SRF Research and Training Centres

A one stop Centre for Health Research, Training and Innovation services.

PROFILE

SRF Research and Training Centres LTD is a Non-profit research organization registered under the laws of Uganda (Registration No: 80034853666921). The Organization designs and implements its own research and programs but also works as a Contract Research Organization. As a Contract research organization, SRF Research And Training Centres LTD provides support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries in the form of research services outsourced on a contract basis.

Why SRF Research and Training Centres started.

We recognized the poor African Health Research and Development status and sought to contribute on the interventions towards its improvement. It is noteworthy that even to-date, 15% of the world’s population lives in Africa, and Africa has 25% of the global disease burden but produces 2% and 0.5% of the world’s research output, and patent applications respectively. In addition, Africa has only 98 versus 4369 Researchers per million inhabitants (FTE) in Europe. This disease burden, low research and innovation output and low human resource points to Africa’s vulnerability to dependence to higher income countries and a gross inability to generate its context-based knowledge and medical technologies to support its health system strengthening and development aspirations as per the SDG (3.B, 3.C, 3.D and 9 target 5) and AU agenda 2063 (Aspiration 1 and goal 1.2) so as to enhance its global competitiveness. In our preliminary studies and evidence synthesis, we noted important barriers to Africa’s research competitiveness as excellence that needed innovative approaches to address them, that is; 1) Limited sensitization and inspiration of young elite generation in R&D careers 2) Weak Research and Education Systems with insufficient quality of training in research especially methodologies and techniques. 3)Low research mentorship and motivation 4) Limited infrastructure and mentorship platforms for research especially for graduates outside universities leading to loss of potential researchers. 5) Insufficient Government Funding and low private sector Investment to R&D 6) Inadequate research Infrastructure and Facilities.

Our vision

“To provide evidence-based solutions to the prevailing and emergent health challenges of the vulnerable populations of Africa and contribute to the attainment of Africa’s development aspirations through promoting research excellence and human capital development.”

Our Mission

To establish One-Stop Centres for Health research, Training and Innovation services for researchers in Africa.

The core objectives SRF Research and Training Centres LTD are:

1) To generate and provide evidence-based solutions to the prevailing and emergent challenges of the vulnerable populations of Africa that include but not limited to health, climate, environment, economic, social and general well-being while emphasizing equity and fairness. 2) To contribute to the achievement of the development aspirations of African countries through promotion of Research and Development excellence, human resource development and Service delivery programs.

What our One-Stop Centres contain?

1) Research Centres and services: for research conceptualization, designing, implementation, quality assurance and translation. 2) Research Training Centres and services: for raising a large community of skilled researchers in Africa 3) Research Consultancy Centres and services: for supporting high-quality research conceptualization, designing and implementation by Researchers working in Africa. 4) Research grant management services: to facilitate efficient and transparent management of research grants by researchers in Africa. 5) International Health Researchers’ mobility support Desk: to coordinate research and academic mobilities, and promote strategic networks or South-to-South and North-to-South research collaborations. 6) Research material production and dissemination services: especially in terms of writing and producing research books, offering designing and printing services, hiring spaces for workshops and research dissemination, development of research promotion materials and dissemination events management. 7) Support Initiative For African Researchers (SIFAR): which is a research career and funding advocacy arm of the organization. The goal of SIFAR project is: “Advocating and promoting the recognition of research as a career path and raising resources to support the skilling of a large body of researchers, students and graduates in research as a foundation for the attainment and sustainability of a knowledge-driven economies and societies in Africa”. We focus on raising a large community of problem solvers through research career inspiration, research skills empowerment and advocating for financial and In-kind support for research by young African Researchers, students and Elites. This is an innovative initiative designed to equip young individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to actively contribute to a meaningful scientific progress and solve societal problems. SIFAR empowers young people to develop critical thinking, problem solving abilities and a passion for innovation

Soar Research Foundation Limited

This is a For-Profit Research organization established under SRF Research and Training Centres LTD as part of its self-sustaining mechanism. The company offers diverse research consultancy, training services and Research material production and dissemination services. It began as a grass-root research consultancy in 2010, evolving into a licensed mission-oriented contract research organization in Uganda in 2019 (registration number 80034853666921) after nine years of refining its operational model. Recently in January 2025, it was merged under an umbrella organization SRF Research and Training Centres LTD to scale-up its impact. The Vision of Soar Research Foundation is: “To promote Research Excellence in Africa”. The Mission of Soar Research Foundation is: “To create reliable and efficient infrastructure for quality research implementation, research consultancy and skills development”.

Strategic Vision for Research Excellence

Aligned with its strategic vision, SRF aspires to become an international one-stop center for research excellence promotion in low-resource settings.

We DO research

To provide standard infrastructure, systems, expert human resource and platforms(consortiums) for research implementation and resource mobilization to enhance research activity.

We TEACH research

To provide services platforms and infrastructure to raise and enhance researchers' knowledge and skill sets.

We SUPPORT research

To provide Reseacher expert support services to ensure methodological quality and data intergrity in research implementation so as to increase the confidence needed for research dissemination and utilization.

