Our Vision is to be a center of excellence in HIV Research, Care and Training.
Our Mission is to Improve the health status of families infected and affected by HIV through research, training, prevention and care
To Conduct Relevant HIV Research for Primary and Secondary HIV Prevention.
To Build Capacity of Health Care Providers and Allied Professionals in Research and Care.
To Facilitate Community Involvement in HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention.
To disseminate research findings in order to inform policy and practice
MU-JHU Research Collaboration was founded in 1988 as a collaboration between researchers from Makerere University and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA at a time when the AIDS epidemic was at its peak in Uganda and caused immeasurable suffering. The Focus of the Research collaboration was on Prevention of Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) and provision of pediatric HIV services in Uganda, paving way for the large-scale implementation of programs to eliminate vertical HIV transmission and improve prevention and care for HIV-infected and affected women, children and their families. The collaboration has flourished dramatically into a diverse community of talented clinical investigators, scientific researchers and participants. In 2006, the collaboration was registered as a legal not-for-profit entity in Uganda entitled ‘MUJHU Care Limited’ with a continuation of the Collaboration’s vision and mission.
From pre-interventional vertical transmission rates of one in 3 babies, transmission rates are now less than one in 50 representing a more than 16 fold reduction in MTCT.
Through MU-JHU’s HIV prevention and care research studies for over more than 30 years, MU-JHU has contributed directly to local and global policy changes and helped pave the way to wide-scale implementation of programs to eliminate vertical HIV transmission and improve prevention and care for HIV-infected and affected women, children and their families.
MU-JHU’s focus has now expanded to address other causes of maternal and pediatric morbidity and mortality.
MUJHU results informs local and global elimination of mother--to-child HIV transmission
Including the landmark HIVNET 012 (single dose Nevirapine for mother and baby),HPTN 046 (extended infant NVP prophylaxis during breastfeeding) and IMPAACT PROMISE (triple antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and breastfeeding).
Results from these studies have directly informed WHO policy advances through, to the current policy recommending antiretroviral therapy for life for all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women. With US HHS/PEPFAR funding, since 2000, MU-JHU has supported PMTCT implementation and scale-up in Uganda including at the National Referral Hospital with annual antenatal attendance peaking at 33,000 women/year and HIV prevalence close to 10%. MUJHU continues to rapidly implement emerging data and apply policy changes with a focus on quality and efficiency. Expanding HIV testing opportunities are radically changing the client knowledge of their status with 4 in 5 HIV-infected women already knowing their positive status prior to their 1st antenatal visit.
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Research breakthroughs for women to protect themselves from HIV infection
The dream of female-controlled methods to prevent new HIV infections has new momentum
The NIH sponsored MTN ASPIRE study was completed in 2016. This breakthrough study found that the long acting Dapivirine intravaginal ring reduced HIV acquisition among the women at high risk of HIV who participated. It’s sister clinical trial ‘The Ring’ study sponsored by IPM found similar results. Both studies found the Dapivirine ring was also acceptable and very safe. MU-JHU was the highest enrolling site in the ASPIRE multi-center study. Secondary analyses showed that women who used the product had the highest rates of protection. The Open Label Extension Study MTN HOPE has also been completed at MU-JHU to permit further learning about acceptability and safety. These results have been used by IPM to submit the regulatory dossier required for licensure so that the product can be available as an additional primary HIV prevention tool for women. MUJHU is conducting the MTN REACH study among 16-21year old women to further understanding of HIV prevention methods for this key age group as well as the HPTN 084 Long-acting Injectable for the Epidemic (LIFE) a multisite study that will test the safety and efficacy of injectable Cabotegravir for HIV prevention in women in sub-Saharan Africa. Other multi-purpose prevention products are in the pipeline.
MUJHU results inform improved care of infants, children and women living with HIV
MUJHU conducts NIH sponsored research to promote the health and well-being of HIV-infected and affected children, adolescents, women and their families. Paediatric HIV treatment trials which have influenced global policy and treatment guidelines include IMPAACT P1060 (Lopinavir/r versus NVP) and P1070 (pharmacokinetics of efavirenz in children under 3 years of age) and IMPAACT P1026
(Dose-finding pharmacokinetic studies for pregnant women and infants).
Other investigator led research include: improved psychosocial support for HIV-infected mothers and children through peer support, improved pediatric disclosure and other interventions. A further research focus is on long term neurodevelopmental outcomes and interventions which may improve these outcomes among HIV and ARV-exposed and uninfected children.
Since 2015, in partnership with CDC, MUJHU has conducted systematic birth defects surveillance at the four largest hospitals in urban Kampala to define the prevalence of visible birth defects and examine any association with HIV infection and ARV drug exposure. More than 115,000 births have been included in birth defects surveillance.
By April 2019, 99.6% of 117596 births were included in birth defects surveillance and 522 birth defects identified.
No association between ARV exposure and birth defects has been found.
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YOUNG GENERATION ALIVE (YGA) was founded in 2005 by 5 children that participated in the MU-JHU research programs and who are now youth leaders, coordinating the YGA program. YGA comprises of children and youth infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS seeking to raise a well-adjusted holistic individual, equipped to deal with the psycho-social challenges arising from living with HIV/AIDS. These include disclosure, stigma, adherence to ARV’s, and economic challenges. The youth are engaged in peer education, Psycho-social support meetings, school and community outreach programs, Music, dance and drama as well as economic empowerment activities to reduce the psycho-social effects of HIV. YGA youth have become global ambassadors and advocates in the fight to achieve global epidemic control.
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Meaningful engagement of young people is critical in achieving the 90-90-90 global goal by 2020.
“Nothing for us without us”
