| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| The HIV-virus weakens the body’s defense mechanism leaving the person vulnerable to all sorts of opportunistic infections. HIV infection elicits production of immune regulators such prostaglandins. | There is a physiological mechanism that rapidly eliminates prostaglandins from circulatory blood. (i) The question is, why did evolution go all the way to equip our circulatory system with prostaglandin eliminating mechanism? (ii) More importantly, could it be that the HIV-virus disables this mechanism and in so doing, kick-starts a process that eventually subdues the body’s immune system? | Knowledge generated, if affirmative, may provide leads to development of effective chemotherapeutic agents against HIV infection. |
| Pregnancy is an exciting but challenging health condition. Loss of appetite, a longing for particular foods or semi-foods, vomiting, frequent spitting, etc. make pregnancy a challenging condition. It was partly to manage these challenges that traditional Africa came up with herbs for pregnancy. | What impact(s) do traditional herbs used by pregnant women eventually have on children? This research question can be answered by studying mothers who take traditional herbs during pregnancy, finding out which herbs were taken, and the children (or now adults) they produced. | Knowledge on “harmful” herbs will be relevant to public health authorities. Knowledge on herbs advantageous and “harmless” may have entrepreneurial implications. |
| Allergy appears more prevalent in the developed world, say USA, than in an underdeveloped one, say Uganda. But even within Uganda, allergy appears more common in the well to do families. | Inadequate exposure to mother nature during one’s childhood is one plausible explanation for allergy. One way to investigate this school of thought would be to compare and contrast antigen profiles (not disease associated) that babies in well to do settings and babies from poor rural settings are exposed to. | Implicated antigens may provide important clues in the prevention and management of allergy. |
| A concentrated solution of rock salt (impure salt) may have anti-fungal properties. It is used by local people to treat skin fungal infections such as ringworm. | Validating anti-fungal properties in rock salt solution. Identifying and isolating the active anti-fungal ingredients in rock salt solution, if present. Establishing the toxicity and structure of the isolated active ingredient(s), and how the structure may be re-configured to enhance potency. | Knowledge may lead to novel drug(s) that has wide application in the treatment of fungal infections. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Many babies, some from affluent families, have a longing to eat soil and related soil dirt. | Why do these children eat soil? Is it childhood curiosity or is it something that goes beyond childhood curiosity? If eating soil is something beyond childhood curiosity, could it be nature’s attempt to render the child’s immune system more robust? Alternatively, could it be an attempt to correct nutritional deficiencies? If so, which nutritional elements are missing? | An affirmative answer towards strengthening the immune system may have important implications in protection against certain diseases, such as the autoimmune conditions.
An affirmative answer towards nutrition could lead to development of specific food products for sale to parents with babies who are frequent soil-eaters. |
| Western medicine, as taught and practiced in Uganda, fosters contempt for traditional medicine. The latter is looked at as something primitive and in the passing. Yet, majority of people in Uganda have been using and continue to use traditional medicines. | Is traditional medicine entirely unscientific? If it is not entirely unscientific, how can it be developed? i.e. what can be discouraged and what can be improved upon? | Acceptance of traditional medicines by trained health professionals will lead to development of new, safe and effective health care products.
Verifying traditional medicines and traditional health care practices that work, and integrating them into the national health care system, would render the latter more robust in serving Uganda’s population as a whole. |
| First AID Kits are important in primary health care. Yet, in many places in Uganda where First AID kits are needed (schools, public transport, students residences, etc.), they are either lacking or present but empty. | Establishing the recommended items in a First AID boxes. Finding out the most critical items in the First AID Box and which can be afforded in Uganda. | The information may turn you into a maker, supplier and re-filler of First AID kits in Uganda |
| Despite sensitization by the Ministry of Health, many mothers in Uganda continue to be give birth under supervision of traditional birth attendants. | Could it be that maternal mortality in Uganda is largely due to expectant mothers going to traditional birth attendants? If this is not true, might it then be possible to improve on the knowledge and skills of traditional birth attendants? | A comparison of maternal mortality in government hospitals, healthcare centers, private clinics and traditional birth attendants would be very informative to policy formulation in Uganda’s health sector.
In helping government improve (instead of demonize) traditional birth attendants may sale you within Uganda and elsewhere in most of Africa. |
| People value and want to have white-looking teeth. Over time however, people’s teeth get stained from colored foodstuffs, drinks, smoking etc. | Powdered charcoal is thought to enhance the white appearance of teeth. Can powdered charcoal, if used for a given period, lead to improvement in teeth appearance? If true, would the type of charcoal used (tree type) matter? Is it even safe? | This information can lead to development of dental care product(s) with a high commercial value. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Onchocerciasis is a human disease caused by a filarial worm, Onchocerca volvulus. This worm is transmitted to man by biting black flies. Stunted growth (Nakalanga) and epilepsy have been documented in onchocerciasis condition. Recently, the nodding disease syndrome is thought to be linked to O. volvulus infection. | What might be the relationship between O. volvulus infection and stunted growth or epilepsy (or even nodding disease)? Given that O. volvulus can go up to the brain, it is possible that the neurological tissue, very sensitive to oxygen and food supply, is out competed by the parasite for essential food nutrients? This question is supported by literature indicating that people with O. volvulus infection exhibit lower levels of essential fatty acids in circulation. This and other possible research questions need proper investigation. | Knowledge generated, if affirmative, may provide important leads to (i) proper management of child growth (ii) prevention of the epilepsy condition and possibly, nodding syndrome. |
| Mosquito nets have become the main tool for malaria control in Uganda. But mosquitoes often enter the mosquito net itself, even if it has no holes. These mosquitoes are difficult to kill, especially when a baby is sleeping inside the net. | Developing a small hand gun, or another appropriate innovation, that can be used to easily get rid of mosquitoes inside a mosquito net or inside a room ventilated against mosquito entry. | Can sell extensively in Uganda and beyond |
| Several skin treatment lotions or jelly on the market are not effective, as stated in their promoters and manufactures. | Analyze the effectiveness of locally made body lotions or jelly in the treatment of fungal, viral or bacterial skin infections. Coming up with ingredients that could be added to enhance the effectiveness of these products in treating or correcting skin infections. | These ingredients, if safe, can be sold to companies making skin jellies or lotions at a recoverable cost. Alternatively, they can be use develop new body products. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |
| Flu or common cold is a viral infection that disturbs, especially young children; leads to misuse of medicines arising parent’s desperation to see their children free of the infection. | Establish locally applicable practices that would help children recover quickly from flu or common cold. Develop a radio/TV programs to sensitize parents. | Programs would attract big audience, especially in flu/common cold season. |
| The increasing number of universities in Uganda implies competition. | Knowledge on criteria used to rank universities world-wide (webometrics). Knowledge on criteria used to judge a good graduate in Uganda. | Knowledge can lead to establishment of a consultancy on tertiary education in Uganda. |
| Although Uganda’s population is overburden with diseases, majority of these diseases are preventable. | Establish diseases in Uganda that can be prevented and how. | Knowledge can give rise to (i) radio/TV programs that will attract good audience (ii) website that, if well marketed, can attract adverts. |
| In Uganda, salons are visited weekly by over a million people for services. Effective disinfectants are key in providing successful hair services. | Establish disinfectants used in salons. Come up with branded disinfectant(s) that carry unquestionable effectiveness. Market the product in such away that customers prefer salons with it. | Efforts can lead to a viable business. |
| Challenge | Research Implications | Entrepreneurial Potential |