Happy New Year From Fred Hutch Global Oncology!

Virtual Tour of the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre

Video of the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre in Kampala, Uganda and created by Shot by Mu in 2021.

The recently completed build-out of the ground floor of the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre in Kampala in the spring of 2021 — adding approximately 3,800 sq. ft. to the 16,000 sq. ft. research, training and clinical care facility — has allowed the program to bring all research and administrative functions under one roof. This video highlights the new ground floor space and other key areas of the facility. This project was led by Magdalene Kintu, director, Administration and Operations, Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of Uganda Ltd. and Jason Barrett, operations manager, Global Oncology.

COVID-19 Response at the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre — SARS-CoV-2 Testing

Hutchinson Centre Research of Uganda (HCRI-Uganda) laboratory team together outside of the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre in Kampala.

As of mid-December, our UCI-Fred Hutch laboratory team has conducted over 3,500 SARS-CoV-2 tests since the program launched in the fall of 2020, participating in the Ugandan Ministry of Heath’s National Testing Program. In November 2021, the lab participated in a Ministry of Health assessment and World Health Organization inspection. The team passed with over 96% in COVID-19 proficiency and 100% in laboratory assessment.

For more than one year, the laboratory team has worked tirelessly to maintain less than a 24-hour turnaround time for delivering results. We are grateful for their dedication and efforts related to the pandemic response, while also supporting critical cancer and infectious disease research.

'Perseverance to Further Global Research' — FY2021 Annual Report

Dr. Henry Ddungu talking with a patient at the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre.

Global Oncology released its FY21 Annual Report in September 2021 in its first-ever digital format. The report provides an overview of scientific achievements, publications, grants and finances, and training and community efforts during FY21 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021). This is the program’s second annual report during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there are some signs of hope, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve and impact the world. This report provides an update on operational impacts and our response to the pandemic in collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute.

New Grants

Below are new grants awarded to our faculty and collaborators between July-December 2021.

“Liquid Biopsies to Aid in Early Detection, Improve Accuracy of Diagnosis, Avoid Invasive Biopsies, and Increase Survival for Breast Cancer in Uganda”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Manoj Menon (Fred Hutch), Dr. Nixon Niyonzima (UCI)
Funder: Earlier Foundation, $40,000
Dates: 8/1/2021-6/14/2022

“Barriers to Timely Antibiotic Administration in Patients With Neutropenic Fever at the Uganda Cancer Institute”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Elizabeth Gulleen (Fred Hutch fellow)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center, $68,822
Dates: 8/1/2021-6/30/2022

“AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource — Identifying Predictors of Kaposi Sarcoma Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Innocent Mutyaba (UCI, trainee/fellow)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute (subaward from the George Washington University), $40,000
Dates: 8/1/2021-8/31/2022

“Impact of COVID-19 on the Natural History of Kaposi Sarcoma in Uganda”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Hootie Warren (Fred Hutch), Dr. Warren Phipps (Fred Hutch)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, $177,959
Dates: 8/2/2021-4/30/2022

“The Impact of HIV on the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment”
Principal Investigators: Dr. Manoj Menon (Fred Hutch), Dr. Nixon Niyonzima (UCI), Dr. Jamie Guenthoer (Fred Hutch), Dr. Eric Konnick (University of Washington)
Funder: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, $6,434,495
Dates: 8/20/2021-7/31/2023

Research Highlights

In 2021, three research studies in Uganda met 100% accrual or enrollment targets and are undergoing analysis, including the study funded by the GlaxoSmithKline Africa NCD [Non-Communicable Disease] Open Lab to define the molecular profile of breast cancer in Uganda and to explore the feasibility an all-oral cancer regimen. All 100 patients were enrolled in the observational arm. The interventional arm was also closed given increased access to breast cancer chemotherapy as well as the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was led by Dr. Manoj Menon (Fred Hutch) and Dr. Jackson Orem (UCI).

Accrual targets were also met for the following studies:

“Exploring the Molecular Spectrum of Colorectal Cancer in Uganda,” led by Drs. Amanda Phipps (Fred Hutch) and Victoria Walusansa (UCI), in which the primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of BRAF and KRAS mutations, CpG island methylator phenotype and microsatellite instability in colorectal tumors in the Kampala Cancer Registry.

“Attitudes and Practices of Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship at the Uganda Cancer Institute,” led by Drs. Warren Phipps (Fred Hutch), Elizabeth Gulleen (Fred Hutch) and Margaret Lubwama (UCI), in which the investigators examined the current knowledge and attitudes of UCI health care providers towards antimicrobial resistance and stewardship and perceived barriers to the diagnosis and management of infections in patients at the UCI.

