Leveraging an epidemic to establish vaccine clinical trial capacity in a low resource setting: the Ugandan experience

Winters Muttamba; Alhassane Toure; Misaki Wayengera; Henry Kyobe Bosa; Wilber Sabiiti; Pauline Byakika-Kibwika; Bruce Kirenga

doi:10.1186/s13063-025-08805-x

Leveraging an epidemic to establish vaccine clinical trial capacity in a low resource setting: the Ugandan experience

Winters Muttamba^*, Alhassane Toure, Misaki Wayengera, Henry Kyobe Bosa, Wilber Sabiiti, Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, Bruce Kirenga

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background Pandemics have increasingly become more frequent. Globally, between 1970 and 2016, a total of over 1770 disease outbreaks of 38 known and two unknown causes were reported. Vaccines are a key medical countermeasure for most of these outbreaks, however, most of these are developed and tested outside Sub-Saharan Africa. There is underrepresentation of Africa in vaccine clinical trials. This is attributed to poor visibility of existing sites, limited infrastructure and unpredictable regulatory timelines, and lack of capacity and infrastructure for basic science research.

Main text We draw on lessons from an Ebola outbreak in Uganda to suggest key factors to establishing a vaccine trial site in a low resource setting. The factors are trained clinical trial staff, availability and adaptation of generic trial protocols, establishment of vaccine cold chain storage facilities, south-south collaborations, in-country stewardship, and close collaboration with ethical and regulatory bodies.

Conclusion African institutions could capitalise on the epidemics and the accompanying responses to build capacity for vaccine trials and position themselves to take part in global vaccine trials.

Original language	English
Article number	103
Pages (from-to)	1-4
Number of pages	4
Journal	Trials
Volume	26
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08805-x
Publication status	Published - 24 Mar 2025

Keywords

Clinical trial
Trial capacity
Vaccine trial
Capacity in low resource meetings

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Leveraging an epidemic to establish vaccine clinical trial capacity in a low resource setting: the Ugandan experience",

abstract = "Background Pandemics have increasingly become more frequent. Globally, between 1970 and 2016, a total of over 1770 disease outbreaks of 38 known and two unknown causes were reported. Vaccines are a key medical countermeasure for most of these outbreaks, however, most of these are developed and tested outside Sub-Saharan Africa. There is underrepresentation of Africa in vaccine clinical trials. This is attributed to poor visibility of existing sites, limited infrastructure and unpredictable regulatory timelines, and lack of capacity and infrastructure for basic science research.Main text We draw on lessons from an Ebola outbreak in Uganda to suggest key factors to establishing a vaccine trial site in a low resource setting. The factors are trained clinical trial staff, availability and adaptation of generic trial protocols, establishment of vaccine cold chain storage facilities, south-south collaborations, in-country stewardship, and close collaboration with ethical and regulatory bodies.Conclusion African institutions could capitalise on the epidemics and the accompanying responses to build capacity for vaccine trials and position themselves to take part in global vaccine trials.",

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AU - Muttamba, Winters

AU - Toure, Alhassane

AU - Wayengera, Misaki

AU - Bosa, Henry Kyobe

AU - Sabiiti, Wilber

AU - Byakika-Kibwika, Pauline

AU - Kirenga, Bruce

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N2 - Background Pandemics have increasingly become more frequent. Globally, between 1970 and 2016, a total of over 1770 disease outbreaks of 38 known and two unknown causes were reported. Vaccines are a key medical countermeasure for most of these outbreaks, however, most of these are developed and tested outside Sub-Saharan Africa. There is underrepresentation of Africa in vaccine clinical trials. This is attributed to poor visibility of existing sites, limited infrastructure and unpredictable regulatory timelines, and lack of capacity and infrastructure for basic science research.Main text We draw on lessons from an Ebola outbreak in Uganda to suggest key factors to establishing a vaccine trial site in a low resource setting. The factors are trained clinical trial staff, availability and adaptation of generic trial protocols, establishment of vaccine cold chain storage facilities, south-south collaborations, in-country stewardship, and close collaboration with ethical and regulatory bodies.Conclusion African institutions could capitalise on the epidemics and the accompanying responses to build capacity for vaccine trials and position themselves to take part in global vaccine trials.

AB - Background Pandemics have increasingly become more frequent. Globally, between 1970 and 2016, a total of over 1770 disease outbreaks of 38 known and two unknown causes were reported. Vaccines are a key medical countermeasure for most of these outbreaks, however, most of these are developed and tested outside Sub-Saharan Africa. There is underrepresentation of Africa in vaccine clinical trials. This is attributed to poor visibility of existing sites, limited infrastructure and unpredictable regulatory timelines, and lack of capacity and infrastructure for basic science research.Main text We draw on lessons from an Ebola outbreak in Uganda to suggest key factors to establishing a vaccine trial site in a low resource setting. The factors are trained clinical trial staff, availability and adaptation of generic trial protocols, establishment of vaccine cold chain storage facilities, south-south collaborations, in-country stewardship, and close collaboration with ethical and regulatory bodies.Conclusion African institutions could capitalise on the epidemics and the accompanying responses to build capacity for vaccine trials and position themselves to take part in global vaccine trials.

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KW - Trial capacity

KW - Vaccine trial

KW - Capacity in low resource meetings

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Leveraging an epidemic to establish vaccine clinical trial capacity in a low resource setting: the Ugandan experience

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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