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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
1. NOTABLE RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN 2013……………………………………...4
2. FACULTY RESEARCH OFFICE ………………………………………………………………………………...6
2.1 Remit of the Faculty Research Office (FRO) …………………………………………………………………...6
2.2 HSRO Staff …………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
2.3 Faculty Research Committee (FRC) and Task Groups ……………………………………………………….6
2.3.1 Research Entity Task Group ……………………………………………………………………………………..7
2.3.2 Individual Research Grants Task Group ………………………………………………………………………10
2.3.3 Conference Travel Task Group ………………………………………………………………………………...11
2.3.4 Faculty Research Prize Task Group …………………………………………………………………………...12
2.3.5 Research Day Task Group and Postgraduate Expo ………………………………………………………....12
2.3.6 Task Group on Research Entity Productivity ………………………………………………………………….12
2.3.7 FRC Advisory Board ……………………………………………………………………………………………..14
2.3.8 Research Budget Task Group ………………………………………………………………………………….14
2.3.9 Research Major Equipment ……………………………………………………………………………………..20
2.3.10 Research Minor Equipment (WHC Dividend) …………………………………………………………………21
2.3.11 MRC Self-Initiated Research Grants (SIRS) grants ………………………………………………………….23
3. RESEARCH OUTPUT …………………………………………………………………………………………..24
3.1 Publication Units and additional data on publications ………………………………………………………..24
3.2 Most Prolific Authors in the FHS in 2012 ……………………………………………………………………...27
3.3 Most cited publications in the Faculty recorded in 2013 ……………………………………………………..29
3.4 Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) articles published in some of the highest impact factor journals in 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….32
3.5 International and national collaborations ………………………………………………………………………34
3.6 NRF Rated Scientists 2013 ……………………………………………………………………………………..35
4. DST/NRF South African Chairs Initiative ……………………………………………………………………...36
5. POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS IN THE FHS IN 2013 ………………………………………………………..36 2
6. EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS and POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT ………………………………….40
6.1 The Connective Tissue Research Fund: Report prepared by Professor M. Tikly ………………………...40
6.2 The H.E. Griffin Trust – the Colorectal Research Cancer (CRC) Group: Professor G. Candy…………..42
6.3 Belgian Technical Corporation Masters Fellowship ………………………………………………………….43
7. HSRO RESEARCH SHORT COURSES ……………………………………………………………………...43
8. OTHER RESEARCH MATTERS ……………………………………………………………………………….47
8.1 Research Thrusts ………………………………………………………………………………………………..47
8.2 Vice-Chancellor’s Call for A-rated Scientists ………………………………………………………………….49
8.3 HSRO Initiatives ………………………………………………………………………………………………….49
8.4 HSRO Ongoing Communication with Faculty and External Communication ……………………………...64
9. NOTABLE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES BY SCHOOL ………………………………………………………….67
9.1 School of Anatomical Sciences ………………………………………………………………………………...67
9.2 School of Clinical Medicine ……………………………………………………………………………………..69
9.3 School of Oral Health Sciences ……………………………………………………………………………….108
9.4 School of Pathology ……………………………………………………………………………………………119
9.5 School of Physiology …………………………………………………………………………………………...145
9.6 School of Public Health ………………………………………………………………………………………..156
9.7 School of Therapeutic Sciences ………………………………………………………………………………172
10. POSTGRADUATE OFFICE …………………………………………………………………………………...180
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Foreword
On looking back over the year 2013 with regards to this annual research report, I have to again marvel at the exceptional achievements of our many Health Sciences researchers despite the arduous workloads, the onerous service delivery and the unsupportive administrative systems which underlie our activities. I pay tribute to each one of you! Yes, we can be more productive – but there is a need for the services and support structures in the Institution and in the Provincial Health Administration to be improved in order to provide researchers with a supportive foundation on which to undertake research.
A pleasant consequence of the outstanding research activity in the Faculty in 2013 is the huge increase in subsidy earning units which have resulted from accredited journal publications. Resounding congratulations to all our researchers for their ongoing and increasing productivity!
The Faculty’s Research Entities remain as important niches for research and for the training of future scientists and clinical researchers. These entities generate substantial outputs in the form of publications and postgraduates, contribute to community engagement and policy making and generate huge amounts of income for research. Their contributions are warmly acknowledged.
