01
Scientific integrity
Rigorous, ethical, transparent, and reproducible research.
Rwanda Implementation Science & Health Systems Lab
Turning Evidence into Routine Care.
We bridge the gap between proven health interventions and real-world service delivery to strengthen Rwanda's health systems.
Evidence-based
Policy-driven
Locally led
01Identify gap
02Test solutions
03Scale up
10+Research Partners
5Core Health Themes
7Implementation Steps
100%Policy Aligned
Core values
The principles behind credible and useful research.
02
Equity and inclusion
Attention to underserved and vulnerable populations in research and implementation.
03
Community partnership
Meaningful collaboration with communities, providers, districts, and decision-makers.
04
Accountability and transparency
Clear stewardship, reporting, and responsibility for results.
05
Policy relevance
Evidence translated into practical recommendations for government and partners.
06
Sustainability
Interventions designed for adoption, institutionalization, and responsible scale-up.
Our Team
Meet the Leadership
About RISHS Lab
Research designed for real-world health delivery.
Rwanda Implementation Science & Health Systems Lab is envisioned as a Rwanda-registered non-governmental research and public health organization, with its recommended head office in Kigali.
Its central role is to help close the persistent gap between proven interventions and the way health services are delivered in routine settings.
Vision
A Rwanda where evidence-based interventions are implemented effectively, equitably, and sustainably across all health systems.
Mission
To generate and apply implementation science evidence to strengthen Rwanda's health system through research, training, partnerships, and policy translation.
Core purpose
Bridge the gap between research and real-world health delivery.
6 principles behind credible and useful research
These core values guide every aspect of our work at RISHS Lab.
Scientific Integrity
We uphold rigorous, transparent, and ethical research standards.
Every RISHS Lab study follows internationally recognised research ethics protocols, undergoes independent review, and is reported with full transparency — including findings that challenge existing assumptions.
Equity and Inclusion
Ensuring the most vulnerable communities are not left behind.
Equity is built into every research question, every study design, and every policy recommendation we produce, with special attention to gender, geography, and socioeconomic status.
Community-Centredness
We co-design every intervention with the communities we serve.
Solutions designed without community voices rarely work at scale. RISHS Lab involves community health workers, patients, and local leaders in designing, testing, and refining interventions from the start.
Collaboration and Partnership
We build partnerships across government, academia, and NGOs.
No single institution can solve complex health system challenges alone. RISHS Lab actively cultivates partnerships with the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, universities, and international networks.
Transparency and Accountability
We are accountable to our communities, funders, and policymakers.
RISHS Lab maintains open reporting of research methods, findings, and financial management — building trust with all stakeholders and modelling accountability standards.
Policy Relevance
Every project has a clear pathway to policy translation.
Research that never reaches decision-makers has limited impact. From the design stage, we identify the policy question, relevant decision-maker, and communication strategy to ensure evidence is actionable.
Mandate
Generate, test, translate, and scale evidence for stronger health services.
RISHS Lab's formal mandate connects implementation research with capacity, policy, equity, data use, and partnerships.
1
Conduct implementation science and health systems research addressing priority public health challenges in Rwanda and the region.
2
Translate research into practical recommendations that support evidence-based policy and guideline development.
3
Design, pilot, evaluate, and scale interventions that improve service delivery across health programs.
4
Build local capacity through training, mentorship, and technical assistance in implementation research, monitoring, and evaluation.
5
Promote equitable, community-centered healthcare delivery for underserved and vulnerable populations.
6
Strengthen health information systems, data use, accountability, and collaboration across academia, government, NGOs, and communities.
Project workflow
A practical seven-step implementation science cycle.
Each project moves from an identified delivery gap to evaluation, scale-up recommendations, dissemination, and publication.
- 01Identify an implementation gap with MOH, RBC, or district partners.
- 02Conduct a rapid evidence synthesis or baseline assessment.
- 03Hold a stakeholder co-design workshop.
- 04Pilot the selected implementation approach.
- 05Evaluate implementation and outcomes using mixed methods.
- 06Prepare scale-up recommendations and a policy brief.
- 07Disseminate and publish the findings.
What we do
Five units connecting research, learning, policy, and operations.
The structure below follows the organizational plan and can be introduced in phases as the Lab grows.
IS
Implementation Science Unit
Designs and evaluates research addressing gaps between evidence and practice.
