Richard Idro

Idro was born in Moyo, Uganda in 1970. After attending local primary and secondary schools, he was admitted to Makerere University School of Medicine, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. In 2001, he was awarded a Master of Medicine degree in Pediatrics by the same medical school. His degree of Doctor of Philosophy was awarded by the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, in 2008. He specialized as a pediatric neurologist.{{cite web|publisher=Msawoug.com | url=https://musawoug.com/musawo/Specialist_Details/255 |title=Specialist Details: Dr. Idro Iwa Richard, MBChB, MMed (Peads), PhD |author=Musawo Uganda |date=2018 |access-date=21 February 2019 |location=Kampala}}{{cite web |url=https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/1671328/54787_17.pdf | title=University of Amsterdam: Seizures in children with acute falciparum malaria: Risk factors, mechanisms of neuronal damage and neuro-protection: Thesis For The Award Of The Degree Of Doctor of Philosophy: Curriculum Vitae |publisher=University of Amsterdam |date=2008 |access-date=20 April 2019 | author=Richard I. Idro}}

In October 2022, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) of the United Kingdom. It is the highest recognition that can be bestowed to a pediatrician in the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.{{cite web|work=Daily Monitor | url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uk-college-honours-ugandan-doctor-for-professionalism-4008040 |title=UK college honours Ugandan doctor for professionalism |date=4 November 2022 |author=Norbert Atukunda |access-date=4 November 2022 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}

Idro is a specialized pediatrician, with super specialization as a neurologist. His research interests include HIV/AIDS in adolescents, the interactions between HIV and malaria, and the prognostic features of cerebral malaria, among other topics. Recently, his work has expanded into studies of brain injury in sickle cell anemia, viral encephalitis and childhood epilepsy.{{cite web|date=21 February 2019 |url=https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/events/greenwood-lecture-severe-malaria-nodding-syndrome-and-wisdom-teeth |title=Greenwood Lecture: Severe Malaria, Nodding Syndrome and Wisdom Teeth |publisher=London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |author=London School of Tropical Medicine (Hannah Gladstone) |access-date=21 February 2019}}

He also concurrently serves as an honorary consultant pediatrician and pediatric neurologist at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH), in Kampala, Uganda. MNRH is the teaching hospital of Makerere University College of Health Sciences.{{cite web|url=https://news.mak.ac.ug/2019/02/maks-dr-richard-idro-scoops-lshtm-inaugural-greenwood-africa-award-2019 |title=Mak's Dr. Richard Idro Scoops LSHTM Inaugural Greenwood Africa Award 2019 |publisher=Makerere University |date=21 February 2019 |access-date=21 February 2019 |author=Makerere University |location=Kampala}}

He is a leading authority on nodding disease, an ill-understood pediatric mental condition, characterized by seizures, mental retardation and stunted growth. Its cause remains unknown, and there was no known cure as of 2019.{{cite web| url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Passionate-about-childrens-health/434746-5079686-j9npk2/index.html |title=Dr Idro: Passionate About Children's Health |newspaper=The EastAfrican |date=20 April 2019 |access-date=20 April 2019 |author=Halima Abdallah |location=Nairobi}}

In February 2019, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) announced Idro as the winner of the Greenwood Africa Award 2019.[https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/introducing/medals/the-greenwood-africa-award About The Greenwood Africa Award] The award includes a medal and one week of residence at the LSHTM. The winner is required to give a Greenwood Lecture. During the week of residence at LSTMH in London, the winner is required to interact with relevant academics and give seminars as the situation may warrant. The award is restricted to mid-level medical researchers in infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. It is awarded every three years, and Idro is its first recipient.{{cite web|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Makerere-don-scoops-research-award-nodding-syndrome/688334-5001140-ubp9x6/index.html |title=Makerere don scoops research award on nodding syndrome |newspaper=Daily Monitor |date=27 February 2019 |access-date=27 February 2019 |first=Damali |last=Mukhaye | location=Kampala}}

He is a member of the eight-person board of directors of Global Health Uganda, a non-profit organization that aims at improving pediatric health research in Uganda.{{cite web|url=http://globalhealthuganda.org/board-of-directors/ | title=Global Health Uganda: Board of Directors |date=2019 | publisher=Global Health Uganda |author=Global Health Uganda | access-date=21 February 2019 |location=Kampala}}

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• [https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(08)70079-6/fulltext Interview With Dr Richard Idro] as of May 2008

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Ugandan medical researchers

Category:Madi people

Category:Ugandan neurologists

Category:Ugandan pediatricians

Category:Makerere University alumni

Category:Academic staff of Makerere University

Category:University of Amsterdam alumni

Category:People from Moyo District

Category:People from Northern Region, Uganda

Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health