Our engagement in Clinical trials

Our engagement in Clinical Trials is at 5 levels

Clinical trial design and implementation

Based on our understanding of the research context and challenges in implementing clinical trials in low-resource settings, SRF has established an experienced support team of clinical trialists, infrastructure and systems for the implementation of chemotherapeutic, medical device clinical trials and other health system and community interventions. a. Chemotherapeutic Trials’ implementation: Besides the vast Clinical Trial experience of some of our researchers (like Dr Atwine Daniel) especially in Chemotherapeutic trials, we have not yet hosted a chemotherapeutic trial but looking forward to doing so. b. Medical devices Trials: Given our long-term collaboration with the African Biomedical Engineering Consortium (ABEC) and African Biomedical Engineering Mobility (ABEM, funded by EU) as a project evaluator and contributor in promoting medical innovation in Africa, we have built a niche in translating our Clinical trial experience gained from chemotherapeutic trials to support the young but growing African MedTech industry and innovators to implement trials. Our ongoing Clinical trial is entitled: “Safety and efficacy of the photo-kabada device as compared to devices in routine use in administering phototherapy for babies with neonatal jaundice: an open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial.” (Photo-Kabada Trial)

Clinical Trial training

We collaborate with Mbarara University and Epicentre in facilitating the Clinical Trial module that has been running for now 6 years under the department of Community Health (Masters in Public Health). In addition, we offer clinical trial trainings to innovators and biomedical engineers who grossly lack these skills despite their engagement in medical device development that demands implementation of device validation studies and clinical trials especially for Class B, C and D devices. We also participate in international training of researchers/PhD students with interest in participating in Global Health Research especially conducting clinical trials in Africa. a. Visiting Lecturership: XLI Annual School 2022 – Biomedical Engineering for Sustainable Development (GNB School 2022), Italy: Lecture on Implementing Clinical studies in low resource settings. XLI Annual School 2022 – Biomedical Engineering for Sustainable Development (grupponazionalebioingegneria.it) or Bioengineering for Sustainable Development - UBORA (ubora-biomedical.org) b. Senior Global Health Scholar In-residence at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA: Focusing on decolonization of Global Health research. (Apr2022) https://africa.unc.edu/2022/03/25/daniel-atwine/

Clinical Trials regulation:

a. Participation in National guidelines development: Some of our Senior researchers (Dr Atwine Daniel) have been part of the national task force (at Uganda National Council of Science and Technology) for developing research guidelines e.g Community Engagement guidelines. GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS AT 9TH FEBRUARY 2022 (3).pdf (uncst.go.ug) b. Medical devices trials and regulation advocacy: We have utilized different platforms both global and continental to advocate for clinical trials competency among Biomedical engineers and innovators. - Panel discussant at Science summit United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77). (2022). Focussing on Leveraging Biomedical Engineering in achieving Access to Healthcare for all. (https://ssunga77.sched.com/event/18lXi/ref-23151-open-source-medical-technology-for-health-equity-convened-by-the-open-biomedical-engineering-e-platform-for-innovation-through-education-ubora). - Panel discussion: Transforming Africa MEDTECH Conference (TAMC), Nairobi, Kenya. 2023. Topic: “What does Africa Centered Medtech Look Like?” - Panel discussion: Transforming Africa MEDTECH Conference (TAMC), Nairobi, Kenya. 2024. Topic: “The Journey of Medtech Regulation in Africa: Challenges, Harmonization Efforts, Strategies, and Gold Standards”.

Meet the Visionaries: Our Dedicated Team at Soar Research Foundation

Dr. Daniel Atwine, PhD

Executive Director

Dr. Sunday Nighty Atwine, MD, MPH

Director of Operations

Ms. Caroline Birungi, MPH-RE, BSc

Senior Research Regulatory Manager and Training coordinator

Ms. Esther Munguciada, BMLS, P.Dip

Research Officer and M&E Manager

Dr. Elizabeth Kemigisha, MD, MMED-Ped, PhD

SRF-RTC Organization Ambassador

Ms. Akatukwasa Cecilia, MPH, PhD

Consultant Qualitative Research Scientist

Dr. Kaziga Ruth, PhD

Research Associate and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Expert

Ms. Elizabeth Ninsiima, MPH track

Research and Community engagement Officer

Ms. Ikiriza Teta Joanna, BSE, Dipl.IT

Data Manager and Systems Coordinator

Ms. Asiimwe Eunice, Dipl.Educ, Dipl.BA

Administrative and Finance Coordinator

Mr. Bengo Muyonjo, BSc (Bus. Statistics), CPA III track

Grants management consultant

Mr. Ahimbisibwe Bernard, BSc.Ed

Production and Marketing Manager

Nakalema Assumpta

IT and Communication Officer

Ms. Phionah Arinaitwe

Logistics Officer and Study Nurse

Ms Natukunda Eva

Social Worker and Data processing officer

Mr. Byamukama Geoffrey

Electrical Technician

Ms. Arihiihi Specious

Clinical Trial Nurse

Ms. Kanyana Racheal

Language Translation and Transcription Officer

Mr Sankara Daniel

Communication & Media Support

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SRF Research and Training Centres