- Implementation research design
- Mixed-methods studies
- Scale-up evaluations
- Health facility assessments
RC
Research Coordination & Ethics
Manages protocols, ethical approvals, and data quality.
- IRB submissions and approvals
- Research protocol development
- Data quality assurance
- International compliance standards
TC
Training & Capacity Building
Builds local implementation science and health leadership capacity.
- Short courses in implementation science
- District health leadership training
- Mentoring and supervision programs
- Internship placements
PP
Policy Translation & Partnerships
Makes research usable by the MoH, RBC, and development partners.
- Evidence-based policy briefs
- Stakeholder roundtables and dialogues
- National dissemination events
- Health guideline development support
FO
Finance, Compliance & Operations
Creates reliable systems for grant management and operations.
- Audited financial statements
- Procurement and contracting
- HR compliance and staff management
- Audit-ready donor reporting records
Publications
Our Recent Research
Public Health Achievements in Rwanda: A 21st Century Transformation
Niyibizi J, Mugisha J, Nshimyumukiza E. — Public Health Challenges (2026)
Pharmaceutical regulatory harmonization in Africa: a scoping review of policy design, implementation approaches, and outcomes
Niyibizi J, Mugisha J, Songa B, Nizeyimana E, Diane BI. — Frontiers in Medicine (2026)
Predictors for Delayed First Antenatal Care Visit in Rural Area of Rwanda: Evidence from Rwanda Demographic Health Survey 2019-2020.
Ishimwe J, Niyibizi O, Tuyishime A, et al. — American Journal of Health Research (2026)
Clinically accountable school health: a case for extending primary care into schools.
Mugisha J, Niyibizi J, Zhang D. — Frontiers in Public Health (2026)
The regional impact and control strategies of schistosomiasis in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda: a narrative review
Niyibizi J, Wang R. — Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2025)
Investigating the resurgence of malaria in Rwanda: factors contributing to rising cases amidst near-eradication success and strategies for sustained control
Niyibizi J, Diane BI. — Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2025)
Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of electronic medication monitoring system to improve antipsychotic adherence: a type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid pilot study
Wang RS, Hu H, Zhang M, et al. — BMC Psychiatry (2026)
Bridging gaps in the elimination of deep mycoses: a comparative analysis of mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis control strategies in Rwanda and China.
Sam A, Niyibizi J, Koray MH. — Tropical Medicine and Health (2025)
Donor dependency and pandemic readiness: insights from the 2026 Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the East African community
Mugisha J, Niyibizi J, Nizeyimana E, Koray MH. — Frontiers in Public Health (2026)
Prevalence Trends and Associated Factors of the Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Rwandan Women of Childbearing Age: Evidence From Demographic Health Surveys, 2010-2020
Mugisha J, Ishimwe J, Dushimirimana T, et al. — Public Health Challenges
Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: analysis of demographic and health surveys
Koray MH, Wanjiru JN, Kerkula JS, et al. — BMC Public Health (2025)
Integrating narrative medicine into post-genocide Rwandan healthcare: a call for trauma-responsive medical education
John Mugisha, Julius Niyibizi, Isimbi Badaga Diane, Emmanuel Nizeyimana, Yang Xiaolin,Claudia Buhendwa — Frontiers in Medicine (2026)
Prevalence and determinants of meeting minimum meal frequency among children aged 6-23 months in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study
Gashaija A, Mwiseneza MJ, Mugeni CG, et al. — BMJ Public Health (2026)
← Back to all publications
Public Health Achievements in Rwanda: A 21st Century Transformation
Summary: This article explores the dramatic transformation of Rwanda's public health system in the 21st century, highlighting significant improvements in life expectancy, maternal mortality reduction, and universal health coverage.
← Back to all publications
Pharmaceutical regulatory harmonization in Africa: a scoping review of policy design, implementation approaches, and outcomes
Summary: This scoping review explores the policy design, implementation approaches, and outcomes of pharmaceutical regulatory harmonization efforts across Africa, highlighting the challenges and strategies for improving access to safe and quality medicines.
← Back to all publications
Predictors for Delayed First Antenatal Care Visit in Rural Area of Rwanda: Evidence from Rwanda Demographic Health Survey 2019-2020.
Summary: This study aimed to determine predictors of delayed first antenatal care (ANC) visits in rural areas of Rwanda, utilizing data from the 2019-2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey to inform policy interventions.
