Located within the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) campus, the Entebbe research station is the operational and strategic hub of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. It houses the Unit’s central administration, major research platforms, and the infrastructure that powers multi-site coordination, scientific leadership, and evidence-to-policy translation.
- What Happens Here?
Research Platforms Headquarters
Entebbe is home to four of the Unit’s five Research Platforms, including Clinical Trials, Clinical Diagnostics, laboratory and Biobanking, Sequencing, and Immunology. These platforms provide critical operational support, technical excellence, and thought leadership across all thematic research areas.
Study Coordination Hub
From Entebbe, we coordinate major research activities in Wakiso, Kampala, the Lake Victoria islands, and surrounding districts. This includes regulatory and ethics support, community engagement oversight, data management, and training. It’s where science conducted across different sites is harmonised and elevated to influence policy and practice.
Clinical Research in Action
Entebbe hosts the EMaBS (Entebbe Mother and Baby Study) cohort, one of the longest-running birth cohort studies in Africa, which provides valuable longitudinal data on infections, immunity, and child development. It also serves as the central site for clinical trial oversight and hosts visiting fellows, students, and collaborators conducting clinical research.
Uganda Medical Informatics Centre (UMIC)
UMIC is one of the most advanced biomedical data centres in Africa. Based at the Entebbe station, it offers secure, high-performance computing infrastructure that supports big data analytics, genomics, and data sharing in line with international ethical and security standards. UMIC enables large-scale modelling, surveillance, and bioinformatics work across studies and countries.
- Resources & Facilities
Infrastructure
- Secure high-speed data centre (UMIC)
- Clinical and pharmacy facilities
- A clinical research facility
- Sample processing and laboratory support
- Training and seminar rooms
- On-site equipment maintenance & logistics support
Who Works Here?
The Entebbe station brings together platform staff, administrative teams, research support services, and a multidisciplinary team of investigators, statisticians, informatics specialists, and public health practitioners. It also serves as a launchpad for new initiatives, training programmes, and scientific collaborations.
- Entebbe Station Timeline
1989
Unit Established at UVRI
The MRC/UVRI collaboration begins, marking Entebbe as the central station for long-term infectious disease research in Uganda.2003
EMaBS Cohort Launched
The Entebbe Mother and Baby Study begins recruitment, now a legacy birth cohort contributing to global child health research.2016
Big Data Infrastructure Boosted
In collaboration with the Wellcome Sanger Institute/ University of Cambridge, construction of UMIC begins, a turning point in high-performance computing and secure data handling at the Unit.2018
UMIC Goes Live
UMIC is officially launched, enabling advanced genomics and regional data science collaborations.2020
COVID-19 Response and Digital Expansion
The site pivots to coordinate COVID-19 diagnostics, data systems, and ethics support, reinforcing its role as the operational backbone.
2023
Research Platform Model Introduced
Entebbe becomes the coordination hub for the Unit’s multidisciplinary platforms, supporting integration across all research sites.Today
Anchor of Multi-Site Trials and Scientific Policy Influence
Entebbe continues to guide strategy, support coordination, and connect research to impact.