London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit has been awarded a prestigious two-year grant from Roche’s African Genomics Program to advance genomics and bioinformatics research capacity across Africa. This grant builds on the Unit’s expertise in genomics research and its leadership in developing platforms that strengthen African scientific capacity.

Through this effort, the MRC Uganda Unit aims to close critical infrastructure and skills gaps, expand opportunities for African researchers, and generate innovations that will improve health outcomes across the continent.

At the heart of this project is the Uganda Medical Informatics Centre (UMIC), a high-performance computing platform hosted at the Unit’s main research station in Entebbe. UMIC provides African scientists with access to advanced computational resources for bioinformatics, genomics, and life science research.

Bursary for African Students and Trainees
The first initiative under this grant is the provision of bursaries for improving African scientists' access to computational research infrastructure. This bursary will support up to 50 MSc, PhD students, and early-career trainees in genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, and related fields.

Awardees will gain access to UMIC’s high-performance computing cluster and bioinformatics training resources, helping to accelerate their research and build long-term expertise in genomics. Applicants must be nationals of African countries, with preference given to those affiliated with African institutions and underrepresented groups.

What the Bursary Covers
●    £2,000 award per successful applicant.
●    Access to UMIC’s high-performance computing and training resources.
●    Mentorship and collaboration with leading African and international genomics researchers.
●    Certificate of award and participation upon completion.

Closing the Gap
Africa faces the dual challenge of a heavy disease burden and limited representation in global genomic data. By supporting young scientists to access advanced computational tools and training, this bursary contributes to closing the data and capacity gap, ensuring African-led solutions in genomics research.

Professor Moffat Nyirenda, Professor of Medicine at LSHTM and Director of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit remarked, 

“We are grateful to Roche for their support, which will help advance our mission to strengthen African leadership in genomics research. We look forward to seeing the meaningful contributions this support will drive in championing African-led scientific innovation.”

Damien Tully, Associate Professor in Bioinformatics at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit noted, 

“This grant from Roche represents an important step in strengthening Africa’s capacity to lead in genomics and bioinformatics research. By investing in young scientists and providing access to world-class computational infrastructure, we are equipping the next generation of African researchers to drive discoveries that will improve health outcomes across the continent and globally.”

Lisa Rooney Slater, Head of the African Genomics Program at Roche said, 

“Our support of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit reflects Roche’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, skills, and mentorship that will accelerate discoveries and empower the next generation of genomics leaders. By expanding access to UMIC’s advanced technologies and training, we can help unlock new possibilities in genomics research that benefit populations in Africa and beyond.”

Apply Now
Applications are open until 31st October 2025. Interested candidates can find full eligibility criteria and apply through the portal here: Apply Now