Slight increases have occurred in both publication units and postgraduate throughputs, although capturing of publications remaining a concern for the Faculty. While M.Med graduations remain low, there was most certainly a large improvement in 2013. We graduated our first cohort of Carnegie Ph.D Fellows (Academic Medicine Programme) and achieved the re-introduction of the Doctor of Medicine degree. Thus, strategies for increasing qualifications and supervisory capacity in the Faculty are slowly improving.
An injection of funds from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in late 2013 into our Alumni Diaspora Programme will allow this programme to bed down some of its substantial gains such as our Vanderbilt University collaboration. In addition, support for the Faculty’s initiative in Biomedical Informatics from Vanderbilt has allowed for the introduction of REDCapTM and the training of one of our clinicians.
HSRO research courses were well-attended and are important in the training and support of our staff and postgraduate students in their research. The HSRO wishes to acknowledge those staff who contribute to these courses, thus providing invaluable training for emergent researchers and postgardautes in the Faculty. Our annual writing retreats continue to be productive as was the introduction of financial support for open access online publication.
Ongoing and increasing research activity and an engaging and supportive environment are not possible without the input of many people and exceptionally hard, but fulfilling work. Thus, in conclusion I would like to thank those staff who have been responsible in supporting me in providing the large number of research and postgraduate activities during 2013: our Faculty researchers, staff of the HSRO, staff of the finance office, Mrs Mathoto Senamela and the postgraduate staff, the Chairs of all the FRC committees and their committees, and the many individuals in the Faculty who are called on from time to time to give advice, act in some capacity or simply “lend an ear”! Thank you all. I look forward to the outcomes of 2014 with great anticipation.
Professor Beverley Kramer
Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support
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1. NOTABLE RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN 2013
The Faculty is extremely proud of the many awards and honours bestowed on its staff, particularly in the field of research. Listed below are some of the many distinguished awards/events of 2013. Others follow under the listing of Schools and Units (section 9)
Congratulations are extended to:
Professor Shabir Madhi received the MRC Lifetime Achievement Award (Platinum Medal) in recognition of the excellence of his research in the field of vaccinology and respiratory and meningeal pathogens and its impact on improving child health in South Africa and other developing countries.
Professor Shabir Madhi was also listed among the “Top 100 World Class South Africans”, which included among others former Presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and many other luminaries in the inaugural edition of this listing by City Press.
Professor Keith Klugman received the Albert E. Levy Scientific Research Award for Senior Faculty at Emory University. Established to recognize the contributions of Emory Faculty members to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Each year, one senior faculty member is selected by the University Research Committee to recognize outstanding research publications.
Professor Keith Klugman also received the APUA 2013 Leadership Award of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics.
Professor Caroline Tiemessen School of Pathology and Professor John Eyles, School of Public Health, for being awarded SARChI Chairs in HIV Vaccine Translational Research and in Health Policy and Systems Research, respectively.
Professor Laetitia Rispel (Head of School of Public Health) on being inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame recognizes nurse researchers who are Sigma Theta Tau International members and who have achieved long term, broad national and/or international recognition for their research which has impacted the profession and the people they serve.
Professor Laetitia Rispel for being awarded a grant of R1 million from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) for the completion of a book that she is writing with a colleague in the Centre for Health Policy (CHP). This grant is the single largest grant from a trade union in recent years.
Professors Mario Altini and Dennis Daneman for being awarded the prestigious senior doctorate, the D.Sc (Medicine).
Professor Viness Pillay for being elected a Fellow of the African Academy of Science.
Dr Kebashni Thandrayen (Department of Paediatrics, Chris Hani Baragwanath) for being awarded the Young Investigators Award, based on having submitted the best abstract, to attend the International Conference on Children’s Bone Health in Rotterdam, Holland in June 2013.
Professor Glenda Gray (Director: Perinatal HIV Research Unit) for being selected as winner of the 2013 European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Award for an Outstanding African Scientist. This is awarded to senior researchers who have made outstanding achievements in their field and who are recognized research leaders in Africa working on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
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Professor Glenda Gray for receiving the prestigious Order of Mapungubwe: Silver, from President Jacob Zuma, at a ceremony which took place at the Presidential Guest House on 27 April 2013.
Prof Glenda Gray receiving the Order of Mapungubwe: Silver, from President Jacob Zuma
Professor John Pettifor for being announced as a finalist in the NSTF-BHP Billiton: Lifetime Achievement Award.
