Kampala, Uganda: A distinguished Ugandan Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, has been honored with the distinguished Order of the British Empire by King Charles III.
The outgoing Director of the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, was awarded an honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by His Majesty The King, last week.
The OBE recognizes Professor Kaleebu’s services to education and public health.
During his 13-year tenure as Director, Professor Kaleebu oversaw significant achievements, including expanding the Unit’s research expertise beyond HIV into other viral pathogens, vaccine research, and non-communicable diseases.
He also made important contributions to research in the East African region and globally, while training young scientists as the next generation of health leaders.
Professor Moffat Nyirenda has been announced as the incoming Director, taking over from Professor Kaleebu on 1 April 2024.
Professor Kaleebu will now focus on immunovirology research.
Expressing his gratitude, Professor Kaleebu said, “I’m humbled and honoured to be awarded the OBE in recognition of my contributions to education and public health for the last more than 30 years. This would not have been possible without the support and teamwork of many colleagues in Uganda, the UK, and elsewhere.”
Professor Liam Smeeth, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, praised Professor Kaleebu’s exceptional work and leadership, which advanced the Unit’s research and education mission over the span of more than a decade.
Who is Professor Kaleebu?
Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu is a distinguished figure in the field of medical research, particularly known for his contributions to immunovirology.
He is the immediate Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and the Director of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.
With a medical degree from Makerere University and a PhD from Imperial College London, Prof. Kaleebu has been instrumental in advancing HIV vaccine development and clinical trials⁴.
His work extends to leading phase I clinical trials for experimental vaccines against HIV, Ebola, and Rift Valley Fever, establishing a comprehensive vaccine center at UVRI.
Prof. Kaleebu is also an Honorary Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Makerere University College of Health Sciences, reflecting his commitment to education and mentorship in the medical field.
His research has had a significant impact on global health, and his efforts continue to contribute to the understanding and prevention of infectious diseases in Uganda and beyond.
Source
(1) Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu | EACCR. https://www.eaccr.org/prof-pontiano-kaleebu.
(2) Professor Pontiano Kaleebu | The Academy of Medical Sciences. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/fellows/fellows-directory/ordinary-fellows/fellow/Pontiano-Kaleebu-0033z00002qIJw6AAG.
(3) Professor Pontiano Kaleebu | Hic Vac. https://www.hic-vac.org/members/members-profiles/professor-pontiano-kaleebu.
(4) Pontiano Kaleebu Profile | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. https://profiles.lshtm.ac.uk/3371-pontiano-kaleebu.
(5) Pontiano Kaleebu | LSHTM. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/kaleebu.pontiano.
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