In Dr. Manoj Menon’s new award, “The Impact of HIV on the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment,” the research team will investigate the extent and nature of HIV-associated immune dysfunction in tumor tissues and blood biospecimens from both HIV-positive and HIV-negative Ugandan women with breast cancer. Although the risk of breast cancer is decreased among women living with HIV (WLWH) compared to women without HIV, breast cancer remains the most common non-AIDS-defining cancer among WLWH. Unfortunately, breast cancer among this population is characterized by aggressive disease and poor outcomes. Given the burdens of HIV and breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, clarity regarding the effect of HIV and associated immune dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment and blood are required to understand factors associated with cancer development and progression in this population. The research team includes Dr. Nixon Niyonzima (UCI), Dr. Jamie Guenthoer (Fred Hutch) and Dr. Eric Konnick (University of Washington).

Dr. Elizabeth Gulleen’s new study, “Barriers to Timely Antibiotic Administration in Patients With Neutropenic Fever at the Uganda Cancer Institute,” uses principles of implementation science to identify the barriers to timely antibiotic delivery for patients with neutropenic fever at UCI. This project will serve as the basis to develop and test implementation strategies to improve timely delivery of guideline-recommended antibiotics for patients receiving treatment at UCI. Dr. Gulleen’s previous study, “Factors and Outcomes Related to the Use of Guideline-Recommended Antibiotics in Patients With Neutropenic Fever at the Uganda Cancer Institute,” was one of the first studies to assess the use of guideline-recommended antibiotics and associated outcomes for patients with cancer who develop neutropenic fever while receiving cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. This study served as the foundation for her 2021-2022 Northwest Pacific Global Health Fogarty Fellowship under the co-mentorship of Drs. Warren Phipps and Jackson Orem. The principal investigators on this study were included Dr. Elizabeth Gulleen (Fred Hutch), Dr. Warren Phipps (Fred Hutch), Dr. Omoding Abrahams (UCI) and Dr. Christopher C. Moore (University of Virginia).

Read more about our research in our FY21 Annual Report.

Recent Publications

Gulleen EA, Adams SV, Chang BH, Falk L, Hazard R, Kabukye J, Scala J, Liu C, Phipps W, Omoding, A*, Moore CC. Factors and outcomes related to the use of guideline-recommended antibiotics in patients with neutropenic fever at the Uganda Cancer Institute. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Jun 10;8(7):ofab307. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab307.

Lynch RC, Cassaday RD, Smith SD, Fromm JR, Cowan AJ, Warren EH, Shadman MS, Shustov A, Till BG, Ujjani CS, Libby EN 3rd, Philip M, Coye H, Martino CN, Bhark SL, Morris K, Rasmussen H, Behnia S, Voutsinas J, Gopal AK. Dose-dense brentuximab vedotin plus ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide for second-line treatment of relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a single centre, phase 1/2 study. Lancet Haematol. 2021 Aug;8(8):e562-e571. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00170-8.

Kirenga B, Byakika-Kibwika P, Muttamba W, Kayongo A, Loryndah NO, Mugenyi L, Kiwanuka N, Lusiba J, Atukunda A, Mugume R, Ssali F, Ddungu H, Katagira W, Sekibira R, Kityo C, Kyeyune D, Acana S, Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa H, Kabweru W, Nakwagala F, Bagaya BS, Kimuli I, Nantanda R, Buregyeya E, Byarugaba B, Olaro C, Mwebesa H, Joloba ML, Siddharthan T, Bazeyo W. Efficacy of convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19 in Uganda. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021 Aug;8(1):e001017. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2021-001017.

Okello CD, Niyonzima N*, Ferraresso M, Kadhumbula S, Ddungu H, Tarlock K, Balagadde-Kambugu J*, Omoding A*, Ngendahayo L, Karagu A, Mwaiselage J, Harlan JM, Uldrick TS^, Turner SD, Orem J*. Haematological malignancies in sub-Saharan Africa: east Africa as an example for improving care. Lancet Haematol. 2021 Oct;8(10):e756-e769. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00198-8. Epub 2021 Sep 2.

Ujjani C, Greninger AL, Shadman M, Hill JA, Lynch RC, Warren EH, Gopal AK. Heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in patients with B-cell lymphoid malignancies. Am J Hematol. 2021 Nov 22. doi: 10.1002/ajh.26418. Epub ahead of print.

Bold = Fred Hutch Global Oncology faculty, staff scientists
Underline = Ugandan trainee/fellow
* = Ugandan collaborator
^ = former Global Oncology faculty
Italics = Fred Hutch fellow/researcher collaborating with Global Oncology

UCI-Fred Hutch Collaboration Training Program

EAST AFRICAN ADULT HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY (AHO) FELLOWSHIP

The second cohort of AHO fellows continues in the training program, which began in late 2020. The fellows (pictured above from left to right), Drs. Kenneth Kintu, Bogere Naghib and Erick Were, are pursuing the medical oncology track. In the first quarter of FY22 (July-Sept. 30, 2021), UCI and other local faculty in Kampala delivered six in-person trainings and one virtual training for the AHO fellows. In the same quarter, Fred Hutch/UW faculty held 14 virtual trainings.

CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

Led jointly by the UCI and the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, the 3rd annual Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care was held from Sept. 23-24, 2021. Five current or former UCI-Fred Hutch Collaboration trainees presented at this conference.

