The Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal for a tour of its state-of-the-art laboratory and clinical research facilities in Entebbe, ahead of her four-day visit to Uganda.
As Chancellor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, The Princess is dedicated to supporting research into improved human health.
The Unit Director Professor Pontiano Kaleebu emphasised the importance of putting research at the forefront of strong health service delivery as he guided the Princess Royal around the facility.
"New health challenges require the generation of new knowledge in order to define and come up with new interventions. We have been part of this through the support of the UK Government among others," Professor Kaleebu said.
Through interactions with key scientists and PhD fellows at the Unit, The Princess learned about the Unit's mandate to strengthen research capacity both in Africa and worldwide, and contribute to a strong health policy environment for the improved control of infectious and non-communicable diseases.
She visited the Unit's state-of-the-art laboratories, bio-banking and clinical research facilities that enable scientists from around the world to collaborate on cutting edge laboratory, clinical and social studies into the control of existing and emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, drug resistance viruses, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension and kidney disease, which are a growing health concern in Africa.
The Princess was also introduced to the Unit's high capacity solar energy system, an innovation to increase the conduct of energy efficient research, which through a recent grant of £1.350m from the UK Research and Innovation/UK Medical Research Council (UKRI/MRC) Capital scheme and UKRI's Environmental Sustainability fund is set to increase its existing solar power generation to 70% by 2023.