Professors Karen Hofman and Stephen Tollman both from the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Unit (Agincourt) for publishing a commentary in the Lancet Global Health in July 2013. The article is entitled “Population health in South Africa: a view from the salt mines”.
MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU) for establishing a Public-Private Partnership to combat Diabetes in Malaysia. The intervention will be implemented and evaluated to determine its impact on diabetes risk in the mother and her offspring.
Drs Susan Williams, Martin Brand, Nimmisha Govind and Nirti Maharaj for being the first cohort of Carnegie PhD Fellows to graduate.
Professor Lynn Morris for being second runner-up in the Women in Science award.
Professor Viness Pillay (Director: Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform) for being awarded the 2013 Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award.
Professor Judy Bruce (Head of School of Therapeutic Sciences) for being inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing in South Africa (ANSA) in recognition of her National and International contribution to nursing education and scholarship.
Professor Lynn Morris and her team for receiving funding for the MRC Flagship project.
Professor Paul Manger (School of Anatomical Sciences) for being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa. 6
2. FACULTY RESEARCH OFFICE
2.1. Remit of the Faculty Research Office (FRO)
The aim of the FRO is to operationalise the strategic goals of the Faculty. The strategic research and postrgraduate goals centre around increased outputs of publications, increased quality of publications (ISI journals) increased throughputs of postgraduate students and support (financial where possible, strategic collaborations and courses) for all researchers.
2.2. HSRO Staff
Tenured positions
1. Prof B Kramer: Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support (70%) – from April 2008. 2. Mr M. Meela: Projects Officer – from December 2010. 3. Mrs Mbali Mbatha: Administrative Assistant – from May 2013. 4. Ms Mandisa Habana: Research Administrator – from November 2010. 5. Associate Professor T. Chirwa: Faculty Biostatistician. This post was made permanent in 2011 and resides in the School of Public Health.
Contract positions 1. Mrs. Suretha Erasmus: Strategic Projects Assistant to the Dean and Assistant Dean: Research – from February 2013. 2. Dr Aceme Nyika: Faculty Research Co-ordinator – from April 2013 3. Associate Professor E. Libhaber: Research Co-coordinator, School of Clinical Medicine (Seconded to FRO). 4. Mrs Jeanine Phigeland: 50% Research Administrator – from May 2012. 5. Ms Nomfundo Sibiya: Research Administrator – from September 2011. 6. Mr Ncamile Moss: DST-NRF Intern in research management – 2013/2014.
We have shared our experiences by training NRF interns in research management and thus contributing to capacity development in this area. Over the period 2008-2013, we have trained four interns, two of whom were placed in research administrator’s posts immediately after their internship. The third has found employment as a laboratory technician.
2.3. Faculty Research Committee (FRC) and Task Groups The FRC met every two months during 2012 under the Chairmanship of Professor B Kramer. Minutes of the meetings can be obtained on request from Mr Moraba Meela.
Reports from Task Groups
The Faculty Research Committee (FRC) Task Groups have once again had an exceedingly busy year. The Chairman of the FRC Committee extends her gratitude to the Chairmen of the Task Groups and their committee members for the hard work undertaken on behalf of the Faculty in 2013.
In 2013, the Task Groups and their Chairpersons were as follows:
Research Entities: Professor S Norris Individual Research Grants: Professor J.M Pettifor Conference Travel: Professor T Coetzer 7
Faculty Research Prize: Professor T Coetzer Faculty Research Day: Professor E Libhaber Faculty Research Budget: Professor B Kramer Research Entity Productivity: Professor A Rothberg FRC Advisory Board: Professor B Kramer FRC Strategic Equipment: Professor B Kramer FRC Research Entity Forum: Professor B Kramer
2.3.1. Research Entity Task Group 2.3.1.1. Entity Annual Reports
The annual reports of all the Research Entities were received, and a meeting was held to review the reports. Many of the reviewed reports were exceptional with impressive research outputs. Letters of congratulations were sent to the entity leaders and four of these entities were honoured at the Research Awards dinner.
In order to facilitate communication between entities and their affiliated Departments and Schools, a series of meetings were initiated. Members of the Entity Task Group met with the respective Research Entity Directors and their Heads of Departments and Schools. These meetings were found to be most useful and constructive for all involved.
