In a computer lab at Makerere University last November, something remarkable was happening. A graduate student was designing protein binders to combat artemisinin-resistant malaria. Another was using phylogenetics to track tuberculosis transmission patterns. A third was applying computational tools to predict antimicrobial resistance—all using the same high-performance computing infrastructure that powers cutting-edge research at UC Berkeley. This wasn't a far-off dream. It was the Alliance for Global Health and Science in action.
Two Workshops, One Mission
When over 100 applications flooded in from across East Africa, we knew we were onto something. The demand for computational biology training far exceeded what's currently available in the region—and these weren't casual requests. These were PhD students and researchers ready to transform their work.
The Results: Measurable Impact
We didn't just hope the training would work—we measured it. Pre- and post-workshop assessments revealed statistically significant learning gains across every domain we tested.
Before the workshop, over 55% of participants rated their understanding of phylogenetics at levels 1-2 on a 5-point scale. After? Nearly 90% rated themselves at levels 4-5, with the majority reporting the highest confidence level. That's not incremental improvement—that's transformation.
The protein design results were equally striking: 100% of participants understood the conceptual purpose of each major tool (RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, AlphaFold, Rosetta), and 92% said they were likely to use RFdiffusion in their future research.
In Their Own Words
"This course has transformed my approach from a simple 'lock and key' docking study into a comprehensive, evolution-informed pipeline that merges data science with molecular biology."
— Phylogenetics participant, working on broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitors
"The promise of collaboration, shared learning and well-served logistics. No one was left behind. The instructors made sure they elaborated every detail and we were able to efficiently use them."
— Workshop evaluation respondent
"I greatly appreciate the first in-person computational protein design workshop at Makerere University. The combination of lecture and lab components was effective, and the insight into the current state-of-the-art tools will be directly applicable to my future research goals."
— Protein design participant, molecular biology and plant disease resistance researcher
"Am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this exposure into protein design, please extend more workshops and trainings and eventual technology transfer to us in the third world."
— Andrew Kiyingi Walungama, protein design participant
Real Research, Real Impact
What are participants doing with their new skills? They're tackling some of the most pressing health challenges facing their communities:
One participant is now designing binders for Kelch 13 protein mutations—the molecular culprit behind artemisinin-resistant malaria. Another is using AlphaFold to model HIV-1 pol variants and understand how resistance mutations affect drug binding. A third is constructing phylogenetic trees of beta-lactamase families to identify conserved drug targets that bacteria can't easily mutate around.
This isn't theoretical exercise. It's targeted research addressing real threats to health in Uganda and beyond.
Why This Model Works
Africa bears 25% of the global infectious disease burden but produces just 2% of the world's health research output. That's not a capability gap—it's an infrastructure and access gap.
The Alliance for Global Health and Science flips the traditional model. Instead of extracting data from Africa to analyze elsewhere, we're building analytical capacity where the data originates. We're creating two-way streets, not one-way pipelines.
The workshops didn't just teach tools—they built relationships. By the end of the week, every student had a functional computational environment on their personal computer and access to Berkeley's Savio high-performance computing cluster with credits for continued use. Within the first week after returning home, students had already logged over 2,627 hours of computing time.
They're not just workshop participants anymore. They're colleagues.
What's Next
Several collaborative research projects have already emerged from connections made during the workshops. Students continue to reach out with questions, share their progress, and push the boundaries of what's possible with these tools.
And we're just getting started. The Alliance is planning summer 2026 workshops in partnership with Makerere University School of Biomedical Sciences and Gorilla Doctors, expanding our reach and building on lessons learned.
Because when we invest in building scientific capacity where it's needed most, everyone benefits. Discoveries happen faster. Solutions are more relevant. And the next generation of global health leaders gets the tools they need to lead.