The Uganda Schistosomiasis Multidisciplinary Research Center (U-SMRC) has been established to build expertise and understanding of the underlying biological determinants of severe schistosomal morbidity and to develop and identify appropriate interventions for prevention and management of this important disease.
OUR SPECIFIC AIMS
To compare early-life Schistosoma mansoni (Sm) infection and Sm-specific immune responses between Lake Albert (LA) and Lake Victoria (LV) regions and identify co-exposures that modulate Sm-specific immune responses and morbidity risk.
NEWS & INSIGHTS
News
Building Scientific Capacity for Schistosomiasis Control in Uganda
Scientific progress rarely happens on its own... It grows from the work of dedicated researchers asking difficult questions and searching for solutions to complex health challenges. At the Uganda Schistosomiasis Multidisciplinary Research Centre (U-SMRC), supporting the next generation of scientists is an important part of the Centre’s work. The Centre brings together researchers from different disciplines to better understand schistosomiasis and develop improved strategies for its control. Alongside this research, U-SMRC is supporting doctoral training for Ugandan scientists investigating key questions about the disease. Three PhD students are currently contributing to the programe, each exploring a different extent of the disease, from the environmental conditions that enable transmission, to the genetic diversity of the parasite, and the human immune responses that shape the disease outcomes. Together, their work shows how building scientific capacity in Africa can drive locally relevant solutions for millions affected across the continent. For David Oguttu, understanding schistosomiasis begins with the environments where transmission occurs. David is pursuing his PhD at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). His research focuses on freshwater snails, the intermediate hosts responsible for transmitting the parasite Schistosoma mansoni (S.m) to humans. By studying how water quality, aquatic vegetation, and human activity influence snail populations, David is highlighting the ecological conditions that allow transmission to persist in endemic communities. “If we understand the ecological conditions that allow snail populations to thrive, we can design smarter and more targeted interventions,” David explains. Insights from his work could inform environmental management strategies and guide health authorities to focus control efforts in areas where the risk of transmission is highest. While environmental factors influence where transmission occurs, the biology of the parasite itself can influence how disease manifests in different communities. Davis Kiberu is pursuing his PhD at Makerere University, Uganda. His research focuses on the different types (genetic variations) of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni found across the Albertine and Lake Victoria regions. He is studying how these differences in the parasite may help explain why some people have severe infections or experience worse illness than others. “Understanding the parasite at the genetic level allows us to ask new questions about how the disease behaves in different regions,” he says. In the long term, these findings could explain why some communities experience more severe burdens and may support the development of more targeted treatment strategies. Matthew Odongo is also pursuing his PhD at Makerere University, Uganda. His research focuses on how the body’s immune response to the parasite Schistosoma mansoni differs between communities living around Lake Albert and Lake Victoria. He explains, “Communities experience schistosomiasis differently, and understanding those differences is essential if we want interventions that truly work for the populations most affected.” His work could help guide future vaccine development and support treatment approaches that better reflect the needs of different communities. Looking Ahead Beyond their individual research projects, these students represent a strong investment in Africa’s scientific future. By supporting doctoral training within Uganda, the U-SMRC is helping to ensure that the expertise needed to address diseases like schistosomiasis continues to grow in the regions most affected. [caption id="attachment_3089" align="alignleft" width="730"] Quarterly PhD's fellows meeting held at UVRI, January 2026[/caption] Alongside their research, the three students are developing a wide range of professional and technical skills, including multidisciplinary research, grant writing, scientific communication, intellectual property management, and collaboration across international research networks. These experiences are equipping them to become future leaders in global health research. Their work contributes not only to disease control efforts in Uganda, but also to a broader understanding of schistosomiasis across Africa. In this way, the studentship programe is doing more than training researchers, it is building a strong foundation to tackle schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases for generations to come.
