MU-JHU Care

What MU-JHU Care does

MU-JHU Research Collaboration (MU-JHU Care Ltd) is an indigenous Ugandan medical research and care organization established in 1988 and headquartered on Upper Mulago Hill in Kampala. It operates as a tripartite collaboration between MU-JHU Care Ltd, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), with continuous leadership from Executive Director Prof. Philippa Musoke since founding. MU-JHU conducts clinical research spanning Phase I through Phase IV trials, including adaptive trials, with research domains covering perinatal HIV/TB prevention and care, pediatric and infant health, growth/neurodevelopment/bone health, bacterial infections and vaccine development, and blood safety. The organization participates as an active site in the IMPAACT, HPTN, MTN, and ACTG international HIV research networks, and is the Ugandan national site for the Gilead Sciences-sponsored PURPOSE 1 lenacapavir trial and the HPTN 111 barbershop-based prevention trial.

The service portfolio includes clinical research services, comprehensive HIV clinic services delivered at Mulago National Referral Hospital and Kawempe National Referral Hospital, psychosocial support programs, the Young Generation Alive (YGA) youth-led initiative with 300+ members, grants management (50+ active projects), a dedicated Data Management division, DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scanning, and capacity-building training programs. Specialized clinic infrastructure comprises a TB clinic, adolescent-friendly centre, paediatric clinic, women's health clinic, emergency room, and children's play area, with research sites across Uganda including Mbarara, Ibanda, Mbale, Tororo, Malaba, and Mityana. Community engagement infrastructure (Health Visitors, Counsellors, Community Educators, Peer Educators) supports recruitment, retention, and longitudinal follow-up.

MU-JHU is funded through research grants and sponsorships rather than commercial revenue. The Grants Support Office administers more than 50 active projects and programs from a diverse sponsor base including US government agencies (NIH including Fogarty, CDC, PEPFAR), European funders (EDCTP, MRC), pharmaceutical companies (Gilead Sciences, MSD), and foundations (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Doris Duke). Revenue is therefore grant-cycle dependent and exposed to US Government global health budget volatility, partially offset by multi-sponsor diversification and long-tenured institutional relationships. Recent expansion into Northern Uganda through the August 2024 Global-TASO AGYW Program indicates a deliberate broadening of geographic and demographic reach.

Name

MU-JHU Care

Legal name

MU-JHU Research Collaboration

Website

https://mujhu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MU-JHU Care is an indigenous Ugandan medical research organization founded in 1988 that conducts Phase I–IV HIV clinical trials and delivers HIV care through a partnership with Makerere University and Johns Hopkins University, funded by 50+ research grants from global health agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) Programs (BPADAIAC)

Keywords

• Clinical research services
• HIV prevention research
• Clinical trials management
• HIV care treatment
• Psychosocial support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Sponsorships: Funded through grants from US government agencies (NIH, CDC, PEPFAR), European sponsors (EDCTP), pharmaceutical companies (Gilead Sciences, MSD), foundations (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Doris Duke), and other collaborative partners. The organization supports over 50 active projects from diverse sponsors.
2. Clinical Services: Provides HIV services at Mulago National Referral Hospital and Kawempe National Referral Hospital, supported by CDC/PEPFAR funding for the Kampala-Wakiso region

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MU-JHU Care Ltd is an indigenous Ugandan medical research and care organization that conducts Phase I–IV and adaptive clinical trials focused on HIV prevention, care, and treatment, while also delivering comprehensive HIV clinical services at Mulago and Kawempe National Referral Hospitals. The organization additionally provides psychosocial support, the Young Generation Alive youth program, data management, DXA bone-density scanning, grants administration, and capacity-building training for local researchers.

Product overview

MU-JHU Research Collaboration (MU-JHU Care Ltd) is an indigenous medical research and care organization that offers a portfolio of integrated health research and service programs. The core offerings include clinical research services spanning Phases I-IV trials focused on HIV prevention, care, and treatment; clinic services providing comprehensive HIV care at Mulago and Kawempe National Referral Hospitals; psychosocial support programs including the Young Generation Alive youth initiative with 300+ members; grants management supporting 50+ active projects; and capacity building, data management, community engagement, and DXA services. The organization operates as a unified research and care institution rather than a commercial product company, with services designed to address HIV, perinatal conditions, and child health through integrated clinical, psychosocial, and community-based approaches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Generation Alive (YGA): A youth-led group of more than 300 members providing psycho-social support, nutrition and education support, medical care and social inclusion for children and youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Products and services

