Henry Kiwumulo’s story reads like a science drama unfolding in real life. As he stood before colleagues at Makerere University, defending a PhD that could change cancer treatment, the title of his work alone promised hope: “MRI-Aided Nanoparticles Drug Release in Leukemia Treatment”. In Uganda, leukemia is a deadly foe – fewer than two in ten adult patients survive a year after diagnosis. Henry’s research aimed to rewrite that statistic. Fuelled by a passion to help cancer patients, he envisioned tiny magnetic carriers that could seek out leukemia cells, guided by MRI scanners and activated by magnetic fields, to deliver drugs with pinpoint accuracy. His journey – from early inspiration through cutting-edge laboratory breakthroughs – is both personal and profoundly scientific.
Facing a High-Stakes Challenge
Cancer has touched countless lives in Uganda, and Henry knew the stakes especially as he had witnessed his dear father’s agony of grappling and finally losing to this cancer. Traditional leukemia therapies can attack healthy cells as well as tumours, causing severe side effects. Uganda’s leukemia survival rate is alarmingly low – studies show only about 16% of patients live one year after diagnosis. The national cancer institute warns of rising leukemia rates with limited resources for treatment, underscoring the need for innovation. In this context, Henry vowed to find a smarter strategy. He dreamed of a therapy that could zero in on cancer cells, sparing normal tissue and reducing toxicity. This vision – of turning a tragedy of loss into a story of triumph – drove him from the start.
To tackle this challenge, Henry turned to nanomedicine. Nanoparticles are extremely small particles (a few billionths of a meter wide) that can ferry drugs through the body. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) can be controlled by magnetic fields. As one scientific review explains, IONPs “serve as multifunctional agents in targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), [and] hyperthermia therapy”. In plain terms, Henry realized these tiny iron particles could act like guided missiles: MRI scanners could find them inside the body, and alternating magnetic fields could heat them to release drugs exactly where needed. The result would be a precision weapon against leukemia – one that concentrates on cancer cells and leaves healthy cells unharmed.
The Nanoparticle Innovation
Henry’s core innovation was to combine two key ideas: first, use MRI guidance to steer drug-loaded nanoparticles to the leukemia cells; second, use an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to trigger the drug release at the right moment. He and his team synthesized tiny iron-oxide particles using both conventional chemistry and an eco-friendly “Moringa” method (for example, using plant extracts) to coat them. These nanoparticles were loaded with an anti-cancer drug and designed to accumulate in the blood – including in areas where leukemia cells congregate.
Once these drug-loaded IONPs are in the bloodstream, Henry’s method kicks in. A hospital MRI machine can image the patient and pinpoint where the particles have gathered. Then, an external alternating magnetic field is applied. The IONPs respond to the field by generating heat inside the leukemia cells. This tiny, focused heating – known as magnetic hyperthermia – causes the nanoparticles to release their drug payload right into the cancer cells. Because the heat and drug are localized, nearby healthy tissues see minimal damage.
These ideas are grounded in what scientists already know about IONPs. The particles’ superparamagnetic iron oxide cores mean they “can be controlled under external magnetic fields” without becoming permanently magnetized. Their surfaces can be coated with targeting molecules (like antibodies) so they home in on leukemia cells. In essence, Henry used cutting-edge nanotechnology to turn MRI magnets and magnetic fields into both eyes and triggers for drug delivery.
Global Recognition and a Vision for the Future
Today, Henry’s work is drawing international attention. Invitations to present his findings have poured in – academic conferences across five continents which include Asia, Africa, Australia, North America and Europe have offered platforms for him to share his vision. His journey from Kampala to the global stage is a point of pride for Uganda’s scientific community. As one Makerere newsletter noted, Henry “confidently and successfully defended” his dissertation and touted it as a revolutionary step in medical research. Though headlines vary, the message is clear: his innovation could reshape cancer care worldwide.
Looking ahead, Henry sees a new era of nanomedicine on the horizon. He envisions refining the nanoparticles (perhaps with even smarter coatings) and collaborating with clinicians to move from lab to patient. The research review that first inspired his path concluded with hope: by harnessing IONPs’ unique properties, “researchers have paved the way for improved imaging modalities, early detection, and precise therapeutic delivery”. Henry stands at that precipice. For him, each breakthrough is a stepping-stone to a future where a leukemia diagnosis no longer feels like a death sentence.
In the end, the most exciting part of his story may not yet be written. With mentors guiding him, a supportive university behind him, and his family at his side, Henry Kiwumulo is determined to turn experimental nanomedicine into real-world cures. He often says that for patients facing leukemia, this work could mean more birthdays, more families kept whole, and more hope than ever before. And as he takes the microphone at yet another global conference, his vision is clear: he is committed to ensuring that precision nanomedicine becomes a reality in Uganda and around the world – a legacy of care born from science, community, and unwavering dedication.
Mentors, Family, and a Supportive Community
Henry’s success was made possible by a strong support network. At Makerere University, he found a nurturing research community especially from Makerere Biomedical Engineering (MakBME) team. According to the university’s biomedical research center report, leaders have “created a conducive environment that supports and promotes research and innovation” among biomedical engineers. Henry thrived in this atmosphere. His PhD advisers – Professor John Baptist Kirabira and Dr. Robert Tamale Ssekitoleko – guided every step. Additionally, Henry recognised immense support from Professors at the University of Leeds in UK, University of Illinois in Chicago in USA and Duke University in USA together with funders from MAPRONANO, Mak-RIF and Commonwealth scholarships.
Beyond the university labs, Henry had unwavering encouragement from his family back home. They celebrated every milestone – from his first publication to international conference calls. Though private, Henry often credits the quiet support of loved ones for keeping him focused through late nights and complex experiments. In this personal narrative, that emotional backbone was as vital as any scientific data.
Henry’s success story concludes with a tribute to GOD for his fallen parents’ sacrifices. Experts note that one way to honour a late parent is to “carry on their legacy through your accomplishments”. “In closing, I pay special tribute to my own parents, Catherine and Asaph Kabaale. My mother was a humble primary school teacher whose vision for life was rooted in education; she instilled in me a love of learning from the day I was born. My father, a diligent maize mill manager in Budo (where we first lived), worked tirelessly for our family—yet this horrible enemy called LEUKEMIA brutally cut his life short. Mum and Dad—your sacrifices have made me who I am; this success is as much yours as it is mine. I will strive to carry on your legacy with great honour in everything I do. I thank you so much”
