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Dr Jonathan Kitonsa

Research Scientist/PHD student
E: Jonathan.Kitonsa@mrcuganda.org

Area of expertise: Public Health

Research areas: Infectious diseases (HIV, Ebola, Covid-19)

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Biography

Dr Jonathan Kitonsa is a dedicated medical doctor and research scientist currently working with the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. He pursued undergraduate studies at Makerere University between 2005 and 2010, followed by a one-year internship in a busy regional referral hospital. Subsequently, he joined the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest HIV care organisation in Uganda, where he gained extensive experience in managing HIV positive adults and children. In 2013, Dr Kitonsa moved to the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit where he has been actively involved in numerous research projects, mostly clinical trials in HIV, including vaccine trials and studies on HIV-related comorbidities. His research portfolio also includes significant work on other infectious diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19. Throughout his career, he has held various roles, including sub-investigator, study coordinator, and project leader. Recently, Dr Kitonsa taken on the role of principal investigator for a project exploring HPV vaccine uptake among non-school-going girls in Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Research interests

Dr Kitonsa aims to understand the metabolic outcomes among african HIV positive participants switched from oral antiretroviral therapy (ART) to long-term injectable ART (LA) ,ie, cabotegravir + ralpivirine. He will particulary be exploring the impact of LA ART on body weight and BMI, blood glucose, lipid profiles, and blood glucose and how hormones such as Leptin may impact some of these outcomes. He will describe the clinical significance of these changes including incident obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus and change on cardiovascular risk (Q-risk) over a 2-year period. Dr Kitonsa will also assess the impact of cessation of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) on estimated glomerular filtration rate. Besides this work, he has a keen interest in research on other infectious diseases of public health importance such as Covid-19 and Ebola.

Publications

Jonathan Kitonsa, Sheila Kansiime, Sylvia Kusemererwa, Martin Onyango, Berna Nayiga, Anita Kabarambi, Joseph O Mugisha, Pontiano Kaleebu & Eugene Ruzagira (2023) Changes in self-reported risky sexual behaviour indicators among adults receiving regular risk reduction counselling and optional initiation of pre-exposure prophylaxis in an HIV vaccine preparedness study in Masaka, Uganda, Global Health Action, 16:1, DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2242672

Jonathan Kitonsa, Onesmus Kamacooko, Eugene Ruzagira, Florence Nambaziira, Andrew Abaasa, Jennifer Serwanga, Ben Gombe, Jane Lunkuse, Hadijah Naluyinda, Naboth Tukamwesiga, Tamara Namata, Antony Kigozi, Paddy Kafeero, Vincent Basajja, Sarah Joseph, Benjamin F. Pierce, Robin Shattock & Pontiano Kaleebu (2023) A phase I COVID-19 vaccine trial among SARS-CoV-2 seronegative and seropositive individuals in Uganda utilizing a self-amplifying RNA vaccine platform: Screening and enrollment experiences, Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 19:2, DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2240690

Kitonsa J, Whitworth HS, Kasonia K, Tindanbil D, Kafeero P, Bangura J, Nije Y, Tetsa Teta D, Greenwood B, Kavunga-Membo H, Leigh B, Ruzagira E, Gallagher KE, Watson-Jones D. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability Among Healthcare Facility Workers in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda: A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Public Health. 2022 Sep 23;67:1605113. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1605113. PMID: 36213138; PMCID: PMC9537362.

Kitonsa J, Kamacooko O, Bahemuka UM, Kibengo F, Kakande A, Wajja A, Basajja V, Lumala A, Ssemwanga E, Asaba R, Mugisha J, Pierce BF, Shattock R, Kaleebu P, Ruzagira E. Willingness to participate in COVID-19 vaccine trials; a survey among a population of healthcare workers in Uganda. PLoS One. 2021 May 27;16(5):e0251992. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251992. PMID: 34043693; PMCID: PMC8158909.

Kitonsa J, Kiwanuka J, Anywaine Z, Kansiime S, Katumba K, Aeron N, Beardsley J, Kibengo F, Gray A, Kaleebu P, Day J. Quality of life and associated factors among HIV positive patients after completion of treatment for Cryptococcal meningitis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Mar 3;15(3):e0008983. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008983. PMID: 33657099; PMCID: PMC7959361.

Kitonsa J, Nsubuga R, Mayanja Y, Kiwanuka J, Nikweri Y, Onyango M, Anywaine Z, Ggayi AB, Kibengo FM, Kaleebu P, Day J. Determinants of two-year mortality among HIV positive patients with Cryptococcal meningitis initiating standard antifungal treatment with or without adjunctive dexamethasone in Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Nov 30;14(11):e0008823. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008823. PMID: 33253210; PMCID: PMC7728283.

Kitonsa J, Ggayi AB, Anywaine Z, Kisaakye E, Nsangi L, Basajja V, Nyantaro M, Watson-Jones D, Shukarev G, Ilsbroux I, Robinson C, Kaleebu P. Implementation of accelerated research: strategies for implementation as applied in a phase 1 Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo two-dose Ebola vaccine clinical trial in Uganda. Glob Health Action. 2020 Dec 31;13(1):1829829. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1829829. PMID: 33073737; PMCID: PMC7594841.

Kitonsa J, Mayanja Y, Aling E, Kiwanuka J, Namutundu J, Anywaine Z, Ggayi AB, Kibengo F, Kiwanuka N, Kaleebu P. Factors affecting mortality among HIV positive patients two years after completing recommended therapy for Cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 30;14(1):e0210287. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210287. PMID: 30699151; PMCID: PMC6353088.