Jackson Orem

Jackson Orem

Hematologist, Medical Oncologist

Cancer Epidemiology

Uganda Cancer Institute

Location Uganda, Kampala

Linkedin

Dr. Jackson Orem is a Ugandan physician, oncologist, and researcher specializing in infection-related and HIV-associated malignancies in resource-limited settings. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), the national oncology centre of excellence for East Africa, a position he has held since 2004. His work focuses on cancer epidemiology, clinical investigation of AIDS-related malignancies, capacity building for cancer care and research in sub-Saharan Africa, and the development of international oncology collaborations.

Current Position

  • Executive Director, Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Kampala, Uganda (January 2005 – Present)
  • Senior Consultant in Oncology, Uganda Ministry of Health
  • Honorary Faculty Member, Makerere University College of Health Sciences
  • External Faculty, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
  • Associate Director, UCI/Hutchinson Cancer Center Alliance

Education

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) — Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
  • Master of Medicine (MMed) in Internal Medicine — Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
  • Fellowship in Hematology and Oncology — Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA (2002–2004)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) — Karolinska Institute, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

Research Activity

  • Research focused on infection-related and viral-associated cancers, including Burkitt lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, HIV-associated malignancies, cervical cancer, and hematologic malignancies
  • Principal Investigator in NIH-funded studies through NIAID, AMC, and ACTG
  • Recipient of industry-supported grants from GSK (Open Lab), Merck, and Roche
  • Co-investigator and collaborator on studies spanning cancer epidemiology, cancer screening and prevention (especially cervical cancer and HPV), cancer treatment outcomes in resource-limited settings, laboratory capacity strengthening, and quality improvement in oncology care
  • Collaborating institutions include Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington, Case Western Reserve University, National Cancer Center of Korea, and the University of Cambridge
  • Author or co-author of over 241 publications spanning Burkitt lymphoma genomics, cervical cancer screening, HIV-associated malignancies, hematologic cancers, palliative care, and health systems strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa

Academic Impact

  • Over 241 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Blood, The Lancet Oncology, The Lancet Haematology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JCO Global Oncology, BMC Cancer, PLOS One, and others
  • Contributions to landmark genomic and molecular studies on Burkitt lymphoma (including the Burkitt Lymphoma Genome Sequencing Project) and cervical cancer genomics in Uganda
  • Research has informed national and international guidelines on cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa, including the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Pioneered tele-oncology and peer mentoring models for clinician-scientist career development in resource-limited settings
  • Key contributor to building the Uganda Cancer Institute’s clinical trials infrastructure and training programs

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • Member, ASCO International Affairs Committee (representing Africa)
  • Member, American Society of Hematology (ASH)
  • Member, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
  • Member, AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC)
  • Member, NCI International Burkitt Lymphoma Clinical Care Committee
  • Principal Investigator, AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)
  • Alternate Chair, African Cancer Coalition (an initiative with the American Cancer Society and NCCN to harmonize cancer treatment guidelines for sub-Saharan Africa)
  • Member, Non-Communicable Disease Technical Working Group, Uganda Ministry of Health
  • Chair, Adverse Events and Surveillance Committee, HPV Vaccine Program, Uganda

Areas of Specialization

  • Medical oncology and hematology-oncology
  • Infection-related and virus-associated cancers (Burkitt lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, HIV-associated malignancies)
  • Cancer epidemiology and population-based cancer surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Cancer care and clinical research in resource-limited settings
  • Cervical cancer screening and prevention (including HPV-based approaches)
  • Hematologic malignancies (lymphomas, leukemias, multiple myeloma)
  • Cancer quality improvement and health systems strengthening
  • Capacity building for oncology research, training, and clinical care in low- and middle-income countries
  • Palliative care integration in cancer management

Publications

Dr. Jackson Orem has authored and co-authored more than 241 publications, including landmark original research articles, clinical trial reports, review articles, and book chapters in journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Blood, The Lancet Oncology, The Lancet Haematology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, JCO Global Oncology, BMC Cancer, PLOS One, ecancermedicalscience, African Health Sciences, Infectious Agents and Cancer, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Science Translational Medicine, and Communications Medicine.

