Research Program
We engage in research aimed at improving the outcomes of children and young adults with cancer in Uganda. In our research projects, we work closely with the Division of Pediatrics at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). Our research projects span the entire continuum of cancer care i.e., prevention and early diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and survivorships.
Aspects of cancer research that we engage in:
- Epidemiological studies on cancers among children, adolescents, and young adults.
- Etiological studies.
- Randomized Control Trials (both clinical and non-clinical).
- Behavioral studies.
- Basic sciences studies.
- Implementation science studies.
- Health Economics studies.
- Quality Improvement studies.
Infrastructure that supports our research program:
- Uganda Cancer Institute Research and Ethics Committee (UCI-REC): Provides oversight on the ethics conduct of research among cancer patients at the UCI.
- Office space for investigators.
- A team with experience in pre- and post-award grants management.
- Collaboration with the Division of Pediatrics at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).
- Childhood cancer survivors’ registry.
Conferences/Workshops/Trainings:
St. Jude Global Alliance Sub-Saharan Africa Convention
May 19-22, 2025
Nairobi, Kenya
Our leadership team (Mr Moses Echodu and Mr Ezra Anecho), in collaboration with the Paediatric Department at the Uganda Cancer Institute, participated in the St. Jude Global Alliance Sub-Saharan Africa Convention held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The St. Jude Global Alliance brings together medical institutions, foundations, and governments committed to advancing access to quality care and treatment for children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases across Africa.
As Uganda Child Cancer Foundation, we were honored to share our community-based initiatives, particularly our Annual Childhood Cancer Colour Run, as a unique model for raising awareness, mobilizing public support, and fundraising to support children with cancer. It was a powerful moment of connection and collaboration with other stakeholders equally passionate about transforming childhood cancer care in Africa.
CUGH 2025 annual conference by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH)
February 20–23, 2025
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Link: https://www.cugh2025.org/
Dr. Anthony Kayiira presented his research on the situation analysis of oncofertility for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult populations in Uganda. This work was part of his LAUNCH Fogarty Fellowship program hosted by the University of Minnesota, USA under the Northern/Pacific Global Health Research Fellows Training Consortium is a partnership between the Universities of Washington, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota; with international partnerships in Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Peru, Thailand, Nepal and India.
His work examines the current state of fertility preservation within Uganda’s cancer care system, identifying key challenges and opportunities to improve survivorship outcomes for young cancer patients. By integrating oncofertility services into oncology care, this research aims to contribute to more comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare solutions in low-resource settings.
Research Projects:
PROJECT TITLE:
Enhancing Pediatric Cancer Care in Uganda with UCI-Ped-Reg and UCI-Ped-DASH
AIMS/OBJECTIVES:
- To support the implementation of an adapted hospital-based pediatric cancer registry (UCI-Ped-Reg) at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- To develop and implement an online interactive dashboard (UCI-Ped-DASH) for real-time data visualization from UCI-Ped-Reg.
- To assess the barriers and facilitators to implementation and adoption of UCI-Ped-Reg and UCI-Ped-DASH.
Aim 4: To Assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of UCI-Ped-Reg and UCI-Ped-DASH.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Dr Racheal Angom
Dr Derrick Bary Abila
MENTOR(S):
Dr Joyce B. Kambugu
Dr Nixon Niyonzima
Dr Jackson Orem
Dr Nickhill Bhakta
SPONSOR(S):
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research
PROJECT TITLE:
Improving the diagnosis and prognosis monitoring of children with leukemia at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) by developing and implementing an algorithm for diagnosis and monitoring prognosis
AIMS/OBJECTIVES:
- To understand the baseline practice of laboratory diagnosis and monitoring prognosis of patients with leukemia at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Kampala, Uganda.
- To develop and implement an evidence-based algorithm for laboratory investigation, diagnosis, and monitoring treatment response for leukemia in children at the UCI.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Dr Veronica Nyakato
Mr Moses Echodu
Dr Derrick Bary Abila
PROJECT TITLE:
Enhancing Pathology Services for Improved Cancer Care in Uganda
AIM/OBJECTIVE:
- To conduct refresher training on pathology sample collection, packaging, and transportation for cadres of healthcare professionals who order pathology tests and/or process samples and interpret findings from these tests at UCI.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Dr Nixon Niyonzima
Dr Nyakato Veronica
Dr Derrick Bary Abila
SPONSOR(S):
College of American Pathologists (CAP)
PROJECT TITLE: Adapting to Life’s Challenges after Childhood Cancer
AIMS/OBJECTIVES:
- To update the register of childhood cancer survivors who completed treatment at Uganda Cancer Institute and St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
- To document the lived experiences and survivorship journeys of childhood cancer survivors in Uganda.
- To assess the quality of life of childhood cancer survivors
- To describe adherence to clinic visits at the childhood cancer survivorship clinic at the UCI
- To document the common signs and symptoms reported by childhood cancer survivors at the UCI -is there a way to combine signs and symptoms with the diagnosed condition or complication- 2 years post survivorship
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S):
Dr. Candia Godwin Ivan
Dr. Derrick Bary Abila
Dr. Kayiira Anthony
Dr. Geriga Fadhil
Mr Anecho Ezra
Mr Kikonyogo Steven
Ms. Nambalirwa Priscilla
The AFRON team
SPONSOR(S):
AFRON Oncology for Africa Waldensian Evangelical Church
Conferences we participated in (presented and chaired panels):
2025
- 7 th African Health Economics & Policy Association (AfHEA) Conference 2025, March 10-14, 2025, in Kigali Rwanda.
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 2025 conference, February 20-23, 2025 in Atlanta, USA.
- 4 th Global NCD Alliance Forum, February 13-15, 2025 in Kigali Rwanda.
Publications:
- Bakenga A, Natukunda B, Okuku F, Mubiru KR, Kakungulu E, Kyagulanyi E, Abila DB, Orem J. Clinical characteristics and survival of patients with de novo metastatic prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy in Uganda: a retrospective study. BMC cancer. 2024 Nov 14;24(1):1404.
- Abila DB, Wasukira SB, Ainembabazi P, Kiyingi EN, Chemutai B, Kyagulanyi E, Varsani J, Shindodi B, Kisuza RK, Niyonzima N. Coverage and socioeconomic inequalities in cervical cancer screening in low-and middle-income countries between 2010 and 2019. JCO Global Oncology. 2024 Jun;10:e2300385.
Partners:
