Master's Research Support — Drug Safety Science

About the programme Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, has received funding from the UK Medical Research Council to build research capacity in Drug Safety Science in Uganda. The goal of this project is to equip and nurture emerging research leaders and professional scholars in Uganda to generate high-quality, contemporary evidence in Drug Safety Science that is translatable into policy and practice.

Drug safety science is a growing field that examines how medicines work in real-world populations, how adverse reactions can be detected and prevented, and how evidence can be used to make treatment safer and more effective. In Uganda, as in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, the rapid scale-up of life-saving therapies for conditions such as HIV has highlighted the urgent need for local expertise in monitoring drug safety and responding to emerging signals. Building this capacity locally is essential because patterns of drug use, genetics, co-infections and health-system factors differ from those in high-income settings, and evidence generated abroad cannot simply be assumed to apply.

Research modalities span Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Social Sciences, Implementation Science, and other policy-related disciplines. The project prioritises the fields of pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, pharmacogenomics, and clinical disciplines focused on medication use and medication safety. Students in this programme therefore have the chance to work at the intersection of several disciplines, making it a strong foundation for a research career in drug safety, clinical pharmacology or public health.

Applications are invited from ambitious Master's candidates to join a high-impact research project focused on understanding the adverse drug reactions of dolutegravir and isoniazid in people living with HIV in Uganda. Dolutegravir is a key component of modern antiretroviral therapy, while isoniazid is used to treat latent tuberculosis infection, so understanding their safety profile in Ugandan populations has direct implications for the care of people living with HIV. This is an opportunity to conduct research on a question of immediate clinical relevance while developing skills in drug safety science under experienced supervision.

Who can apply The project will support graduate students of: - Makerere University College of Health Sciences - Mbarara University of Science and Technology - Gulu University - Busitema University The programme deliberately draws students from multiple Ugandan universities, spreading research capacity across institutions and strengthening the national research community.

How to apply Enquiries and applications must be submitted to drugsafetyuganda@gmail.com. Please review the attached advertisement for more information on how to apply.

Why drug safety science matters Adverse drug reactions are a significant cause of illness, hospital admissions and treatment failure worldwide, and their burden in resource-limited settings is often underestimated because reporting systems are weak. By studying the specific drugs used in Ugandan HIV care, this project addresses a question that is both scientifically important and directly relevant to the lives of people living with HIV. It also contributes to building the pharmacovigilance systems that Uganda needs to monitor existing and future medicines. For a Master's candidate, this means the opportunity to be part of a project whose findings can influence treatment guidelines, patient safety and public health policy, while completing research for a postgraduate degree.

Deadline The closing date for applications is 31 March 2026.