Select Recent Publications:

Opito R, Jatho A, Sabiiti W, Orem J, et al. “Community perspectives and insights into cancer surveillance, prevention, and research: an engaged participatory approach to cancer epidemiology research in remote areas of Northeastern Uganda.” BMC Cancer, April 2026.
Kavuma A, Kibudde S, Kanyike DM, Orem J, et al. “Impact of Waiting Time and Treatment Duration on Short-Term Outcomes for Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer at the Uganda Cancer Institute.” JCO Global Oncology, October 2025.
Kavuma A, Kibudde S, Kanyike DM, Orem J, et al. “Evolution and Recent Radiation Therapy Advancement in Uganda: A Precedent on How to Increase Access to Quality Radiotherapy Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” JCO Global Oncology, April 2025.
Menon MP, Ddungu H, Mubiru KR, Orem J, et al. “Phase I Study of Subcutaneous Rituximab Hyaluronidase Combined With CHOP Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Uganda.” JCO Global Oncology, April 2025.
Thomas N, García-Prieto CA, Dreval K, Orem J, et al. “DNA Methylation Epitypes of Burkitt Lymphoma with Distinct Molecular and Clinical Features.” Blood Cancer Discovery, May 2025.
Bakenga A, Natukunda B, Okuku FM, Orem J, et al. “Clinical characteristics and survival of patients with de novo metastatic prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy in Uganda: a retrospective study.” BMC Cancer, November 2024.
Okongo F, Amuge C, Jatho A, Orem J, et al. “The regional cancer spectrum in Uganda: a population-based cancer survey by sub-regions (2017–2020).” ecancermedicalscience, September 2024.
Okello C, Orem J, Nabwana M, Mayanja-Kizza H, et al. “A randomized control trial to compare mortality in recipients of leucoreduced and non-leucoreduced whole blood transfusion in patients with cancer in Uganda.” BMC Cancer, June 2024.
Thomas N, Dreval K, Gerhard DS, Orem J, et al. “Genetic subgroups inform on pathobiology in adult and pediatric Burkitt lymphoma.” Blood, October 2022.
Gagliari A, Porter V, Zong Z, Orem J, et al. “Analysis of Ugandan cervical carcinomas identifies human papillomavirus clade–specific epigenome and transcriptome landscapes.” Nature Genetics, August 2020.
Mutebi M, Adewole I, Orem J, et al. “Toward Optimization of Cancer Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: Development of National Comprehensive Cancer Network Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa.” JCO Global Oncology, November 2020.
Orem J, et al. “Global disparities in access to cancer care.” Communications Medicine, April 2022.
Orem J, et al. “Building Modern Cancer Care Services in Sub-Saharan Africa Based on a Clinical-Research Care Model.” ASCO Educational Book, April 2022.
Okello C, Niyonzima N, Ferraresso M, Orem J, et al. “Haematological malignancies in sub-Saharan Africa: east Africa as an example for improving care.” The Lancet Haematology, September 2021.
Grande BM, Gerhard DS, Jiang A, Orem J, et al. “Genome-wide discovery of somatic coding and non-coding mutations in pediatric endemic and sporadic Burkitt lymphoma.” Blood, January 2019.
Mwanda WO, Orem J, Fu P, Remick SC, et al. “Dose-Modified Oral Chemotherapy in the Treatment of AIDS-Related Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in East Africa.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, June 2009.
Orem J, Mbidde EK, Weiderpass E. “Burkitt’s lymphoma in Africa, a review of the epidemiology and etiology.” African Health Sciences, October 2007.
Orem J, Wabinga H. “The Roles of National Cancer Research Institutions in Evolving a Comprehensive Cancer Control Program in a Developing Country: Experience from Uganda.” Oncology, November 2009.
DuBois SG, Mascarenhas L. “Ewing Sarcoma.” In: Rudolph’s Pediatrics, 24th Edition. McGraw Hill Professional, January 2026.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.