1. COVID-EPI
The
study study determined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of
patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Uganda.
The
study was done at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
The
study found most of the patients with COVID-19 presented with mild disease and
exhibited a clinical trajectory not similar to other countries
Link
to publication: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000646
2. COVID-19
convalescent plasma project (CCP)
The
aims of the project were:
–
to assess the feasibility of collecting and processing
of CCP, in preparation for a randomized clinical trial of CCP for treatment of
COVID-19 in Uganda
–
to determine the efficacy of CCP for treatment of
COVID-19 in Uganda.
The
findings were:
–
CCP collection and processing is possible in Uganda.
However, concerns about stigma and lack of time, interest or transport need to
be addressed in order to maximize donations.
–
CCP therapy did not result in beneficial virological
or clinical improvements
Link
to publications:
https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0252306
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2021-001017
3. Fluvoxamine
study
A
prospective interventional open-label cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and
tolerability of fluvoxamine among inpatients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19
in Uganda
The study found that 100mg of fluvoxamine bd for 10 days was well
tolerated and was significantly associated with reduced mortality and with
increased complete symptom resolution, without a significant increase in time
to hospital discharge, among inpatients with COVID-19.
The study
recommendation a large-scale randomized trials to confirm the findings,
especially for low- and middle-income countries, where access to vaccines and
approved treatments against COVID-19 is limited.
Link
to publication: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02004-3
4. Therapeutics
for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO)
The
centre was part of the TICO clinical trial network. The centre participated in
2 trials:
–
Efficacy and Safety of Ensovibep for Adults
Hospitalized With COVID-19. This investigated if ensovibep, in addition to
remdesivir and other standard care, improves clinical outcomes among patients
hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with standard care alone
The
trial found that among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 receiving remdesivir
and other standard care, tixagevimab–cilgavimab did not improve the primary
outcome of time to sustained recovery but was safe and mortality was lower.
–
Tixagevimab–cilgavimab for treatment of patients
hospitalised with COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial. The
trial compared tixagevimab–cilgavimab versus placebo, in patients receiving
remdesivir and other standard care. The trial was prematurely stopped because
of futility, limiting power for the primary outcome
Publication
links:
https://doi.org/10.7326%2FM22-1503
https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2213-2600(22)00215-6
5. UBV-01N
trial
A
clinical trial that assessed the preliminary safety and efficacy of a natural
product, i.e. UBV-01N. The overall objective of the trial was to evaluate the
preliminary safety and potential efficacy of UBV-01N in the treatment of
COVID-19 patients in Uganda. The trial enrolled 124 participants
6. Clinical
trial of natural therapeutics (CONAT) Program
The
main aim of the program is to conduct research that will accelerate the
notification and licensing of Uganda’s natural medicines in order to improve
the health of Ugandans and to harness the economic potential of natural
medicines. The program objectives are:
(i)
To conduct
clinical trials on natural therapeutics in humans
(ii)
To build
capacity of product innovators/scientists and clinical trial sites
(iii) To coordinate activities of the
natural therapeutics discovery in Uganda
The program is currently
implementing a Phase 2a open -label clinical trial trial
to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of herbal
products for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections including
SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda.
7. COVID-19
vaccines effectiveness Project (COVEP)
The project estimated the effectiveness and
determinants of effectiveness of China Manufactured and other COVID-19 vaccines
in Uganda. The study was incorporated into the national influenza surveillance
network and set up clinical study sites at 10 health facilities across Uganda.
Dissemination of project findings is ongoing.
8. Children
COVID-19 vaccine study (CCV)
The overall objective of the project is
to assess the safety, effectiveness, immunogenicity, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy
and its determinants among children in Uganda. The study is funded by
Government of Uganda through Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation
(STI)
10. Solidarity against Ebola/‘TOKOMEZA
Ebola
This was a ring vaccination trial to evaluate the
efficacy and safety of Sudan ebolavirus vaccines in Uganda. It was sponsored by
World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health-Uganda.
The trial was
initiated following the outbreak of Ebola in September 2023, but enrolment
didn’t proceed as outbreak was declared over. Through this trial, capacity was
established for vaccine research such as i.e.: Human resource,
infrastructure and equipment.
11. TOKOMEZA
Plus
The trial picks up from the Tokomeza trial (ring
vaccination trial). Despite the Ebola outbreak being declared over and thus
inability to ascertain the efficacy of Sudan Ebola vaccines, there remained
unanswered questions e.g. questions around immunogenicity of the vaccines. TOKOMEZA
Plus is a phase I/II Randomized Placebo controlled double blind trial to
evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of Sudan Ebolavirus vaccines in Uganda.
The trial is coordinated at the VERC and will be implemented through a
consortium of institutions (Makerere University Lung Institute (MLI),
Medical Research Council-Uganda Virus Research Institute (MRC-UVRI), Makerere
University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), Epicentre and International Aids Vaccine
Initiative-Uganda Virus Research Institute (IAVI-UVRI).
12. Other
initiatives
The Vaccine and Epidemics Research
Centre (VERC) coordinates several research networks and consortia. These
include: NIMBLE Epidemics consortium, AFRITRAC, AFRIVAC, ICER, ARFIVAC-CHIMS
