integrity in the region; and, How representative are the richness and species composition of the integrity of wetland ecosystems in comparison to wetland plants, a commonly used indicator? (2) quantify the performance of the ecological integrity indices. How representative are the ecological integrity indices of wetland health (e.g. correlation with Wet-Health)? How much effort is needed to use the dragonfly indices in the field? How much effort is needed to calculate and interpret the indices? Is this effort more or less than that needed for conventional methods (e.g. Wet-Health)?
Germany 2017-05-09 2020-05-09 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Bruno Braak Jim
ID:
Access to land and justice among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda
REFNo: SS67ES

This proposed research would contribute to my PhD dissertation. It would draw on a prior period of three months of intensive and collaborative field research in South Sudan as a basis to compare current perceptions and practices with. The objective of this proposed research would be to discover the changes and continuities in Western Equatorians’ access to land and justice mechanisms. Doing so, it hopes to shed light on the impact of the process of forced displacement to Uganda. Conceptually, this research would draw on notions and practices around authority, identity and property. Special attention will be devoted to the differentiated impact according to gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background.
Netherlands 2017-05-09 2020-05-09 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Agnes Kiragga
ID:
Tracing non-rEtained HIV PoSitivE Pregnant Women enrolled in Option B+ and ascertaining their BabIeS outcomes (sTEPWISe)
REFNo: HS35ES

Specific Aim 1: Trace women, initiated ART under option B+ who disengaged from care and assess reasons for disengagement, as well as obtain corrected estimates of retention by evaluating the proportion of mothers who have re-engaged or died.\r\nSpecific Aim 2: Assess and compare HIV transmission rates among infants born to retained and disengaged mothers. \r\nSub-aim 2.1. Perform HIV DNA PCR testing on the infants of disengaged women \r\nSub-aim 2.2 Obtain HIV status data on infants of retained women from existing medical records, or by providing HIV DNA-PCR testing for untested-infants or those whose test was performed within the previous month.\r\nSpecific Aim 3: To measure efavirenz (EFV) levels in the blood collected from all re-engaged and a matched sample of retained women. \r\nSpecific Aim 4: To perform genotypic testing among retained and disengaged women with virologic failure defined as viral load ≥1,000 copies/ml in order to describe mutations that are known to confer drug resistance. \r\n
Uganda 2017-05-05 2020-05-05 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Lina Waru Zedriga
ID:
Inclusive Mechanisms Targeting Youth for Countering Violent Extremism in the IGAD Region
REFNo: SS72ES

This study seeks to inform policy debates and practices in CVE interventions within the IGAD region in order to engage and empower youth, both male and female.
Uganda 2017-05-02 2020-05-02 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Ben Evans
ID:
Theory of change development for conservation evaluation: A Delphi exercise
REFNo: SS40ES

We aim to capture the opinions of a range of stakeholders of the project, from those designing and implementing the project to beneficiaries and end-users. This process will generate a rigorous theory of change with enhanced buy-in from stakeholders, which will go on to form the evaluation of the project. \r\n
UK 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Fred Bulamba
ID: UNCST-2019-R000026
Non-Physician Anaesthetists’ training and roles in sub-Saharan Africa
REFNo: HS30ES

This study aims to 1) characterise the training programmes currently available for NPAs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with respect to their structure, curricula and teaching methods, 2) characterise the output of NPA training programmes in terms of NPA roles and the proportion of total anaesthesia providers who are NPAs, and 3) explore the experience of key informants in selected locations with regard to NPA training and practice.\r\n
Uganda 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Joshua Nfambi
ID:
Effect of Moringa oleifera extracts on the HIV model: A study of nutrient bioavailability and immunological responses
REFNo: HS46ES

1. To assess the presence and quantity of micronutrients in Moringa oleifera leaf extracts 2. To determine the bioavailability of the micronutrients in Moringa oleifera in a Murine model 3. To establish the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on HIV virus replication in T-lymphocytes and macrophages 4. To determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on secretion of chemokines, IL1, 12 TNF α and INF γ in HIV infected cells 5. To determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts on the cell mediated immune system of a humanized HIV murine model
Uganda 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Henry Kajumbula Mawerere
ID: UNCST-2019-R001531
Adaptation and Evaluation of a Direct PCR Based Method for the Diagnosis of Bacteremia among Critically Ill Patients in Uganda
REFNo: HS51ES

