Makerere University to receive scientific equipment worth 400,000 USD (Shs. 1.6 billion) under the Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access Program
The Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University has been accepted as an Instrumental Access awardee.
The college will receive scientific equipment worth 400,000 USD (Shs. 1.6 billion) for teaching, research, and diagnostic services.
The award that follows an application submitted by Dr. James Acai- Okwee, the Deputy Principal CoVAB comprises lab equipment and supplies that will advance scientific research and education. This is the flagship program of Seeding Labs, a US-based NGO working to increase access to resources for science in developing countries.
Assoc. Prof. James Acai-Okwee wrote the winning proposal
The instrumental Access award which was also realized based on the level of excellence of Makerere University makes high-quality laboratory equipment and supplies available to the university departments and research institutes.
‘The most important quality we look for in new awardees is whether access to additional equipment and resources will help to unlock untapped potential, and it is clear that this is the case at your institution’, stated the Chief Executive Officer, Seeding Labs in a statement that communicated this exhilarating message to the University.
The mission of Seeding Labs is to increase access to resources for science in developing countries. CoVAB’s participation in Instrumental Access makes Makerere University a member of the community of 137 Instrumental Access awardees in 39 countries worldwide.
‘We look forward to working with you and your colleagues throughout the university to provide your scientists and your students with laboratory equipment and supplies necessary to conduct life-changing research and train the next generation of scientists. I hope that this program is the beginning of a fruitful relationship between our organizations, which will continue beyond the Instrumental Access shipment, read the statement by Melissa P. Wu, (Ph.D.) Chief Executive Officer Seeding Labs.
A section of CoVAB students at the 74th Graduation Ceremony at Freedom Square, January 2024.
The Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine, Makerere University was chosen for the Instrumental Access award after a rigorous and competitive selection process that receives and evaluates applications from institutions around the world. To be considered, applicants outline the ways that an infusion of scientific equipment would remove barriers to STEM education and research at their institution, paving the way for new avenues of scientific inquiry and expanding hands-on opportunities for students.
The equipment will provide a foundation for other critical resources that allow scientists to generate new knowledge, leverage sustainable funding, and better prepare university students for the scientific workforce and innovation economy.
To date, the Instrumental Access program has catalyzed scientific innovation at more than 100 universities and institutions in 39 developing countries. The equipment:
- Has enhanced workforce training for more than 230,000 students, who have access to Instrumental Access equipment in practical lab sessions and thesis research,
- Catalyzed research projects with $16.9 million of new funding across 69 universities,
- Given more than 2,900 scientific staff at 118 university departments more opportunities to pursue their research agendas thanks to the availability of more equipment.
By Harriet Musinguzi