Blog
Witnessing Research Impact Firsthand in the Hoima–Kikuube Communities
No one quite tells you what a field visit will really feel like! You will hear about the long journeys, the community meetings, and the schedules but no one prepares you for the quiet excitement of finally standing in the very places where the research you talk about every day happens. My name is Trust Debbie Lenia, and I serve as the Communications and Engagement Officer at the Uganda Schistosomiasis Multidisciplinary Research Centre (U-SMRC). Funded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH), the Centre brings together scientists and communities to tackle schistosomiasis(bilharzia), a neglected tropical disease that affects millions through research, health education and community-led solutions. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to the Hoima–Kikuube communities along the shores of Lake Albert, Uganda and what I experienced there was far more than a routine field visit. It became a moment of reflection, learning, and appreciation for the communities that sit at the heart of our research. As we approached the area, the landscape slowly opened into wide views of Lake Albert. Fishing boats dotted the water in the distance, children moved along narrow paths between homes, and the rhythms of daily life unfolded in ways both ordinary and deeply meaningful. For many families in these communities, the lake is both a source of life and a place where the risk of infection quietly persists. It finally dawned on me that this right here was where the science we often discuss in meetings and reports takes on real human context. Walking through the community, I quickly realized that the study is not simply something people have heard about, rather, it is something they feel connected to. Many residents greeted the research team with familiarity and warmth, sharing stories of their involvement with the programe since the first field visit in 2024. Some spoke about health education sessions that helped them better understand bilharzia and how it spreads. “Before the researchers came, many of us did not fully understand why this disease kept affecting our children. Now we know what bilharzia is and how to protect ourselves. The study has helped us learn.” Others reflected on the regular interactions with the study teams and the reassurance that comes from knowing health support such as free medical checkups and treatment for bilharzia is close by. One mother I spoke to shared a reflection that stayed with me long after the visit. “We used to think this sickness was just part of life by the lake. Now, we understand it, and we know how to protect our children. That knowledge has given us hope.” Her words captured something powerful: research, when done with communities rather than simply within them, becomes something much bigger than data collection. It simply becomes a shared journey of understanding, trust, and hope. As conversations continued throughout the days with community leaders, mothers, and young people, it became clear that the work of the U-SMRC has created more than scientific knowledge. It has built relationships, strengthened awareness about schistosomiasis health, and given communities a voice in research that seeks to address diseases affecting their lives. And for me, as someone responsible for telling the stories of this work, the visit was a powerful reminder that behind every dataset, every report, and every scientific breakthrough, there are people whose experiences shape the meaning and impact of the research itself. Catch me in the next series as we continue this journey of science and community, where every step brings us closer to impact...
News
How Namayingo Communities are Standing by U-SMRC through Delays
In the quiet villages of Namayingo District; Buyondo, Maruba, Bumeru A, and Bumeru B communities, something quietly remarkable is happening. Despite a pause in data collection due to funding delays, over 95% of enrolled study participants are ready and waiting for their follow-up procedures and recruitment of adult participants for research on how bilharzia makes them sick. One would wonder why this is so? The answer to this is simply because trust has already been built. When the Uganda Schistosomiasis Multidisciplinary Research Centre (U-SMRC) returned to Namayingo in May 2025 for site preparation and participant mobilization for the final data collection visit, the expectation was simple: reconnect, set up, and move forward. However, what the team encountered was something deeper. From village chairpersons who welcomed the study team back, to Village Health Teams (VHTs) who helped trace absent participants, the community’s readiness was unwavering. Even when one of the most active VHT in Bumeru B had sadly passed away, the community ensured a quick handover to a replacement, keeping the study on track. Guardians expressed willingness to support one last visit for their children, and even those who had migrated said they would return, if only transport could be facilitated. Household visits to confirm participant availability in the communities What stood out was not just the numbers, though they were impressive. Out of 220 participants, 209 were fully available, and most of the rest were reachable. What truly mattered was the attitude. “People asked when we were starting again,” said Christopher Zziwa, Acting Study Coordinator. “There’s a sense that this research belongs to them too.” In a region long burdened by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including schistosomiasis, the community knows the value of research. U-SMRC’s earlier engagement with leaders and the use of local language in mobilization efforts fostered not only understanding but owner-ship. Meeting with Namayingo District Leadership This is not just a story about scientific preparedness or community engagement; it’s a story of loyalty in the face of uncertainty. In Namayingo, science has a home. Moreover, the people? They are still here, ready to continue the journey.
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Welcome to the Career Development section of our website, where we are excited to showcase the diverse and impactful projects undertaken by our talented PhD fellows.
In this section, we provide a glimpse into the cutting-edge research our PhD fellows are engaged in, highlighting their innovative ideas, and the potential implications of their work.
Partners
This project is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, under award U01AI168609.
