„I see international collaboration as doing science without boundaries.“: Interview with Dr Moses Egesa
In October 2024, Dr Moses Egesa, a Senior Research Officer at the Uganda National Health Research Organisation (UNHRO)'s constituent institute Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), arrived in Leiden in the Netherlands for training on glycan microarrays for schistosomiasis research. His academic host for the next few weeks was Leiden University Medical Center – WORMVACS2.0 coordinator – which is engaged in a long-term collaborative relationship with the UNHRO/UVRI, a WORMVACS2.0 project partner.
For Dr Egesa, this visit is the latest of many in the last decade, and he has been able to apply the newly acquired knowledge in his day-to-day work with PhD students and colleagues at UNHRO. As a former Bachelor, Master, and PhD student of Uganda’s Makerere University, this process of knowledge-sharing is close to his heart and helps further strengthen Ugandan scientific expertise on parasitic infections. Dr Egesa has dedicated his research career to fighting such neglected diseases. His research vision is to develop optimal vaccines against neglected parasitic infections such as schistosomiasis, leading to improved health of populations at risk in Africa and the tropics.
Dr Moses Egesa in Leiden during his knowledge exchange visit at the Leiden University Medical Center.
WORMVACS2.0 aims to strengthen international science collaboration and centres partnerships between endemic and non-endemic countries. In the interview below, Dr Egesa reflects on the importance of such collaboration and its value for all involved.
You are part of the UNHRO, a WORMVACS2.0 partner. What kind of work do you do and how does it contribute to the project goals?
The UNHRO is a government umbrella organisation that was established in 2011 under the UNHRO Act to coordinate, promote, and guide health research and development in Uganda. Through its constituent institute, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) based in the airport city of Entebbe, UNHRO/UVRI is mandated to conduct research into human infections and diseases. At its inception in the 1930s, UNHRO/UVRI primarily investigated viral infections, but it has expanded to study all communicable and non-communicable diseases of public health importance to Uganda and Africa. Of note, UNHRO/UVRI has conducted many human clinical trials of vaccines for HIV and other diseases such as tuberculosis, and rift valley fever among others. My work at UNHRO is primarily on the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) and is geared towards developing a vaccine against it. Schistosomiasis not only affects the peninsular where UNHRO and UVRI are located but the different parts of the Uganda surrounded by freshwater bodies. Against this background, we are contributing to WORMVACS2.0 project with our well characterised cohorts and expertise in conducting immunological investigations of endemic populations.
Why is it important that research into parasitic worm infections is carried out collaboratively in endemic and non-endemic countries?
Parasitic worm infections that we are interested in (schistosomiasis and hookworm) are neglected diseases affecting the poorer communities in Uganda. Uganda is endemic for both infections. The resulting debilitating disease conditions make the adults less productive, earning less income, and contributing to poverty. Also, infected children do not adequately attend school. Those who attend do not learn well and perform poorly in school. The healthcare costs associated with dealing with these infections burden households, consequently an entire endemic community, and Uganda’s health system. These diseases are a not a problem specific to endemic countries. Travellers from non-endemic countries are also at risk of infection with these parasitic worms when they visit endemic countries. Therefore, collaborative research into parasitic worm infections will ensure (directly) that every person is well and (indirectly) that poverty is alleviated. In this way, WORMVACS2.0 is contributing to the global sustainable development goals.
WORMVACS2.0 consortium brings together experts in hookworm and schistosome immunology, epidemiology and vaccine development from institutions in Africa, Europe, United States of America, and Australia. Where do you see the value of this varied partnership?
When we collaborate across national, regional and continental boundaries, we share different perspectives and lived experiences that drive the science. Each collaborator contributes their experience and expertise that collectively lead to successful projects and programme. I believe the partnership is greater than the sum of each institution’s individual contribution.
Last year, you took part in training at the Leiden University Medical Center. What did it entail and how would you say it contributed to UNHRO’s and LUMC’s work?
For a decade now, I have taken part in training on different aspects of my schistosomiasis research at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands. These have been enriching learning experiences. Last year, I trained on performing the glycan microarray with Dr Angela van Diepen and Prof. Cornelis Hokke at the LUMC. The know-how learned has since been transferred to my organisation UNHRO where I trained our PhD student and colleagues at UNHRO and developed SOPs. We have run microarrays on samples from Ugandan individuals infected with schistosomes. The training is part of a wider long-term collaboration we have had with the LUMC. We will analyse the resulting outputs and publish the findings.
Where do you see the value of international collaboration and knowledge exchange in science?
In essence, I see international collaboration as doing science without boundaries. We have partner institutions in Africa, Europe, the US, and Australia working towards one common goal – to prevent and eventually eradicate two common parasitic diseases. At the same time, we only truly get value from international collaborations when they are impartial. I am particularly happy with the equitable and inclusive collaboration we have in WORMVACS2.0. That is the true value of a collaboration.