4.2.1. To introduce and optimize a broad range qPCR test for diagnosis of bacteremia at the MUCHS molecular biology laboratory 4.2.2. To evaluate the performance of the broad range qPCR among patients at the Mulago ICU and UCI against blood culture 4.2.3. To estimate the prevalence of various etiologic agents of bacteremia among UCI and Mulago ICU patients with sepsis 4.2.4. To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the bacterial strains responsible for bacteremia at the UCI and the Mulago ICU
Uganda 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Iain Darbyshire Andrew
ID:
Identifying Tropical Important Plant Areas in Uganda
REFNo: NS11ES

Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) are sites of global importance for conserving the world’s plant diversity, measured through three criteria: threatened species, threatened habitats and high botanical richness. This project will support the identification of TIPAs in the forests of west and central Uganda through conducting field surveys of key sites, selected through prior analysis of herbarium data for Uganda. For each site, we will assess its current status including how intact the forest habitats are, what management practices are in place and what threats are evident. Species of high conservation importance will be specifically targeted, and an assessment made of their abundance at each site. Rapid species inventories, including collection of herbarium specimens, will also be carried out particularly at lesser known forest sites. The field data accumulated will feed into the identification of TIPAs based on the presence of threatened species, threatened habitats and assemblages of important species including those of socio-economic value; these will be published online through the IPA database. The current proposed period of fieldwork is a pilot phase of a wider TIPAs project and will focus on selected sites in the southwest of Uganda. It is envisaged that this pilot will support the development and funding of a larger project on TIPAs in Uganda.
UK 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Isabel Larridon
ID:
C3 and C4 Cyperaceae of Uganda
REFNo: NS12ES

The fieldwork is organised in the context of a project looking at the differential impact of climate change of C3 and C4 plant lineages in Africa. C4 photosynthesis is an evolutionary response to climate change (including aridification). Multiple independent origins of the C4 pathway in Cyperaceae provide ideal opportunities to study the differential response of C3 and C4 lineages to climate change. The largest diversity of C4 Cyperaceae lineages occurs in Africa allowing us to investigate C4 evolution within the unique climatic and biogeographical history of the continent. Africa is undergoing aridification at a scale and level that is only comparable to Australia. Studying adaptation mechanisms in African flora may be key to decipher long-term evolutionary response to global warming in plants. In the overarching project, we aim to apply the novel HybSeq technique to acquire 350+ low-copy targets and high-copy genomic loci evolving across a range of rates, combined with access to newly available fossils providing further calibration dates, to obtain an accurately dated and robust Cyperaceae Tree-of-Life, resolve relationships in C4 Cyperaceae lineages and identify their closest sister C3 lineages. Together with model-based biogeographical methods and present-day and paleoclimatic ecological niche models informed by baseline data from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s vast collection of herbarium records, this data will provide key knowledge on how C3 and C4 Cyperaceae lineages have differentially responded to environmental pressures in Africa over the last c. 85 Ma. This will allow modelling how they will respond in future and inform conservation actions.
Belgium 2017-04-25 2020-04-25 Natural Sciences Degree Award
David  Coppock Layne
ID:
Climate Change Perceptions and Adaptation Among Small-Scale Farmers in Uganda: A Community-Based Approach
REFNo: SS44ES

\r\n 1.) Determine if small-scale farmers in Uganda perceive the climate to be changing, and if so, determine how and why they perceive it to be changing.\r\n\r\n 2.) Determine what adaptive actions, if any, small-scale farmers in Uganda are taking in response to the changes in the climate they perceive.\r\n\r\n 3.) Determine what resources small-scale farmers in Uganda need to enhance their resilience to climate change. \r\n\r\n 4.) Determine how the climate-change perceptions, adaptive actions, and resource needs vary with the location where small-scale Ugandan farmers reside, particularly between urban and rural locales. \r\n
USA 2017-04-20 2020-04-20 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Simon  Sensalire
ID:
A TREND ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AMONG GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN THE DREAMS PILOT DISTRICTS
REFNo: SS61ES

Generally the study aims at assessing changes in sexual behavior of girls and uptake of HIV related services Specifically, the study aims; 1) To determine girls exposure to the DREAMS behavior change communication package (BCC) 2) To determine changes in knowledge and risk perception of HIV among girls under DREAMS intervention 3) To determine changes in sexual behavior of girls over time 4) To determine levels of contraceptive use among girls/young women 5) To determine the various forms of violence experienced by the girls and the actions taken by the victims 6) To determine the various forms of parental and partner support and how it influences the behavior of the girls? 7) To determine HCT and disclosure among girls who have tested for HIV 8) To assess the influence of DREAMS on the girls behavior over the pilot period
Uganda 2017-04-11 2020-04-11 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Samson Okello
ID: UNCST-2019-R001580
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures and dietary risk of Esophageal squamous cell cancer in southwestern Uganda
REFNo: HS37ES

