When I began my doctoral program that was supported by CARTA and the Afrique One Consortium, I never imagined the impact I would one day be able to make. Today, as a seasoned researcher and leader based at Makerere University, Uganda, I am advancing my own research, strengthening institutional capacity, and contributing to Africa’s research and development (R&D) ecosystem. My steady growth from an early-career researcher has been shaped by transformative experiences and the unwavering support of innovative initiatives like CARTA.
Currently, I serve as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences at Makerere. Here, I am not only engaged in advanced research but also play an instrumental role in building the capacity of Makerere as a research leader in East Africa. With a PhD in Clinical Immunology and Molecular Genetics that I completed in 2016, my career has taken root in a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to tackling some of the continent’s most pressing health challenges. My research focuses on biomarkers for infectious and zoonotic diseases, particularly the host-parasite interactions and disease co-infections that impact disease epidemiology. My goal is to improve diagnostics and design more effective therapeutic interventions, particularly for emerging and reemerging infectious diseases including cancer.
Since earning my PhD, one of my primary goals has been to strengthen Makerere’s research infrastructure. Through strategic planning and the skills I honed during CARTA’s training programs, I have successfully secured over $5 million in research funding from national and international agencies. These grants have supported groundbreaking projects, including the establishment of a biosafety level (BSL) 2 laboratory focused on infectious disease research and diagnostics. This lab, valued at $2 million, is one of the cornerstones of Makerere’s research infrastructure. It provides state-of-the-art facilities for conducting studies on zoonotic diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2, and developing rapid diagnostic tools that contribute to public health resilience.
With the establishment of this lab, Makerere now has a solid foundation for high-impact research. Consequently, we have attracted PhD students from neighboring countries like Kenya and Tanzania. This cross-border collaboration fosters a vibrant scientific community that can respond to health threats more effectively. CARTA’s initial investment in my career has been instrumental in equipping me with the skills and confidence to attract these resources and bring about tangible change.
Mentorship is at the core of my contribution to Africa’s R&D. Recognizing the value of guidance and mentorship provided by CARTA, I am committed to supporting the next generation of researchers. I serve as a mentor in the CARTA mentorship program and with the Mawazo Institute, a women-led organization in Nairobi. In addition to supervising doctoral students at Makerere, I mentor young researchers from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda, among other institutions.
Mentoring these researchers, including CARTA fellows, allows me to contribute to their career paths, providing them with the tools to succeed and encouraging them to tackle Africa’s health challenges. CARTA’s impact is reflected in each of these mentees as they grow into independent researchers and innovators, making strides in their fields and extending the network of scientific knowledge across the continent.
CARTA’s capacity-strengthening initiatives have equipped me with multifaceted skills to succeed as a researcher and scholar. During the program’s PhD training series – the Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes), I gained valuable scientific and grant-writing skills, which paved the way for my early success in securing funding. My first significant grant came from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which I obtained while working under the guidance of CARTA’s senior facilitators. Further, CARTA’s scientific writing workshops equipped me to publish extensively, with over 70 peer-reviewed articles to date. After the completion of my PhD, a re-entry grant awarded by CARTA in developing diagnostic tools allowed me to focus entirely on my research after returning to Makerere and enabled me to form research groups that would later secure additional funding. These experiences provided a framework for my career, showing me that African-led research could lead to transformative impact in both local and global contexts.
In 2023, I embarked on the journey to establish the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (TERID) Research Hub, anchored at Makerere, in response to a call for competitive funding in the CARTA Research Hubs initiative. TERID, which seeks to tackle critical health challenges in East Africa and the wider region, was one of five projects awarded a preparatory grant through a rigorous selection process. After an intensive assessment phase, our hub was one of only two selected for full support, validating the strength of our proposal and our commitment to advancing research capacity.
As the leader of the biomarker research group, I am focused on strengthening Makerere’s research capabilities through interdisciplinary partnerships that can tackle complex health issues. Our efforts in the COVID-19 response underscore the importance of such collaborations. Working with various research institutions, we are developing diagnostic tools to strengthen Uganda’s outbreak responses. Through this research, Makerere has become an integral player in regional health security and resilience, demonstrating the impact of well-funded, collaborative research.
As the Head of the Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences at Makerere, I am committed to steering our department towards academic and research excellence. CARTA’s influence extends into my leadership approach, instilling in me the importance of strategic planning, mentorship, and resource mobilization. In shaping our research agenda and supporting colleagues. The foundation the program has provided enables me to contribute meaningfully to Makerere’s growth and, by extension, Africa’s R&D landscape. By establishing laboratories, research hubs, and mentorship programs, I am leaving a legacy that empowers young scientists and advances Africa’s capacity to solve pressing health issues.
Kato Charles Drago is a cohort 3 graduate of the CARTA PhD fellowship from Makerere University, Uganda
7 Comments
mukwaya shakulu
February 13, 2025 11:34 amWe ur students at Muk are really inspired and learnt alot from u Dr Kato.
Keep going Dr.
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