 Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) was selected by the NIAID/NIH as the site for the Uganda International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER) in 2002. This support has facilitated RHSP to address a range of research and training needs. The vision of the RHSP is to develop as a Center of Excellence that promotes health through community, clinical, and laboratory research nationally and internationally. The NIH ICER Programme, through its technical and financial support, is enabling RHSP to fulfill this vision.
In the past year, the NIH ICER Programme has supported the final completion of the RHSP Kalisizo laboratory and clinical center infrastructure, equipping it with high quality immunological, microbiological, and clinical research capability. The NIH ICER Programme has upgraded the IT infrastructure in both RHSP Entebbe and Kalisizo, incuding the expansion of VSAT satellite systems to facilitate video conferencing link with the US for two sites (Entebbe and Kalisizo); the installation of voice-over IP phone systems for Kalisizo and Entebbe; the installation of security windows WSUS; and the installation of a disaster recovery system. A range of training needs have been identified by RHSP and are being met through training support provided by the NIH ICER Programme. Examples of trainings carried out: - Flow cytometry QC training (Kampala) by UNEQAS
- Bachelor degree training for two laboratory technicians at Makerere University (tuition covered by UAB-ICER training grant)
- DELIVER training on Laboratory and Supply Chain Management for Rakai Health Sciences Programme Logistics management staff
With NIH ICER Programme support, various active research studies have been conducted. To learn more about the ICER programs, please visit http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/icer/default.htm | 