GRANTS AND RESEARCH

Dr. Innocent Mutyaba was awarded a new NIH grant, “AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource — Identifying Predictors of Kaposi Sarcoma Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome” (see details above).

Three studies at the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre have a Ugandan trainee/UCI fellow serving as a principal investigator. The principal investigators of the currently enrolling studies are Dr. Margaret Lubwama (“Bacteremia in Hematologic Cancer Patients with Febrile Neutropenia in Uganda”), Dr. Fadhil Geriga (“Optimizing Nephroblastoma Treatment Outcomes in Uganda”) and Dr. Clement Okello (“Treatment Response and Treatment-Related Mortality in Pediatric Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the Uganda Cancer Institute”). Two upcoming studies under initial regulatory review each have a Ugandan trainee/fellow as a principal investigator.

GO Communications & News

TEAM SPOTLIGHTS

Hear from a few of our administrative colleagues at the HCRI-Uganda about their teams’ recent milestones and accomplishments. Learn more about the UCI-Fred Hutch Collaboration team.

Magdalene Kintu, director, Administration and Operations

A new Building Oversight Committee for the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre was instituted in August 2021 with the kick-off meeting in September 2021. This committee oversees the safe and secure use and operations of the UCI-FHCC and reports to the Collaboration’s executive committee. It is led by Dr. Nixon Niyonzima (chair), Jacqueline Asea (co-chair) and Jason Barrett (meeting recorder) and includes members from the UCI, HCRI-Uganda and Global Oncology.

Douglas Bugeiga, IT manager

During the pandemic lockdown, the IT department faced a challenge to continue providing technical support to remote teams. The bulk of support heavily relied on the availability of internet connectivity and yet, an estimated 70% of the reported problems were related to lack of internet.

We needed to quickly create a simple, easy-to-deliver solution to provide technical support via a common channel that is not data-intensive. The solution also needed to be compliant with our data protection standards.

Our team developed in-house, video and pictorial how-to illustrations of the most reported technical issues by staff. We shared these videos via WhatsApp. We have had success in terms of adoption of this strategy. It is heartwarming to hear staff narrating the steps taken to resolve a technical issue and one of those steps is based on a video how-to that we generated. Even with the workplace slowly opening, we continue to add more content to share the videos via WhatsApp.

Mariah Nantume, fiscal manager

In Finance, we have been able to come up with innovate ways to continue supporting research through transport reimbursements. With remote work and the inability to have physical contact with the signatories, we introduced prepaid cards that enable us to collect petty cash without requiring physical cheque sign off and yet maintain the authorization controls in the system.

Andrew Okot, operations and HR manager

There was a need to have an automated, in-house payroll and leave-tracking system to ensure accurate and timely payments. Previously, our payroll process was done through a third party, and this had significant challenges. We rolled out the Paymaster Payroll system in October 2020 for HCRI-Uganda staff. We ran a parallel payroll through December 2021 to ensure accuracy and for staff to become familiar with the new system.

This was a huge milestone for both HR and the Finance office, and ultimately a significant process improvement. We are very excited about being able to build this capacity as a program, and I would like to thank everyone who was part of this change process. I would like to sincerely thank leadership for enabling this initiative and the supporting financial obligations.

Milton Oyuku, Environmental Health & Safety building operations officer

HCRI-Uganda leadership improved the quality of care at the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre by establishing the Institutional Biosafety Committee, or IBC, to minimize health and safety risks that may be caused by research activities. The committee aims to ensure work is conducted safely, which benefits both staff and the program and was established following the Uganda National Council for Science Technology’s National Guidelines for Research Involving Humans as Research Participants. These guidelines require organizations that conduct research with potentially hazardous substances to set up an IBC. The committee is composed of nine members from the UCI, HCRI-Uganda and the community. The National Biosafety Committee facilitated the IBC members’ orientation training and inauguration in October 2021 and Dr. Jackson Orem, UCI’s executive director also attended.

Work With Us

We have a few opportunities on our team. You can also visit our career websites for future opportunities: Fred Hutch careers, HCRI-Uganda careers.

Quality Assurance Assistant (Kampala, Uganda)
Training Project Manager (Kampala, Uganda)
Temporary Data Coordinator (Kampala, Uganda)

Upcoming Events

Global Oncology Lecture Series

• January 24, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. PST: Solomon Kibudde of the Uganda Cancer Institute
• February 28, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. PST: Dan Milner, MD, MSc (Epi), MBA, FASCP, Chief Medical Officer, American Society for Clinical Pathology
• March 21, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. PST: Benjamin Anderson, M.D., Professor, Global Health and Professor, Surgery, University of Washington; Medical Officer, Cancer Control, World Health Organization (WHO)

Visit our website for more details about these upcoming seminars and future events.

Connect With Us

Visit us at fredhutch.org/go
Follow us on Twitter @FredHutchGO
E-mail us at globaloncology@fredhutch.org