Angela, Sarah and Shivani visit the MVC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit
In April 2026, coinciding with Malaria Day, Angela, Sarah and Shivani spent the week in Uganda to visit the team led by Dr Sylvia Kusemererwa at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.
The teams from Oxford and Uganda are preparing for a collaborative Phase 1b clinical trial called BIO-009 – the first study in our EDCTP3-funded 2nd-Generation Malaria Vaccine Consortium (MVC-2G). The BIO-009 trial will explore a range of vaccination schedules in infants and children using the next-generation multi-stage vaccine candidate R21+RH5.1+R78C/Matrix-M. This candidate incorporates the approved vaccine R21/Matrix-M produced by the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd alongside two additional components that target the essential RH5 invasion complex of the blood-stage P. falciparummalaria parasite.
The team from the Draper Lab in the Department of Paediatrics in Oxford were also joined by Sarah Kelly, Clinical Programme Director (Global) from the Oxford Vaccine Group. We began the trip with a meeting in Kampala with the Ugandan regulatory authority, the NDA, were Dr Sylvia Kusemererwa presented the proposed BIO-009 trial followed by an excellent Q&A session where multiple aspects of the trial as regards safety and vaccine quality were discussed. We then travelled to the beautiful MRC/UVRI field site in Masaka, met the extended clinical trial team and undertook a detailed site assessment of the clinical research facility and laboratories. The following day involved excursions to the impressive 350+ bed National Referral Hospital in Masaka, led by Dr Mary Nyantaro, where we met with the EPI immunisation team and discussed recruitment to the new trial, followed by fruitful meetings with the hospital Director, the Chief Officer of the Masaka district and Chief Officer of Masaka city. Their support to this trial is invaluable and the strong relations between these key figures and the Masaka trials team, under the leadership of Dr Sylvia Kusemererwa, was truly inspirational. This was followed by discussions with Agnes Ssali, respected social scientist, with whom we are planning an exploration of the motivations for and acceptability of a new malaria vaccine, within an existing EPI schedule.
Finally, we then travelled back to Entebbe to visit the impressive laboratories and clinical trials unit at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. Sarah has never felt so at home with more -80 freezers (>40) and liquid nitrogen tanks (plus continuous supply) than we have ever witnessed on one site in any country to-date!
Altogether a hugely productive and stimulating trip, with wonderful hospitality from the Masaka team – Dr Sylvia Kusemererwa, Dr Mary Nyantaro, Dr Freddie Kibengo, Charles Ogwang, Geofrey Kimbugwe, Agnes Ssali, Samuel Bengo. Huge thank you to you all - we cannot wait to return for the start of the BIO-009 trial!
