Researchers urged on collaboration

Scientists and researchers have been advised to endeavour to build networks and collaborations with others, especially world-renown scientists.

Dr John Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Uganda Christian University, explained that collaborations, especially with international institutions, have promoted unique and better learning.

In addition, collaborations have enabled individual researchers and research institutions to deal with challenges and obstacles, thus promoting greater discoveries.

Kitayimbwa noted that such challenges are in line with lack of human resources and funding, adding that collaboration has proven good for capacity building for students and staff of institutions.

He gave an example of how collaborating with other institutions gave them access to relevant skills that were lacking at his university, but were needed to supervise students.

Kitayimbwa made the remarks while speaking at the annual general meeting and symposium for the Makerere University-UVRI Centre of Excellence in Infection and Immunity. The function that was held at the UVRI offices in Entebbe on Wednesday was attended by researchers from Uganda, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Cameroon and UK.

The Makerere University-Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) programme on Infection & Immunity Research (MUII) has been in existence for 12 years. The programme aims at training African scientists to harness laboratory and computational skills to address the continent's major health challenges.

The programme, which is supported through the DELTAS Africa Initiative, brings together scientists from the foremost health research institute (the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and foremost university (Makerere) with their world-class, external collaborators to support excellence in infection and immunity research and training.

Kitayimbwa's call on collaboration was echoed by Dr. Warren Phipps from the Uganda cancer Institute. Phipps has been working with the UCI for 13 years under a collaboration between UCI and the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Centre in the US.

In his own words, Phipps noted: "Science is a team sport, the work is complicated and requires a team of people working together."

In addition to collaborations, scientists noted that they needed infrastructure, such as well-equipped laboratories and funding.