← Back to all publications
Factors influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multilevel Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey
Summary: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) using nationally representative data from the Demographic Health Survey program across 25 countries.
← Back to all publications
Clinically accountable school health: a case for extending primary care into schools.
Summary: Rwanda’s primary and secondary schools serve about 4.7 million learners, creating an important platform for child and adolescent health. Rwanda has school-health policies, referral arrangements, and strong primary health care (PHC) and community systems, but it lacks a standardized, funded, and clinically regulated function consistently responsible for school-linked first response, referral coordination, and follow-up.
This Perspective argues that this continuity gap at the school PHC interface deserves explicit attention and proposes a School Health Officer (SHO) as one model to test within existing PHC structures.
← Back to all publications
The regional impact and control strategies of schistosomiasis in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda: a narrative review
Summary: This narrative review summarizes recent epidemiological data and evaluates schistosomiasis control efforts across Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda to identify key achievements, persistent challenges, and potential pathways toward disease elimination.
← Back to all publications
Investigating the resurgence of malaria in Rwanda: factors contributing to rising cases amidst near-eradication success and strategies for sustained control
Summary: This article explores the factors driving the recent resurgence of malaria in Rwanda, including biological resistance and environmental changes, and outlines strategic interventions such as integrated vector management and enhanced surveillance to achieve sustained control and elimination by 2030.
← Back to all publications
Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of electronic medication monitoring system to improve antipsychotic adherence: a type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid pilot study
Summary: This type 1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid pilot study investigates the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an electronic medication monitoring system designed to improve antipsychotic adherence among patients.
← Back to all publications
Bridging gaps in the elimination of deep mycoses: a comparative analysis of mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis control strategies in Rwanda and China.
Summary: This review provides a cross-case evaluation of the control strategies for mycetoma and chromoblastomycosis in Rwanda and China, assessing epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment, and policy frameworks to find actionable strategies for elimination.
← Back to all publications
Donor dependency and pandemic readiness: insights from the 2026 Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the East African community
Summary: This article analyzes the 2026 Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the East African Community, examining how donor dependency impacts pandemic readiness and highlighting the need for sustainable, locally-funded public health strategies.
← Back to all publications
Prevalence Trends and Associated Factors of the Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Rwandan Women of Childbearing Age: Evidence From Demographic Health Surveys, 2010-2020
Summary: DBM is rising among Rwandan women. Overweight or obesity, driven by socioeconomic factors, requires targeted interventions, awareness campaigns, empowerment, and further research to inform effective public health policies.
← Back to all publications
Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: analysis of demographic and health surveys
Summary: This study analyzed the prevalence and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) across Sub-Saharan African countries using nationally representative data.
← Back to all publications
Integrating narrative medicine into post-genocide Rwandan healthcare: a call for trauma-responsive medical education
Summary: This review specifically examines whether concepts of narrative medicine could be responsibly adapted to Rwandan health professions education.Rwanda's recovery following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi represents one of the most remarkable public health transformations of the modern era
← Back to all publications
Prevalence and determinants of meeting minimum meal frequency among children aged 6-23 months in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study
Summary: This cross-sectional study investigates the prevalence and determinants of meeting minimum meal frequency among children aged 6-23 months in Rwanda.
Gallery
RISHS Lab in Action
Governance
Clear oversight for scientific credibility and institutional trust.
General Assembly
The highest decision-making body, composed of founding members and approved new members.
It approves strategy, major policies, financial statements, and Board membership. The General Assembly ensures institutional accountability and long-term strategic direction.
Board of Directors
Provides oversight for budgets, grants, contracts, and compliance.
The Board oversees executive leadership, financial audits, reporting requirements, and donor accountability. It ensures RISHS Lab operates with transparency and scientific integrity at all levels.
Scientific & Ethics Advisory Committee
Advises on the research agenda, scientific quality, and ethics strategy.
This committee reviews research protocols, approves publication priorities, and ensures all RISHS Lab studies meet the highest ethical and methodological standards required for peer-reviewed dissemination.
Contact and partnerships
Work with RISHS Lab.
RISHS Lab welcomes collaboration with government institutions, universities, health facilities, NGOs, donors, and community organizations.
Head officeKigali, Rwanda
Emailinfo@rishslab.org.rw
Websiterishslab.org.rw