Partnering to Improve Global Health
For nearly 40 years, University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University have worked with a variety of institutions across Uganda to advance medical research and education. Thanks to new support from philanthropist and world traveler Roe Green, the collaborative will now have a permanent home.
A $2 million gift from The Roe Green Foundation will establish the Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Roe Green Medical Education and Research Building in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
“My home is Cleveland, but I am a citizen of the world,” said Roe. “I hope this new facility can be a beacon to others and show what can be achieved when we join in a common cause.”
History in Uganda
The Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration (UCRC) was founded in 1986 to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. UH has participated in the UCRC since its inception under the leadership and dedication of UH Physician-in-Chief Robert Salata, MD.
“For decades, we have worked to improve global health through research and education,” said Dr. Salata, Chair, Department of Medicine, UH Cleveland Medical Center; Program Director, UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health; and STERIS Chair of Excellence in Medicine. “We’ve trained more than 200 physicians at our Uganda location, and this new gift from The Roe Green Foundation will not only provide a permanent home for that work, but further expand our impact.”
Collaboration has been instrumental to the success of the UCRC, particularly as its scope has broadened to include studies in epidemiology, biomedical sciences and engineering, cancer and cardiovascular disease, among others. Kampala partners include Makerere University, the Ministry of Health, the Joint Clinical Research Centre, Uganda Heart Institute, Uganda Cancer Institute and Mulago Hospital, which donated the land for the upcoming construction.
An Expanding Research Scope
An additional $500,000 in support was recently committed to the new research hub by the Tifft Family – Victoria, Quinten, Morgan and Maggie Tifft, and their son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Jordan Tifft. The Tifft Family Research Unit will occupy the fourth floor of the new center, providing the space and equipment to expand the UCRC’s scope of research.
A former Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, Victoria studied infectious disease control and spent time on the front lines in Uganda and Liberia during the Ebola outbreak. She and Quinten founded Clinical Research Management and Kenya-based ACE Research, both firms dedicated to minimizing disease through clinical trials of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Their passion for global health also extends to their philanthropy and family.
“My parents passed on their vision for a better, healthier world and it’s something my wife, Jordan, and I have come to deeply appreciate,” said Matthew, a former NASCAR driver and team owner. “We’re thrilled to help support research that stands to benefit patients around the world.”