Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, an esteemed Aurum Board Member and the outgoing Director of the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit), has been awarded the OBE in recognition of his significant contributions to education and public health.
The Unit is a multidisciplinary research organisation conducting research on HIV, emerging and re-emerging infections and non-communicable diseases. Within the Unit, he heads the Pathogen Genomics, Phenotype and Immunity Programme. He is co-founder of the UVRI-IAVI HIV Vaccine Programme and its founding Director. He is a Professor of immunovirology at the LSHTM in the Department of Infection and Immunity.
He trained as a medical doctor at Makerere University, Kampala and later obtained a diploma and PhD in immunovirology of HIV. He leads many studies ranging from basic science studies, epidemiological to intervention trials. He trains and mentor students and researchers from different parts of Africa. He is the overall coordinator of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) East African Network of Excellence and co-leader of the African Partnership on Chronic Disease Research. He represents Uganda at the EDCTP General Assembly.
Expressing his gratitude, Professor Kaleebu stated,
“I’m humbled and honoured to be awarded the OBE by HM The King of United Kingdom in recognition of my contributions to education and public health for the last more than 30 years, including nearly 14 years as Director of the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Research Unit. This would not have been possible without the support and team effort of many colleagues in Uganda, UK and elsewhere.”