2.3.1.2. New Applications
Professor Viness Pillay submitted an application for a new research unit - Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP). This application was approved by the FRC and will be considered by the URC in early 2014.
Professors Jerome Loveland and Ashraf Coovadia have both submitted preliminary applications for new research units. Feedback has been given on these applications and it is anticipated that the final applications will be received and reviewed by the Entity Task Group early in 2014.
2.3.1.3. Review of Entities
2.3.1.3.1. Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit (SCRU) Quinquennial Review
This QQR of this entity was scheduled for 2013. The QQR report and motivation for the continuation of SCRU as a research programme was received. The URC will schedule the review early in 2014.
2.3.1.3.2. MRC/NHLS/Wits Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU) Quinquennial Review
This entity was reviewed in 2013 by the MRC. A glowing report was submitted by the MRC and RMPRU has been renewed for a further five years of funding.
2.3.1.3.3. Centre for Health Policy (CHP) Quinquennial Review (QQR)
This entity was reviewed by the MRC in 2013. We still await a report and final outcome of the QQR.
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2.3.1.3.4. Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) Scientific Advisory Board meeting On the 28th November 2013 the annual Scientific Advisory Board chaired by Professor Feldman convened. Professor Rees and colleagues of WRHI were congratulated for their outstanding work during 2013. The meeting succeeded in elucidating the complex nature of WRHI and challenges faced by the Institute; recommendations and possible solutions were discussed.
2.3.1.3.5. Wits Research Institute for Malaria (WRIM)
On the 28th November 2013 the Wits Research Institute for Malaria was launched and it’s first annual Scientific Advisory Board chaired by Professor Alan Rothberg was held on the 29th November 2013.
2.3.1.4. Administration of the Research Entities Documents
The FRC website was updated and all of the updated documentation pertaining to the research entities was placed on the web site. Following the review of the entity annual reports, these reports were placed on a sharepoint web-site so that all FRC members could have accessibility to the annual reports should they wish to read them.
2.3.1.5. Current FRC/URC/MRC approved Entities in the Faculty of Health Sciences In 2013, there were 18 recognized Research Entities in the FHS. The Entities, their Directors, cycles and their level of recognition are depicted in Table 1.
Table 1: Faculty of Health Sciences Research Entities in 2013 Research Entity School/Dept Status Recognition Cycle Director/Leader
1. Antiviral Gene Pathology/ FRC/URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof P. Arbuthnot Therapy Molecular [email protected] Research Unit Medicine & 717 2365 Haematology
2. Bone Physiology FRC/URC Unit 2013 until 2017 Prof U. Ripamonti Research [email protected] Laboratory Unit 717 2300
3. Brain Function Physiology FRC/URC Group 2013 until 2017 Prof A. Fuller Research Group [email protected] 717 2359
4. Carbohydrate Clinical FRC/URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof F Raal & Lipid Medicine/Internal [email protected] Metabolism Medicine 488 3538 Research Unit
5. Physiology FRC/URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof G. Norton Cardiovascular [email protected] Pathophysiology 717 2354 and Genomics Research Unit
6. Clinical HIV Clinical FRC/URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof I. Sanne Research Unit Medicine/ [email protected] Internal 276 8800/082 547 5225 Medicine/WHC
7.Developmental Clinical MRC/URC Unit 2011 until 2015 Prof S. Norris Pathways for Medicine/ [email protected] Health Research 9
Unit Paediatrics 933 1122
8. Effective Care Clinical FRC/URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof G.J Hofmeyr Research Unit Medicine/ [email protected] Obstetrics & 083 280 9402 Gynaecology
9. Health Policy Public Health MRC/URC 2009 until 2013 Dr J. Goudge Research Group Group [email protected] (MRC) 717 3425/ 489 9931 Centre for Health Policy (URC)
10. Hepatitis Clinical FRC Programme 2013 until 2017 Prof A. Kramvis Virus Diversity Medicine/ [email protected] Research Internal Medicine 488 3100 Programme
11. Perinatal HIV Clinical FRC/ URC Unit 2010 until 2014 Prof G. Gray Research Unit Medicine/ [email protected] Paediatrics 989 9700
12. Pulmonary Clinical FRC/URC Unit 2011 until 2015 Prof C. Feldman Infection Medicine/Internal [email protected] Research Unit Medicine 488 3840
