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Uganda Virus Research Institute

REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

Welcome to Uganda Virus Research Institute

The UVRI engages in health research pertaining to human infections and disease processes associated with or linked to viral aetiology and provides expert advice, enables partnerships and communication and serves as a center for training and education.

UVRI conducts research, surveillance and diagnostics. The Institute’s programmatic activities currently comprise of the following areas:

    • Basic research (e.g virology, immunology, genetics, genomics, molecular biology)
    • Applied research (intervention, diagnostics, clinical, operational)
    • Social/economic research
    • Surveillance
    • Epidemiology
    • Entomology
    • Bioinformatics
    • Capacity building through infrastructure and human resource development
    • Advice for regulation, policy development and quality improvement
    • Innovation

We are home to several national and international reference and specialized testing laboratories including:

  • The national and regional reference center for vector borne viral diseases;
  • The national influenza Ccnter, a WHO influenza collaborating laboratory;
  • The national diagnostic laboratory for highly infectious viral infections;
  • The Africa WHO yellow fever reference laboratory;
  • The national HIV reference and quality assurance laboratory;
  • The national and regional reference laboratory for HIV drug resistance,
  • A WHO Measles and Rubella Regional Reference laboratory and
  • WHO Inter-country Polio laboratory.

Functions of UVRI

The Institute functions include: 

  •   Disease prevention and control
  •   Epidemiological investigations and surveillance
  •   Conducts basic and other public health related research
  •   Involved in emergency preparedness
  •   Engaged in reference and specialised testing
  •   Participates in environment health and protection
  •   Enables partnerships and communication 
  •  Offers training and education to an array of professions such as scientists, clinicians, public health specialists and environmental officers.
  • Archiving of specimens

 UVRI Structure

The Institute is organized under 5 major technical and 1 administrative departments, which are closely inter-related. Each department is headed by an Assistant Director of Research assisted by a Principal Research Officer, all of whom are under the supervision of the Institute’s Director. The scientific departments are facilitated by administration and finance support services. There are also two Units, the Immunisable Diseases Unit (IDU) or the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the UVRI clinic or Clinical Unit for Research, that serves both Institute staff and the surrounding community; and also undertakes research. In addition, there is a training function spearheaded by a Training Committee.