Note: This story is a deeper dive into a November 2024 article, “On-site vaccine production now possible for livestock researchers in Uganda.” If you haven’t already read it—or haven’t in a while—take a look at the incredible progress being made for ranchers and farmers in East Africa.
The National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI) in Uganda has a new addition. It’s a protein purifier, and the lab is now using it because of a unique and collaborative approach to sustainable development.
A long-term commitment
NaLIRRI and Seeding Labs first developed a mutually beneficial partnership in 2021, when the institution was selected for the Instrumental Access program and received nearly 600 pieces of lab equipment.
Their goal was to produce a vaccine to prevent livestock deaths from ticks, a problem that often has devastating consequences for local subsistence farmers. That vaccine is now in the manufacturing process.
The road to this point wasn’t short. Drs. Paul Kasaija and Alice Litta-Mulondo studied the local tick population for years, identifying a specific vaccine as the most effective way to reduce livestock loss.
They conducted trials based on that research, often sending samples abroad to be purified.
But purification overseas was unsustainable and expensive, which is where Seeding Labs was able to help again.
One aspect of an Instrumental Access partnership is a long-term commitment to success. So when Seeding Labs and NaLIRRI reconnected, they conveyed just how important a protein purifier would be to make progress on this tick vaccine.
Global solutions for local development
Seeding Labs found an elegant and unique solution to fit the problem. It’s an approach that few organizations could take, bringing together a leading US-based manufacturer, scientists in Uganda, and the logistical expertise Seeding Labs has honed for 16 years.
To meet this particular challenge, Cytiva was the obvious first call for Seeding Labs to make. They produce high-impact devices for biotechnology research. And they have been a long-time partner, committing themselves to supporting scientific research in developing countries since 2016.
As an equipment manufacturer, they primarily support this cause by supplying labs with their devices, like protein purifiers and chromatographs.
To date, Seeding Labs has helped them deliver their equipment to 48 departments over the last nine years, establishing their global impact through meaningful and long-lasting investments in 21 developing countries.
In short: Their relationship with Seeding Labs and science abroad put them in a unique position to fill the gap at NaLIRRI.
The scientists in Uganda knew exactly how a purifier would change their workflow, and they knew the exact impact a vaccine could have for farmers and ranchers.
Cytiva saw that as well.
“At Cytiva, our vision is to improve human health with the belief that science transcends boundaries,” says Sonia I. Glace, Global Marketing Director at Cytiva. “Our collaboration with Seeding Labs supports this belief, providing labs in emerging countries with ÄKTA systems to unlock their full potential. We’re not just providing equipment—we’re fostering scientific equity and enabling innovative discoveries worldwide.”
With efforts from Cytiva’s sustainability program and the support of the administration at NaLIRRI, Drs. Kasaija and Litta-Mulondo have exactly what they need to complete their ongoing project.
Sonia I. Glace
Global Marketing Director, Cytiva
The value of partnership
“Our long-standing partnership with Cytiva has meant that we can count on them all the time, not just the right time,” says Melissa P. Wu, PhD, CEO of Seeding Labs. “So when our partners at NaLiRRI asked for an ÄKTA, I knew we’d be able to connect them with the instrument. With the ÄKTA on site, they’ll save research funds and accelerate their work. We look forward to seeing this vaccine make a difference for Ugandan farmers.”
For everyone involved—from NaLIRRI to Cytiva to Seeding Labs—the most important impact is the most personal. Uganda’s livestock farmers will be a little more secure knowing that the researchers at NaLIRRI can now deliver the most effective solution to one of their community’s most pressing problems.