13. Respiratory Pathology/ NICD MRC/URC/NHLS 2009 until 2014 Prof S. Madhi & Meningeal Unit [email protected] Pathogens 489 8723 Research Unit
14. Rural Public Public Health MRC/URC Unit 2013 until 2017 Prof S.P Tollman Health and [email protected] Health 717 2085 Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt)
15. Soweto Clinical FRC/URC Unit 2011 until 2013 Prof K. Sliwa Cardiovascular Medicine/ [email protected] Research Unit Internal Medicine 933 8197
16. Systematic Oral Health FRC Programme 2012 until 2016 Prof V. Yengopal Review Initiative Sciences [email protected] for Evidence- 7172594 and based Minimum Dr S. Mickenautsch Intervention in [email protected] Dentistry 7172240 (SYSTEM)
17. Wits Clinical Medicine FRC/URC 2010 until 2014 Prof H. Rees Reproductive Institute [email protected] Health and HIV 933 1228 Institute (WRHI)
18. Wits Pathology/ FRC/URC 2013 until 2017 Prof M. Coetzee Research Therapeutic Institute [email protected] Institute for Sciences 386 6480 Malaria (WRIM) Prof T. Coetzer [email protected] 0117172419
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Faculty of Health Sciences Research Entities 2013 Annual Report review
Seventeen of the eighteen Faculty entities submitted their 2013 Annual Reports for review. The Bone Research Laboratory is the only unit which failed to submit a report citing lack of funds which resulted in no administrative support as their reason for non-submittion. This matter was discussed at the FRC and the Head of School of Physiology, Professor David Gray, was requested to address this issue with Professor Ugo Ripamonti (Director: Bone Research Laboratory).
The overall reviews of the Annual Reports of the other seventeen entities were very positive with the entities showing improvement in their research outputs, most notably in publications and postgraduate student throughput. The FRC Entities Task Group was very encouraged that the seventeen entities have addressed many of the comments and recommendations of the previous reviews in their recent reports.
Detailed annual reports of each Entity are available from the HSRO on request.
2.3.2. Individual Research Grants Task Group The purpose of the task group is to allocate research funds to individual applicants on behalf of the Faculty Research Committee on an annual basis. The funds that are allocated are derived from grants from the Faculty Research Committee and from a number of legacies and funds held for this purpose in the University Foundation. The latter include the Medical Faculty Research Endowment Fund and The Iris Ellen Hodges Cardiovascular and Stress Funds. For several years (2008-2011) specific funding were also been obtained annually from URC to assist MMed/MDent candidates with their research, and Funds from the FRC have been topped up by a grant from the dividends of the Wits Health Consortium.
Table 2: The FRC Individual Research Grants amounts that have been disbursed over the last 6 years
Funds 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
FRC 479 000 536 000 525 600 500 000 500 000 500 000 MFREF 357 679 342 700 424 000 362 513 335 024 333 763 I Hodges CVS 156 500 32 000 I Hodges 73 250 140 000 92 273 157 486 185 000 200 000 Stress MMed/MDent 336 100 375 230 391 400 200 000 - - Total: 1 402 529 1 425 930 1 433 273 1 219 999 1 02 0 024 1 033 763 No of 111 135 154 (Jan) 134 (Jan) 176 194 applicants 10 (July) 12 (July)
Applications are called for towards the end of the year preceding that for which the allocations are made. In several years, applications have also called for later in the year, so as to allow new staff members and registrars to make application in the middle of the year, however this has not been possible recently due to the large number of applicants at the beginning of the year and the small amount of funds available. The task group is made up of approximately 35-40 staff members drawn from as diverse a range of disciplines as possible, so as to be able to review applications from all disciplines. Each reviewer is likely to be asked to review approximately 15 applications as each application is reviewed by two primary reviewers. The Chairman of the Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all the reviewers for their dedication and hard work in helping to ensure that the grants are distributed fairly. 11
New and junior researchers (postgraduate students) are primarily funded through the Medical Faculty Research Endowment Fund with amounts which vary between a maximum of R5000 for Masters projects and R8000 for PhD proposals. New members of staff (those who have not applied for funding for more than three years) or staff members starting a research career are support mainly from the FRC grant to a maximum of R12000.
