During the End of Year party in Entebbe, UVRI Director Prof Pontiano Kaleebu highlighted the institute’s need for additional space due to expansion, expressing that the current lack of space hampers clinical research and trials. He emphasized the potential of a new science building to enable extensive research and the discovery of vaccines for identified viruses.
Prof Kaleebu also announced that UVRI is on the verge of becoming the East African Centre of Excellence in Virology, pending final contract negotiations with the solicitor general’s office. Prof Alison Elliot, Head of Co-infection Studies at UVRI, reinforced the commitment to addressing health issues, including non-communicable diseases, through intensified efforts in virus discovery and surveillance.
At the commissioning of a new virology and immunology laboratory, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine, expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. She urged UVRI to not only focus on virus research but also consider cancer research, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to health challenges.
UVRI’s proposal for a new science building is currently under consideration by the Development Committee of the Ministry of Finance, submitted through the Ministry of Health. If approved, the institute aims to consolidate its laboratories and enhance its capacity to conduct crucial research on viral diseases.
