This is an application for the D43 Chronic, Non-Communicable Diseases and Disorders Across the Lifespan: Fogarty International Research Training Award. Drs. Mark Kaddumukasa, Elly Katabira and Martha Sajatovic have over 70 years combined experience-mentoring investigators in neurological and mental health-related research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will serve as Multiple Principal Investigators in this training program. The proposed grant builds on the highly successful Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and aims at developing a joint training program between Makerere College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) to 1) provide targeted training and mentorship for individualized neurological disorders research capacity development of junior and mid-level faculty to become independent research leaders capable of addressing regionally relevant neurological challenges and influence policy and practice and 2) To enhance institutional systems to sustain research support systems that enable a conducive research environment at MakCHS. The training program will consist of PhD, masters, and non-degree fellowships as well as short courses in bio-ethics, NCD epidemiology, quantitative and qualitative research methodology, good laboratory practice, implementation science, grants and manuscripts writing. The proposed training program will build on an established training partnership between MakCHS and CWRU and will leverage an existing Fogarty training D43 grant at MakCHS. The proposed areas of training include clinical care in neurology, neuroscience, traumatic brain injury, neurosurgery, mental health, neurogenetics and neurological public health. The principal investigators have compiled an international panel of experts to serve on the training advisory panel as well as experts at CWRU to serve as co-mentors for Ugandan trainees including: Dr. Anthony Furlan, Dr. Stevlana Pundik and Dr. Michael Devereaux. Taken together, the proposed project has substantial public health importance. It will provide the prerequisite outcomes data, training, and infrastructure needed to address the neurological and mental health disease burden in Uganda and other countries in SSA.
Neurological disorders are a burgeoning epidemic and Low middle-income countries (LMICs) like Uganda have limited capacity to address them. Research training in LMICs provides an avenue to address and build capacity for locally research aimed at preventing and controlling neurological disorders. Leveraging on a successful collaboration with Case Western Reserve University and through a Multiple Principal Investigator application, we propose a plan for a comprehensive multi-disciplinary research-training program for neurological disorders across the lifespan in Uganda. !