2.3.3. Conference Travel Task Group
2013 BUDGET R 500 000 R 40 000 requested from HSRO in August since no funds left TOTAL = R 540 000
Total number of applications received 73 Total funding requested by applicants R 1 409 514 Total spent R 537 500 (99.4% of total budget)
Total number of applicants funded 51 (70%) Senior researchers 19 Emergent researchers 32
Local conference 17 R 75 500 Europe and Middle East 16 R 192 000 North America, Asia, Australia 18 R 270 000
Total number of applications rejected 14 Rejection rate 19% Reasons: No publication from previously funded conference (4) Late applications (3), Deadline for submission is 6 weeks prior to the conference Abstract already published >3 months before conference (3) Not full time/50% part time Wits staff member (1) Ineligible since received funds for an international conference in 2012 (1) Not presenting at the conference (1) Incomplete application and outstanding information not submitted (1)
Total number of applications withdrawn / part of group application 8 (11%)
Applications were reviewed on an ad hoc basis. The electronic submission and committee review system continues to work very well.
No changes were made to the travel application guidelines and the application form that had been revised in November 2012.
I would like to thank the members of my task group, Profs Viness Pillay, Maureen Coetzee, Jerome Loveland and Dr Witness Mudzi for their time in reviewing the applications. I appreciate their input and wise council in making funding decisions. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Moraba Meela for his efficient administrative assistance and support.
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2.3.4. Faculty Research Prize Task Group Nine publications were received for consideration for the award. One was not eligible since it had not been published yet.
The Cleaton-Jones/Meyers parameters were applied to the remaining eight publications and scores were generated. The top publications were evaluated by all the committee members, except for Prof Lynn Morris, since she was co-author on one of the publications. A unanimous decision was reached by the remaining committee members.
The 2012 Faculty Research Award was presented to Dr Penny Moore from NICD for a publication in Nature Medicine entitled: “Evolution of an HIV glycan-dependant broadly neutralizing antibody epitope through immune escape”.
The Faculty’s Research Prize for 2013 was awarded to Mr Kurt Wibmer from the School of Pathology, for his publication entitled “Viral Escape from HIV-1 Neurotralizing Antibodies Drives Increased Plasma Neutralization Breadth through Sequential Recognition of Multiple Epitopes and Immunotypes”, published in the PLOS Pathogens journal. Mr Wibmer’s research work was supervised by Dr Penny Moore who was the Faculty’s 2012 Research Prize winner!
I would like to thank my committee members (Profs John Pettifor and Saraladevi Naicker and Drs Aletta Esterhuyse and Witness Mudzi) for their input in evaluating the publications.I would also like to thank Moraba Meela for his efficient administrative assistance.
2.3.5. Research Day Task Group and Postgraduate Expo There was no Reseach Day in 2013 as Research Day occurs biennially. The next Research Day will be on the 17th September 2014. Preparations for the 2014 Research Day are underway.
2.3.6. Task Group on Research Entity Productivity
The group was established to investigate and develop a productivity index that would assist in relating FRC allocation of personnel budgets to research entities and possibly utilize the information in future allocations and re-allocations. In this exercise it should be noted that: the index is not to be regarded as a direct indication of academic excellence of the entities the index is independent of the review processes routinely applied to entities and has no bearing on the outcome of such reviews at issue is the fundamental problem of salaries being increased annually at a rate that is higher than that of the URC allocation to the Faculty. This results in a progressive erosion of the amount available to the FRC for travel, grants and RINC allocations. The productivity exercise facilitates an assessment of current funding (FRC and other) vs. entity outputs. As a result we are able to initiate a conversation around cost/budget shifting and sharing
Please see previous annual reports for the breakdown of the weighting an application of the score. The intention of this exercise is to monitor productivity, maintain posts, admittedly work towards part of the funding burden being put onto the entities, but in return redistribute ‘savings’ back to the productive entities via enhanced publication and graduation Rands/unit.