1) To evaluate biomass fuel exposure as an ESCC risk factor by comparing personal carbon monoxide exposure among ESCC patients to that of age and gender matched controls with normal esophageal epithelia. We hypothesize that individuals with ESCC have greater exposure to biomass fuel compared to matched age and gender controls. \r\n\r\n2) To assess food preparation methods and dietary patterns as risk factors for ESCC in southwestern Uganda. We hypothesize that patients with ESCC have unique food preparation methods and consumed foods with high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content compared with age and gender-matched controls with normal esophageal epithelia.\r\n
Uganda 2017-03-28 2020-03-28 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Simon  Sensalire
ID:
Improving Quality of Care of Maternal and Child Services through Result Based Financing (RBF): A Health Facility Based Case Control Survey
REFNo: HS43ES

ï‚§ To assess whether the RBF payment method, when implemented, improves the quality of ANC, delivery and PNC services compared to usual financing methods ï‚§ To assess health provider perceptions and expectations of whether other services have, or will be impacted by the RBF intervention ï‚§ Assess the effect of RBF on practices of midwives through observing service delivery ï‚§ Determine whether women experience of delivery and PNC services reflect impact of the intervention on quality of MNCH services? ï‚§ To draw lessons about RBF in the context of Uganda and inform RBF rollout strategy? ï‚§ Contribute to learning on improvement strategies for MNCH
Uganda 2017-03-28 2020-03-28 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Simon  Sensalire
ID:
THE FUNCTIONALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MOTHER BABY CARE POINTS (MCBPS): AN EVALUATION OF THE INTERVENTION
REFNo: HS45ES

The main purpose of the proposed evaluation is to explore into the setup, functionality and user perspectives of benefits and gaps of the MB care points in line with the PMTCT initiative, and inform improvements in their functionality. Specifically, the assessment aims; a) To identify of key activities pertaining to the formation of MBCPs and extent of compliance to the guidelines b) To determine the extent of implementation of recommended activities for the functionality of MBCPs c) To explore perceptions of midwives about MBCP with specific emphasis on feasibility, acceptability, uptake and retention. d) Assess the clinic system in terms of scope of services, quality of care provision and documentation e) To explore perceptions of mothers in terms of satisfaction and acceptability of MBCPs
Uganda 2017-03-28 2020-03-28 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Jenny Farmer
ID:
The Global Methane Project; Monthly Observations, Yearly Assassments
REFNo: NS4ES

The aims of this project are to:\r\n1. achieve a significant improvement in the measurement of methane and to understand what changes are happening at global and regional scales.\r\n2. understand why these changes are occurring through targeted field campaigns and the analysis of atmospheric measurements using advanced modelling methods.\r\n3. predict how methane sources and sinks may change in future.\r\n
UK 2017-03-17 2020-03-17 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Mahsa Abassi
ID:
Utilization of SMS Messaging Services to Improve Retention in Care of HIV-Infected Individuals in Uganda Short Title: SMS-2-Retain (S2R)
REFNo: SS62ES

The objective of the study is to determine if mobile health (mHealth) technology (text/voice-messaging services) is an effective method of improving retention in care for newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals enrolling into care, as compared to standard of care. This is a pilot, non-blinded, randomized trial of mobile health implementation into routine HIV care. This pilot trial will be focusing on 1) two-week retention in care of all HIV-infected participants from enrollment and followed by 2) participants who have been found to have cryptococcal antigenemia, a population of participants most at risk for early morbidity and mortality.
USA 2017-03-07 2020-03-07 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Xavier Medialdea Pedrol
ID:
Livestock diet quality and overgrazing in Queen Elizabeth National Park
REFNo: NS7ES

Understanding determinants of livestock movement on spatial and temporal dimensions and link it to the use of resources in an outside Queen Elizabeth National Park while the nutritional and healthy status of the animals is studied. This can be achieved by monitoring the diet quality and parasites of livestock and the forage availability through space and time in and near the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Spain 2017-02-28 2020-02-28 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Dickens Akena Howard
ID: UNCST-2019-R000179
Developing a peer support model for depression care in patients with diabetes mellitus, and testing it’s efficacy on patient outcomes; a randomized control trial.
REFNo: HS20ES

The main study objective will be developing a peer support model of depression care for patients with DM and testing its efficacy on clinical outcomes
Uganda 2017-02-24 2020-02-24 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
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