Meet Dr. Emma Ndagire: Advancing the Future of Rheumatic Fever Research
Dr. Emma Ndagire is a PhD fellow at Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences and a pediatric cardiologist at the Uganda Heart Institute. Her work sits at the intersection of research, clinical care, and mentorship—all driven by a passion to improve outcomes for children affected by acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
A Focus on Preventable Heart Disease
Emma’s PhD research, funded through the IMPACT program, focuses on developing and validating outcome measures for acute rheumatic fever clinical trials. Currently, there is limited evidence to guide how outcomes are selected for ARF studies. Her project aims to address this gap by identifying standardized endpoints that future trials can use, making it easier to compare results, conduct meta-analyses, and ultimately improve patient care.
Clinical Expertise and Leadership
As a pediatric cardiologist at the Uganda Heart Institute, Emma coordinates pediatric cardiac surgeries, overseeing the preoperative assessment and selection of children undergoing life-saving operations. In addition to her clinical duties, she teaches residents and cardiology fellows, supervises research projects, and mentors emerging clinicians. She also spearheaded the development of research guidelines for pediatric cardiology fellows and organizes regular departmental journal clubs.
Collaboration and Research Impact
Emma’s collaborative work extends across the Rheumatic Heart Disease Research Collaborative in Uganda (RRCU) and the GOALIE trial, where she serves as a junior investigator. These roles have allowed her to gain hands-on experience in clinical trial design, monitoring, and data quality assurance—skills that will serve as the foundation for her goal of leading future ARF therapeutic trials.
In recognition of her impact, Emma received the Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award from the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2020 and a travel grant to the Lancefield International Symposium on Streptococci and Streptococcal Diseases (2025).
A Journey Fueled by Passion
Emma’s passion for ARF research began during her Strategically Focused Research Network Fellowship with the American Heart Association (2018–2020), where she worked with global experts to strengthen health systems’ response to rheumatic heart disease. During the fellowship, she led two major studies on Uganda’s health system readiness and the detection of ARF at different levels of care—both of which have since been published.
Now an active member of the Acute Rheumatic Fever Collaborative Network (ARC), Emma continues to build her research portfolio and international collaborations, presenting her work on global platforms and inspiring others to join the fight against RHD.
Beyond the Lab and Clinic
When she’s not conducting research or preparing for surgery, Emma enjoys listening to music, reading memoirs, and watching movies.
Through her dedication, curiosity, and collaborative spirit, Dr. Emma Ndagire is shaping the future of acute rheumatic fever research and inspiring the next generation of scientists and clinicians to do the same.
Publications
“Active Case Finding for Rheumatic Fever in an Endemic Country”
“Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in northern and western Uganda: a prospective, population-based study”
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/vol9no10/PIIS2214-109X(21)X0011-3 [thelancet.com]
“Examining the Ugandan health system's readiness to deliver rheumatic heart disease-related services”
“Modelling study of the ability to diagnose acute rheumatic fever at different levels of the Ugandan healthcare system”
“Outcomes of rheumatic fever in Uganda: a prospective cohort study”
Volume 12, Issue 3 [thelancet.com]e500-e508March 2024
D43 Research Training Grant Program:
Learn more about the D43 Research Training Grant Program and our other 4 candidates by clicking on the article below titled “Reducing the Impact of Rheumatic Heart Disease Across the Life Span: The D43 Training Grant Program”.