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2013 Rank vs. Capped funding 2011-13
The Table below shows the 2009-11 ranking of the entities and the capped salary contributions for the triennium. Particular note should be taken of the following:
While productive, two entities receive funding that appears to be disproportionate to the overall picture HVDRU has made significant strides, and does not receive a salary contribution from the FRC BRU, which is currently under threat in terms of future funding, did not provide a return for 2009-2011
ENTITY 2009-11 2013 FRC FUNDING SCORE (Rand)
Agincourt 660 338 189
BFRG 651 666 999
CPGRU 450 188 708
AGTRU 448 165 266
PIRU 335 150 000
HVDRU 303 -
CHP 278 389 509
CLMRU 261 334 368
MERU 189 -
B to 20/ 186 684 631 DPHRU
CHRU 171 -
RHRU 166 -
RMPRU 151 352 500
ECRU 103 165 451
SCRU - -
BRU - 162 758
Of note is that the process of capping salary resulted in >R800 000 per annum being available for redistribution to researchers (± 10% of annual FRC allocation)
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Task Team Proposals:
Recognising that the funds under discussion are specifically motivated for and awarded for personnel (and in all instances specific posts/individuals) the recommendations are:
On the basis of the 3-year history provided by research entities there continues to be a discrepancy between outputs and the levels of salary contributions. Poorly-funded but highly-productive entities or newly-established entities should be considered for funding. In this regard the HVDRU should be funded for the next triennium As of 1 January 2014, allocations to existing entities should be capped at: - R550 – R600 000 for the top recipients - R350 000 for those in the midrange - R150-R200 000 for those at the lower levels The next cycle should also look at level of funding vs. ranking i.e. entities consistently at the lower level of productivity should not continue to receive higher levels of funding The FRC should make a particular point of acknowledging the productivity of WHC entities that receive no salary support from the FRC Each 3-year cycle will require a contract/agreement between the entities and the FRC accepting the personnel budget for the cycle and agreeing to it being revised for the subsequent cycle on the basis of the index
2.3.7. FRC Advisory Board
The FRC advisory Board met as required. No major changes were initiated in 2013.
2.3.8. Research Budget Task Group
The FRC received a budget of R9 863 231 from the URC in 2013. There was an increase of R804 165.00 from 2012.
The distribution of the FRC budget according to category is illustrated in Fig. 1. The following allocations were made:
1. FRC posts: R3 598 379.00 (36.5% cf 39.72% in 2012 and 41.6% in 2011) 2. RINC: R5 124 000.00 (51.95% cf 51.55% in 2012 and 46.8% in 2011) 3. Individual grants: R 500 000.00 4. Congress Travel R 500 000.00 5. HSRO: 100 000.00 6. Sundry: 40 852.00 Total R9 863 231.00 15
FRC Budget 1% 0.4%
5% 5% FRC posts
36.48% RINC
Individual grants Congress 51.95% travel
Figure 1: Distribution of the 2013 FRC budget (Total= R9 863 2312.00)
In addition, Faculty Specific Grants made by the URC included:
1. Centre of Excellence in TB: R230 000.00 2. COE TB –contribution to Director’s salary: R250 000.00 3. COE TB – match on MRC funds: R 50 000.00 4. Bone Research Unit:contribution to Dirctor’s salary: R500 000.00
The RINC unit in 2013 was R12 000. This was an increase from R10 000 in 2012 and demonstrated the FRC Budget Committees commitment to provide increased funding to researchers. The distribution of RINC by School is indicated in Table 3 below.
Table 3: 2013 RINC distribution by School
Schools RINC Distribution
Anatomical Sciences RINC distributed to individuals
Clinical Medicine School top sliced RINC before distributing to individuals
School top sliced RINC then distributed to departments not Oral Health Sciences individuals
Pathology RINC distributed to individuals
Physiology RINC distributed to individuals
Public Health School top sliced RINC before distributing to individuals
Therapeutic Sciences School top sliced RINC before distributing to individuals
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“Capping” the amount of the FRC budget provided to Entities for posts has also contributed to the increase in RINC. In a detailed analysis undertaken by the HSRO for the DVC: Research in 2013 (a copy of this report is available on request) on the 11 posts supported by the FHS FRC, it was shown that the University secures a considerable multiplier effect in terms of the finances which these Entities raise from other sources to support their research and capacity development. In addition they make considerable contributions to policy and community engagement as well. In 2012 alone, it was shown that in contrast to the R3.6 million provided by the FRC to the 11 entity posts, approximately R123 162 926.00 had been raised by the 11 entities. This included funding from local and international funders.
Funding to the FRC from the URC is constrained as the URC budget from the Council remains at ~4.1% and not 6% as agreed by Council some years ago.
The WHC income on research alone was R604 383 000.00.
The WHC Dividend to the Faculty in 2013 was R3.5 million (see the final budget Table 5)
2.3.8.1. Faculty Research – Various Budgets
2.3.8.1.1. Rollover
An amount of R486 447.00 from the rollover account was provided to the HSRO in 2013. Table 3 below illustrates the distribution of the funds.
