.jpg "Cissy Kityo, MD, MSc, PhD photo")
Executive Director
Joint clinical Research Center, Uganda
Disclosure(s): Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Medical writing support provided by Aspire Scientific (Bollington, UK); Janssen Pharma: Grant/Research Support
Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza, MBChB, MSc, PhD, the Executive Director of Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC ) based in Uganda is a medical doctor, public health specialist and seasoned researcher with >30 years’ experience in conducting and coordinating AIDS research and care for HIV patients. She has a Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, USA and PhD from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Starting circa 1992, she is among the pioneers of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) use in sub-Saharan Africa and has been one of the proponents and movers of scaling up treatment in Uganda. Cissy has served as Principal Researcher/Investigator (PI), Co-PI or Investigator in >100 clinical, epidemiological and operational trials of HIV treatment and related infections. She has also been closely involved in studies of prevention of HIV transmission and in the preparation for HIV vaccines. These pioneering research projects have informed policy and clinical practice in Uganda and other developing countries. Dr. Kityo has published widely with over 250 publications in peer reviewed journals. She played a crucial role in developing the JCRC state of the art clinical and research laboratory which has sustained certification by College of American Pathologists (CAP) under her leadership. She serves as an executive member on various local and international scientific committees in HIV research, prevention and treatment and provides mentorship to both local and international scientists. Cissy is keen to be involved in gene therapy as the new exciting frontier in medical research and care for HIV. From 2020, Cissy catalyzed the alliance of experts in gene therapy to support bridge the existing gaps between developed and developing countries. The Global Gene Therapy Initiative (GGTI) was subsequently formed with Prof Jennifer Adair based at Fred Hutchison, USA to tackle the barriers to LMIC inclusion in gene therapy research and development.