Uganda Cancer Institute

8HXM+22M, Upper Mulago Hill Rd, Kampala, Uganda

Public Hospital

Serves Eastern Africa

The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is a comprehensive cancer center located in Kampala, Uganda. The UCI is an autonomous agency of the government of Uganda with a mandate for cancer care, research and training in Uganda. The centre is located within the Mulago Hospital complex and has partnerships with the Mulago National Referral Hospital, Makerere University as well as with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, USA. The center has 120 beds and serves 8,000 patients a year from Uganda and the East African region. The UCI is one of the oldest cancer centers in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 50 years of experience treating patients and also conducting research. The center has hosted clinical trials, including phase I, II and III drug studies for different cancers including for hematological malignancies. AC3T’s cancer clinical trials capacity data show that the UCI performs well across all dimensions and has robust capabilities in diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients, including radiotherapy. The centre has a dedicated radiotherapy department consisting of modern linear accelerators, a dedicated pathology service with both immunohistochemistry and molecular oncology capacity including sequencing. The Uganda Cancer Institute was also designated as the East Africa Centre of Excellence in Oncology through the East Africa African Community which was also supported with funding from the African Development Bank to develop infrastructure and to support cancer care, research and training in the region. The African Development Bank is also supporting establishment of a dedicated clinical trials ward and intensive care to support the conduct of intensive clinical research at the Institute.

Links to previous clinical trials:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03601806

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00049439

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03864419

Site Capabilities

Clinical Trial Experience

Therapeutic area interests:

  • Cancer
  • Infectious disease

    • Institution has received grant(s) from:

  • National Funder(s)
  • International Funder(s)

    • Sponsors for previous clinical trials include:

  • Academic
  • Government
  • Industry
  • Investigator-initiated

    • Previous clinical trials conducted:

  • Behavioral
  • Diagnostic
  • Drug – biologic
  • Drug – small molecule
  • Epidemiological
  • Observational
  • Surgical
  • Vaccine

    • Study phase capabilities:

  • Phase I
  • Phase II
  • Phase III
  • Phase IV

    • Pediatric research capabilities:

  • Yes

    • Institution Regulatory/Research Ethics Committees

    Frequency of meetings: Monthly

    Application turnaround time (IRB/IEC): 7-8 weeks

    Average time from receipt of final protocol to review and approval of study by all relevant committees: 9-10 weeks

    Additional compliance:

  • IRB/IEC in compliance with IC E6(R2) in terms of composition, functions, and operations guidelines
  • Institution and/or local regulation mandates the distribution of study safety reports to IRB/IEC

    • Institution Staffing Resources

    Staff typeStaff available (y/n) and specialty experience
    Research coordinatorYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    Research nurseYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    Research data managerYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    Quality assurance managerYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    BiostatisticiansYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    Database programmersYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    EpidemiologistsYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    PathologistsYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)
    PharmacistsYes
    -Experience in Clinical Trials
    -Training in Human Subjects Protection (HSP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
    -Training in Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)

    Institution Diagnostic Capabilities

  • Institution has personnel capable of performing diagnostic biopsies

    • Biopsies performed on-site:

  • Core needle biopsy
  • Endoscopic biopsy
  • Fine needle aspirate
  • Liquid biopsy
  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy
  • Skin biopsy
  • Surgical biopsy

    • Laboratory basics:

  • Institution has a laboratory on site
  • Institution sends diagnostic samples to external laboratory
  • Institution’s laboratory has been inspected or audited

    • Laboratory accreditations:

  • South African National Accreditation System (SANAS)

    • Tests performed on-site:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
  • Comprehensive metabolic-chemistry panel (CMP)
  • Routine urinalysis
  • Antibody tests
  • Antigen tests
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility and sensitivity
  • Bacterial smear and culture
  • Flow cytometry
  • Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
  • Fungal culture
  • Genetic testing
  • Histology
  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
  • Laboratory-developed tests (LDTs)
  • Microscopy
  • Ova and parasite (O&P) test
  • PCR and/or RT-PCR
  • Other nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs)
  • Viral culture
  • Viral load

    • Imaging capabilities:

  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Nuclear imaging
  • Ultrasound
  • X-ray
  • Pediatric imaging

