Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) is an autonomous public health facility, operating as Uganda’s national referral hospital for cancer and the East African Centre of Excellence for Oncology. UCI is responsible for the national cancer plan for the country, delivering oncology care for the population and training specialist healthcare professionals from Uganda and the wider East African Community.

Clinical fellows undertaking specialist training in oncology receive no salary during training. Historically the African Development Bank provided a stipend to support expenses, but this programme expired in December 2022, leading to some fellows exiting before completion of training. Sanofi’s partnership with UCI is to provide financial support representing 50% of the cost of a full stipend for 14 oncology fellows for a period of two years. Matched-funding is provided by the Uganda Ministry of Health.

To qualify for support, fellows must be from Uganda or any other country in which Sanofi’s Global Health Unit operates. The contribution will allow fellows to maximize the educational opportunity that their fellowship position provides, negating the need to find intercurrent employment to cover living costs, and broadening opportunities to undertake a research project during their period of training.