• Clinical Research Services (Phase I-IV and Adaptive Trials) Clinical research services for sponsors covering Phase I through Phase IV and adaptive trials focused on HIV prevention, care, and treatment, with additional research in perinatal HIV/TB prevention, paediatric and infant health, growth/neurodevelopment/bone health, bacterial infections, vaccine development, and blood safety.
• Clinic Services Comprehensive HIV clinical services delivered at Mulago National Referral Hospital and Kawempe National Referral Hospital, including a TB clinic, adolescent-friendly centre, paediatric clinic, women's health clinic, emergency room, and children's play area.
• Psychosocial Support Program Psychosocial Support division comprising health visitors, counsellors, community educators, peer educators, and support groups delivering social, psychological, and economic wellbeing services for research participants, including children living with or affected by HIV.
• Young Generation Alive (YGA) Youth-led group of over 300 members providing psycho-social support, nutrition and education support, medical care, and social inclusion for children and youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Grants Management Grants Support Office services overseeing administration and management of grants from pre-application through post-award processes, supporting more than 50 active projects from diverse sponsors including NIH, CDC, PEPFAR, Gates Foundation, and EDCTP.
• Data Management Services Data management services supporting research operations and clinical trials, delivered through a dedicated Data Management division for research data collection and analysis.
• Capacity Building / Short-Term Training Short-term training courses and capacity-building programmes for Ugandan researchers and teams engaged in HIV clinical trials, focused on pregnant/lactating women, children, adolescents, young women, and their partners, supported by the Fogarty International Center of the US NIH.
• Community Engagement Programs Community engagement programmes including Community Advisory Boards, the Youth Trials Board, community educators, peer educators, and outreach and follow-up with study participants across Uganda.
• DXA Services Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning services for bone health assessment, supporting research studies in bone health among HIV-affected populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Self-esteem of YGA members increased from 20% in 2006 to 60% in 2010 using Rosenberg Scale
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• HopeStone Insights UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Convening the Community Regulatory Accountability Committee (CRAC) for Dual Prevention Pill regulatory process; MU-JHU contributes technical insights as member
• Global-TASOmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Global-TASO AGYW Program launched August 2024 supporting adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention, reproductive health education, economic skills, and healthcare access in Dokolo, Pader, and Kitgum districts
• Johns Hopkins University (JHU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership in HIV clinical trials and training, co-offering short training courses for Ugandan researchers engaged in HIV clinical trials
• Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for HIV services at Mulago National Referral Hospital and collaborative research including MIRNA maternal immunization research
• Gilead SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of PURPOSE 1 study evaluating lenacapavir for HIV prevention; provides funding for clinical research on HIV prevention drugs
• IMPAACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research network conducting clinical trials for HIV prevention and treatment in women, children, and adolescents; MU-JHU staff receive Early Career Investigator Awards
• HPTN (HIV Prevention Trials Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts clinical trials for HIV prevention including HPTN 104 (Dual Prevention Pill) and HPTN 111 (Barbershop-based HIV prevention)
• Microbicide Trials Network (MTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch network evaluating microbicides for HIV prevention including the Dapivirine vaginal ring studies
• PentamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric infectious disease research network conducting studies on antibiotic research and infections in children
• Michigan State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Child Neurodevelopment Centre for neuropsychology assessment and child development research
• Merck Sharpe & Dohme (MSD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company partnership for HIV research and prevention
• Baylor UgandamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPediatric HIV care and research partnership
• WestatminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResearch organization providing data management and evaluation support
• Infectious Disease InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUganda-based infectious disease research partnership with Makerere University
• Ministry of Health UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for HIV prevention, care, treatment programs and policy development including PrEP guidelines
• JCRC (Joint Clinical Research Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Youth Trials Board meeting with Baylor Foundation Uganda for youth engagement in clinical trials
• ACTG (AIDS Clinical Trials Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMU-JHU staff elected to ACTG committees including Pharmacy Working Group and Outreach, Recruitment and Retention Working Group

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI): University of the Witwatersrand-affiliated research institute running HIV prevention, treatment, and reproductive health trials in South Africa. Direct peer with comparable AGYW focus, PEPFAR service delivery, and NIH-funded clinical trial activity.
• Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI): KwaZulu-Natal-based research institute conducting HIV/TB clinical and population research. Direct peer with comparable portfolio of NIH-funded HIV prevention and treatment trials, well-characterized cohorts, and network membership.
• Aurum Institute: South African health research organization with major HIV and TB clinical trials portfolio across Africa. Direct peer running PEPFAR-funded service delivery alongside NIH/EDCTP-funded trials, comparable scale and multi-country footprint.
• Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC): Uganda-based clinical research organization conducting HIV prevention, care, and treatment trials. Direct peer operating the same Phase I-IV HIV trial model with overlapping IMPAACT/HPTN network membership and PEPFAR-funded service delivery.
• Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: South African HIV prevention and treatment research organization affiliated with the University of Cape Town. Direct peer operating adolescent and AGYW prevention programs and clinical trials with overlapping sponsor base.
• Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Uganda: Pediatric HIV care, treatment, and research organization operating in Uganda with Makerere/Mulago integration. Direct peer with overlapping pediatric HIV clinical research portfolio and shared service-delivery footprint.
• CAPRISA: South African HIV and TB research center conducting clinical trials in prevention and treatment. Direct peer running HIV prevention trials (microbicides, vaccines, PrEP) and operating as an academic CRS within the same HPTN/MTN/ACTG networks.
• Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI): Makerere University-affiliated Ugandan HIV/infectious disease research and training center. Direct peer delivering HIV clinical services, training, and clinical trials with overlapping research portfolio and donor mix.

Emerging players

• International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI): Global HIV vaccine and antibody R&D organization with African clinical research partnerships. Emerging/adjacent peer whose vaccine development mission and African trial-site partnerships overlap with MU-JHU's vaccine and PrEP research domains.

Regional players

• KEMRI/Walter Reed Project: Kenya-based US Army-funded HIV research collaboration. Regional peer running HIV prevention and vaccine trials in East Africa; comparable operational model with USG-dominant funder base and military/research partnership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mujhu_care_ltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mu-jhu-care-ltd-mu-jhu-research-collaboration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MU-JHU Care