Strengthening Research Capacity in Innovative Global Health Technologies for Non-Communicable Diseases in Uganda

这项新的D43申请提出了一项培训计划，名为 乌干达非传染性疾病的创新全球卫生技术“(SIGH)。这 该计划将建立在乌干达-CWRU研究合作的广泛32年培训记录的基础上 (UCRC)，凯斯西部储备大学和Makerere大学的合作伙伴关系 中低收入人群非传染性疾病负担快速增长 收入国家(LMIC)和撒哈拉以南非洲(SSA)以及乌干达。发展能力 LMIC的生物医学研究对于应对这些新的医疗挑战是必要的，并鼓励 目前正在取得进展。我们断言，建设能力，特别是生物医学工程(BME) 研究对于开发急需的筛查、诊断和治疗技术至关重要 在低收入国家的背景下。缺乏建立这一能力的培训计划。 我们已经确定了SIGH计划中针对的三大类非传染性疾病，这将特别 受益于技术创新能力建设：心血管疾病、血液疾病和 慢性运动障碍。这些目标地区已被确定为关键的公共卫生需求 项目负责人和其他利益相关者。我们还确定了四个技术重点最高的领域 乌干达MU在BME研究专门知识方面能力建设的优先事项。它们是：生物材料和药物 交付、护理点诊断、生物医学成像以及数据分析和人工智能。 这些技术工具在解决高度优先的非传染性疾病医疗需求方面具有交叉潜力。 该景观项目的设计目标是建设和加强 乌干达学术、公共、私营和非政府组织机构开展生物医学工程的能力 研究、培养生物医学工程师至博士水平，发展以生物医学工程为基础的本地产业 根据当地的需要。SIGH的目标是通过以下方式为实现这一目标做出贡献： 目标1：在CWRU对乌干达学生进行BME博士项目的培训(在拟议的项目期内培训6名) 目标2：支持密歇根州立大学硕士研究生在BME邻近领域的研究项目(约每年10个)。 目标3：为墨尔本大学的研究人员提供机会，提高他们的研究经验和专业知识。 SIGH计划的预期结果包括： 博士研究人员准备填补乌干达研究机构的教员和研究职位。 准备填补研究岗位或继续博士培训的理科硕士毕业生。 更好地准备开展高质量的BME研究的MU调查人员。 BME与CWRU和MU的临床研究人员之间强大的研究合作网络。 增加研究产出，包括在同行评议的期刊上发表文章和拨款建议。

This new D43 application proposes a training program entitled “Strengthening Research Capacity in Innovative Global Health Technologies for Non-Communicable Diseases in Uganda” (SIGHT). This program will build on the extensive 32-year training record of the Uganda-CWRU Research Collaboration (UCRC), a partnership between Case Western Reserve University and Makerere University The burden of non-communicable diseases and disorders (NCD) is growing rapidly in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Uganda particularly. Developing capacity for biomedical research in LMICs is necessary for managing these new healthcare challenges, and encouraging progress is being made. We assert that building capacity in particular for biomedical engineering (BME) research is critical to development of much-needed screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic technology relevant to the context of LMICs. Training programs to build this capacity are lacking. We have identified three broad categories of NCDs to target in the SIGHT program that will particularly benefit from building capacity for technology innovation: cardiovascular disease, blood disorders, and chronic movement disorders. These target areas have been identified as critical public health needs by program leaders and other stakeholders. We have also identified four areas of technology focus as highest priorities for building capacity in BME research expertise at MU in Uganda. These are: biomaterials and drug delivery, point-of-care diagnostics, biomedical imaging, and data analytics and artificial intelligence. These technology tools are cross-cutting in their potential to address high-priority NCD healthcare needs. The SIGHT program has been designed with the long-term goal of building and strengthening the capacity of academic, public, private, and NGO institutions in Uganda to conduct biomedical engineering research, train biomedical engineers up to a PhD level and grow a local biomedical engineering industry based on local needs. SIGHT aims to contribute to this goal by: Aim 1: Training Ugandan students in the BME Ph.D. program at CWRU (6 within the proposed project period) Aim 2: Supporting research projects for M.S. students at MU in BME-adjacent fields (approx. 10 per year). Aim 3: Providing opportunities for MU investigators to enhance their research experience and expertise. Expected outcomes of the SIGHT program include: ● Ph.D. researchers prepared to fill faculty and research positions at research institutions in Uganda. ● M.S. graduates who are prepared to fill research positions or go on to Ph.D. training. ● MU investigators who are better prepared to carry out high quality BME research. ● A robust network of research collaborations between BME and clinical investigators at CWRU and MU. ● Increased research output, including publications in peer reviewed journals and grant proposals.