    • Institution Research Systems, Recordkeeping, and Data Management

  • Institution adheres to informed consent processes compliant with ICH E6(R2)
  • Institution follows ICH E6(R2) for collection and storage of source documentation for paper and/or electronic records
  • Institution stores patient records/source documents (paper/electronic) in a secured, limited access location during and after the trial
  • For source documents collected via electronic data capture, institution has a validated system and site procedures that follow ICH E6(R2) 5.5 guidelines
  • Institution has process in place for proper storage, archiving, and retrieval of essential study document per ICH 8.1
  • Institution study monitors have full access to source documents or certified copies of source documents (if electronic) if direct access can’t be obtained
  • Institution has a finance administration team
  • Institution undergoes routine financial audits

    • Institution Pharmacy

  • Pharmacy on site
  • Pharmacy has secure, limited access storage area with daily temperature monitoring and backup generator
  • Pharmacy has standard processes in place to ensure proper receipt, handling, and storage of investigational study drug/vaccine and comparators
  • Pharmacy has standard processes in place to ensure proper dispensing
  • Pharmacy has standard processes in place to ensure proper labeling that maintains the study blind
  • Pharmacy has standard processes in place to ensure proper drug/vaccine accountability, retrieval, and return or destruction of unused product
  • Institution has a secure, limited-access investigational drug/vaccine storage area with daily temperature monitoring
  • Institution’s pharmacy has a backup generator sufficient to run necessary equipment, refrigerators, freezers, etc.

    • Institution Equipment

  • Protocol for managing anaphylactic shock
  • Institution has a blood bank
  • Institution carries out blood transfusions for patients that need it
  • Functioning IV infusion pumps
  • Functioning basic life support equipment (crash cart)
  • Functioning electrocardiogram (EKG)

    • Availability of banked blood at institution:

  • Always available
  • Occasionally available
  • Rarely available

    • Institution performs the following routine blood screening tests on banked blood:

  • HIV
  • HBV
  • HCV
  • HPV
  • HTLVI
  • HTLVII
  • Syphilis

    • Additional information:

  • Institution’s equipment is calibrated and maintained per manufacturer’s guidelines
  • Institution’s equipment calibration and maintenance is documented
  • Institution’s laboratory has a secure, limited access biological specimen storage area with daily temperature monitoring
  • Institution’s laboratory has a backup power source, with alarm, sufficient to run necessary equipment, refrigerators, freezers, etc.
  • Institution maintains and uses a diagnostic imaging protocol manual
  • Laboratory maintains and uses a laboratory protocol manual
  • Laboratory maintains and uses a laboratory protocol manual

    • Program-Specific Capabilities

    Institution Cancer Treatment Capabilities and Equipment

  • Treats cancer patients
  • Performs surgical excisions
  • Administers chemotherapy
  • Uses radiation therapy

    • Radiotherapy machines on site:

  • Linear accelerator
  • Cobalt 60
  • Brachytherapy machine

    • Institution Infectious Disease Treatment Capabilities and Equipment

  • Treats infectious disease patients
  • Protocol for managing sepsis

    • Vaccines administered on site:

  • HPV
  • HBV
  • COVID-19

    • Infectious disease treatment services performed on site:

  • Antimicrobial/antibiotic drugs (small molecules or biologics; including antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral medicines)
  • Immunotherapies: Cytokine inhibitors, convalescent plasma
  • Supportive care/symptom management
  • Surgery
  • Viral load monitoring

    • Investigators at Uganda Cancer Institute

    Clement Okello, MBChB, MMed (Internal Medicine)

    Consultant Hematologist

  • Cancer

    • Overview

    Dr. Clement Okello is a Consultant Hematologist at Uganda Cancer Institute. He is passionate about clinical care and clinical research, especially in the areas of malignant hematology and transfusion medicine. His clinical trial interests and experience include drug (biologic), epidemiological, and observational studies for leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma.

    Formal Clinical Trial Training*

  • Formal GCP Training
  • Formal HSP Training

    • Trial Phases

  • Phase II
  • Phase III

    • Experience Conducting or Participating in Clinical Trials: Yes

    Previous Clinical Trials

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38831291

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7236082

    *Definitions

    • HSP – Human Subjects Protection
    • GCP – Good Clinical Practice
    • GCLP – Good Clinical Laboratory Practice