We are thrilled to share the highlights from our latest RHSP Newsletter, covering a truly dynamic January to April 2025! This period was marked by significant strides in research, deepened collaborations, impactful community initiatives, and prestigious recognitions. It’s a testament to our dedicated team, our invaluable partners, and the communities we serve. Let's dive into some of the key achievements!
Key highlights include;
- Leading the Charge in HIV Research (CROI 2025 Showcase):
- Emphasize RHSP's prominent role at the 32nd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2025) in San Francisco.
- Mention the presentation of cutting-edge research findings on HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and Mpox.
- Highlight key oral presentations (e.g., Silas Odiya on HIV viremia despite ART coverage, Joseph (Greg) Rosen on clinic switching and viral load) and impactful poster presentations (e.g., HIV drug resistance, partner notification services, PrEP uptake). This shows the breadth and depth of your research.
- Forging Powerful Collaborations for Greater Impact:
- Climate Resilience: Spotlight the Uganda Climate Shock Survey with the University of Michigan, focusing on understanding community adaptation to extreme weather. Mention Prof. Joseph Kolars' visit.
- Expanding Research Horizons: Discuss the promising collaboration with MU-JHU, exploring research beyond HIV/AIDS to tackle other pressing health challenges.
- Adolescent Health Focus: Detail the visit from Columbia University and City University of New York (CUNY), centered on the ROC (Rakai Orphans in the Communities) and ICARE (consent for biomedical research among adolescents) projects, and the crucial Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.
- Innovating in Community Engagement & Health Delivery:
- Sports for Health: Showcase the creative and effective "Using Sports to Strengthen Health Education" initiative, particularly the HECM team's football tournaments for research dissemination and health service promotion. This is a great human-interest angle.
- Addressing Oral Health Disparities: Highlight the return of Dr. Abbas Jessani (Western University) for the oral health research project, conducting dental checks and emphasizing the integration of oral health into routine care.
- Achieving Excellence and Sustainable Futures:
- Prestigious Recognitions: Celebrate the NSSF award for compliance and the RENU award as Top eduroam User in Research Institutions.
- Setting Global Standards: Announce the major achievement of the RHSP Laboratory being recommended for ISO 15189:2022 accreditation – a huge validation of quality and competence.
- Commitment to Sustainability: Feature the milestone of RHSP Goes Net-Zero, with facilities now fully powered by solar energy. This is a significant and forward-thinking achievement.
- Making Data Accessible: The RCCS Dashboard:
- Introduce the launch of the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) Dashboard. Explain how this powerful tool allows researchers and the public to explore long-term HIV trends and prevention strategy impacts in the Rakai region.
This is just a glimpse into the incredible work happening at RHSP. Each of these achievements – from groundbreaking research presented on global stages to vital community health initiatives and our commitment to operational excellence – propels us forward in our mission to improve health. We are immensely proud of our team and grateful for our partners and supporters.