Research Activities

Some of the research work and research studies on which our staff have been involved

ADReSS
HIV AIDS Drug Resistance Surveillance Study
(2014 – 2018)

NIH Funded project
Study of the predictors of HIV-1 drug resistance after failure of 1st-line ART using a novel durable measure of ART adherence and determine the clinical significance of drug-resistant minority variants in peri-urban and rural settings in KZN. Enrolment of 1000 participants across 2 study sites. 
Partners – UKZN, Emory, Harvard, US CDC, KZN DOH, IALCH 

REVAMP 
(2016 – 2021)

NIH Funded project
In an effort to optimize the global HIV care continuum and foster sustained control of the HIV epidemic, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has set a “90-90-90” treatment target for 2020.The goal of this study is to determine whether the addition of routine resistance testing, to guide management of virologic failure and sustain the successful completion of the HIV continuum of care, improves clinical outcomes and reduces costs for patients with virologic failure on first-line therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of this study will be a useful resource for public health programmers, ministries of health and multinational partners to optimize the clinical management of virologic failure in the region.
Partners – Harvard, Emory, MGH, UKZN, KZN DOH, HEARD, IALCH

OASIS
Optimizing Adherence Support Inspiring Success
(2019 - 2021)

The aim of this study is to monitor the treatment journey of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients and how this affects their response to the treatment as well as to better understand why patients may fail to complete the new MDR-TB treatment and to learn what we can do to help them complete the treatment course.   Although the new and shorter treatment regimen (9-11 months depending), according to most doctors, will be easier for patients to take and complete, some patients may struggle to complete this shorter treatment. This is why the study will also focus on understanding why patients may fail to complete this new MDR-TB treatment and learning what we can do to assist them in finishing the treatment course.

AWACC
Annual Workshop on Advanced Clinical Care - AIDS 
(2014 – 2019)

This annual conference providing updates in clinical management and public health programmes for HIV and TB. It includes presentations from local and international experts. The interactive workshop translates the latest evidence-based research and apply best practice models of care into good clinical practice, specifically for resource constrained areas.  The workshop receives great acclaim from delegates for its relevance to the growing ART roll out programme in South Africa (SA). We form part of the conference secretariat as a partner to Medicate AIDS – NGO

ZINK
Safer Conception for Women - Understanding use of Periconception PrEP
(2018 – 2021)

We provide data management and Quality Assurance services. to this PrEP Study. Partners on rhis project are Harvard University (Partners), MRU (MatCH Research Unit), the UAB (the University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Healthy Families
PrEP Project 
(2019 - 2020)

Adherence to periconception HIV risk-reduction among uninfected women in rural Uganda. We provide data management and Quality Assurance services. to this PrEP Study. Partners on rhis project are Harvard University (Partners), MRU (MatCH Research Unit), the UAB (the University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Enhancing Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patient Care In Ethekwini, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
(2018)

This was a Quality Improvement Project 2013 – 2018 (2018). It was an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (KZN DOH), King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex (KDHC), the South African Red Cross Society and Partners. Project funded by Eli-Lilly Foundation and United Way Worldwide. We conducted an Impact Assessment Study to determine the efficacy of the programme.

King Dinuzulu Hospital Complex
(KDHC)
TB Heroes Project
(2018)

We partnered with The Sentinel Project, The Health Ninja, and Umduduzi to celebrate the treatment supporters for children living with TB. W conduced workshops to train and inform the supporters of advances in TB managment.

Genomics
Sub-Study of ADReSS
(2020-2022)

NIH Funded Project
Multi-omic Predictors of Renal Function among HIV-infected Individuals of African Ancestry
Partners - Emory University