Brock researcher Asif Khowaja is helping Ugandans tackle a critical health-care challenge through an Academics Without Borders (AWB) volunteer project.

Developed by the Assistant Professor of Health Sciences and the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Uganda, the initiative aimed to improve sepsis care outcomes in low- and middle-income countries through health economics research.

The AWB project, Strengthening Health Economics Research and Outcome Evaluation for Sepsis (sHEROES), focused on building health economics capacity in Uganda by training university students, health policy administrators and health-care professionals — particularly women — in advanced economic modelling techniques to support policy-driven research.

“The project centred on sepsis health economics, but the acronym starting with ‘she’ was no coincidence,” Khowaja said. “We recognize that in these communities, the primary caregivers are women. This project aimed not only to advance health economics research but also to empower women by equipping them with the tools to lead in health care.”

When COVID-19 restrictions made in-person delivery of the program impossible, Khowaja and his collaborator Edgar Mulongo, Associate Professor of Community Health at MUST, successfully launched an online course on health economics and data analysis instead.

The course featured modules covering economic modelling, data analysis and resource allocation, and provided hands-on training for participants to inform sepsis-related policy decisions.

The project’s impact extended beyond students at MUST.

“We opened it up to health-system administrators and health-policy professionals across Uganda, allowing them to apply the course material directly in their work,” said Khowaja. “That was one of the most rewarding aspects — seeing participants reflect on how each lesson built on their existing knowledge and how they were already using it in their day-to-day operations.”

The sHEROES project also created opportunities for Brock students to engage with global health research.

Two of Khowaja’s then students — Jade  Savard (BPH ’24) and Alicia Mutch (BPH ’24), now a master’s student in Applied Health Sciences — volunteered to provide administrative support and facilitate meetings for the course.

“This was a chance to build capacity for our students at Brock as well,” Khowaja said. “Alicia and Jade gained valuable exposure to global health research and demonstrated how their work could have an impact far beyond Canada.”

As well as maximizing the course’s impact, AWB and the project team were focused on making sure the initiative was sustainable as a part of MUST’s regular curriculum.

“AWB is not just interested in one-time projects; they care about sustainability. We worked closely with MUST’s Dean to ensure the course would continue beyond this initial run,” Khowaja said.

Despite challenges with internet connectivity and remote delivery, the project set the foundation for a longstanding partnership between Brock and MUST. Khowaja remains in touch with the team at MUST, supporting them in writing research grant applications and offering his expertise as a mentor for students wishing to pursue advanced health economics projects.

“The work of Dr. Khowaja and his colleagues at MUST will have a lasting impact,” said Nancy Gallini, AWB Executive Director. “The dedication and expertise of our volunteers is AWB’s most valuable resource. The collaborative work between these academics to build new programming will ensure that students in the program at MUST will graduate with vital skills to prepare them for future challenges.”

Reflecting on his volunteer time through AWB, Khowaja would recommend other Brock faculty members give the experience a try.

“This experience helped build bridges between institutions and highlighted Brock’s reach — not just in Niagara and across Canada, but globally,” said Khowaja. “Through this project, we also received valuable feedback from Uganda that is helping us refine the health economics models we use in Canada. It’s a reciprocal process where both sides learn and grow.”

AWB is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening universities in low- and middle-income countries through volunteer-led projects focused on providing training for local experts and conducting research that is essential for national development.

Brock is a member of AWB’s network of Canadian institutions, enabling its faculty and staff to propose and participate in the organization’s capacity-building volunteer projects worldwide.

Brock International will be sharing the AWB’s next call for proposals on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Proposals must work to improve and expand higher education in low- and middle-income countries and aim to develop those countries’ own leaders and experts. The deadline for proposals is Friday, Nov. 8.

Faculty members interested in submitting a proposal or looking for more information should contact Cecilia Garcia-Vega, Project Officer, International Partnerships at Brock International, or visit the Academics Without Borders website.