Mbarara hub using AI to improve medical imaging and detection
Official title: MUST Data Science Research Hub (MUDSReH)
Funded at Mbarara University/science/ Technology · NIH-11400157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses AI and mobile medical imaging to help health workers in Uganda detect disease and trains local teams to use these tools.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mbarara University/science/ Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Mbarara, Uganda) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $34,117 |
| NIH project number | 3U54TW012043-05S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people in Uganda or nearby regions who need diagnostic imaging (for example eye exams) or who can have photos or scans taken as part of their care.
✕Less likely to help
People whose conditions cannot be detected with medical imaging, or who cannot access participating clinics in Uganda, are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This hub brings together local hospitals, data scientists, and implementation experts to collect medical images (like eye photos) and build AI tools that can read them. The team will train clinicians and technicians in data science and implementation methods so the tools can be used in everyday clinics. Two initial projects focus on improved posterior eye imaging and mobile-phone based imaging approaches. The program will also host regional summits and expand collaborations across sub-Saharan Africa to scale up the work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get earlier and more accurate diagnoses using AI-assisted images and wider access to care across the region.
How similar studies have gone: AI methods for medical imaging, including fundus photo analysis, have shown promise in other places, but applying them in sub-Saharan Africa and building local capacity is less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Mbarara University/science/ Technology
Mbarara, Uganda Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaggwa, Fred — Mbarara University/science/ Technology
- Study coordinator: Kaggwa, Fred
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.