Table 4: Distribution of the rollover funds 2013
Project Strategic Value Budgeted Total Spent Amount
FRC Individual Large number of 100 000 100 000 Grants (additional applications; contribution) limited funding available
Bioinformatics Setting up Medical 130 000 109 144.52 system Bioinformatics system for Faculty. No SPARC funding in 2013. Thus used rollover-software development (student assistance); REDCap security; Dr Klipin flight to Vanderbilt for training)
Vanderbilt visits Cementing 40 000 40 000 collaborations with Vanderbilt. Contribution to visit of staff 17
Diaspora visitors Continue courses 40 000 39 090.01 for staff; new networks and collaborationsNo SPARC funding in 2013
Visitors: Zent and Pozzi; Soldin
Prestigious Communication 65 000 68 326.70 Research Lecture with community on research in Faculty
Miscellaneous Departmental 91 440 118 54.65 costs Prize days; emergency funding for students; Molecular Biology Research Thrust; communication training for emergent researchers; resaerch prize; HSRO brochure
R 474 615.88
2.3.8.1.2. WHC Dividend 2013 – R3 500 000.00 was available to the Faculty in 2013.
Table 5: WHC Dividend Budget 2013
Category Type and strategic Budget Spent function Equipment Equipment (minor) 1 240 000 1 212 941.08 Smaller pieces of research equipment which are still strategically important but often cannot be obtained off existing grants
Start-up funds for new staff 360 000 353 900 (R30 000 x16) (competitive basis if there are more than 16 applicants)
Supports new staff until they are able to apply for funding elsewhere
18
see 1.3.1.8.2a: Research New staff start-up funds 2013 list
Enhancing throughput & Pages charges for High publications Impact factor jand top-up 95 948 for open access online ournals Improving quality of research by encouraging publication in top journals
STATA 110 676 200 000 198 776 Writing retreats for staff 330 000 330 602.00 members (additional) Increase number of publications in ISI journals Writing dyads for 55 000 52 000 postgraduate students Increase throughputs and publications: Family Medicine and Psychiatry
Seed funding for projects 325 000 300 000 (competitive basis) – R50 000 per project x 6 Excellent projects exist in Faculty which cannot be initiated without some funding see 1.3.1.8.2b Research: seed funding 2013 list Biostatistical assistance 70 000 48 400 (one-on-one assistance in PG Hub for staff and students) Increase throughputs and assists with output of publications M.Med throughput – 240 000 240 000 funding provided to three clusters to facilitate the writing up of M.Meds Incentive for Postdocs 180 000 150 000 on ISI published articles - R10 000 per paper - increase number of publications Support and training for 15 000 15 000 postdocs and emergent researchers in dealing with the media (Clive Simkins) Research technician (50%) 95 000 95 000 to assist at CH Baragwanath Hospital Faculty Research Lab Support Postgraduates to 160 000 166 000 Congresses - Increases visibility; encourages publication
Support staff to Congress 40 000 40 000 (additional for Prof Coetzers committee Mini Postdocs (writing up 80 000 80 000 of papers from 19
postgraduate degrees) Marketing Faculty Research Awards 20 000 18 014.35 dinner Recognition of research staff for exceptional outputs and achievements in preceeding year
* Emergency assistance Repair of Laboratories in 71 010.00 71 010.00 to Research Unit order to sustain research, Professor B. Kana - Acting Dean, Prof Fonn, given permission to use some left-over funds on Prof Kana’s needs
Total 3 500 000 3 399 491.65
2.3.1.8.2a New Staff Support 2013 (see Table 5: WHC Dividend 2013)
The following new staff were supported from this budget: Ms T. Wainstein (Human Genetics), Ms W. van der Spuy, Ms T. Augustine, Ms E. Hutchins, Dr P. Quinney and Dr R. Ndou (Anatomical Sciences), Mr S. Thwale (Public Health), Ms Jay, Ms N. Comley-White, Ms N. Benjamin (Theraputic Sciences), Dr S. Moena (Oral Health Sciences), Dr T. Pillay (Clinical Medicine). In addition, on special appeal, funding was also provided to from this budget for project needs to the following: Professor L. Baldwin-Ragavan, Dr D. Kruger (Clinical Medicine), Dr E. Pitout and Dr M. Kaka (Oral Health Sciences), Dr H. Myezwa (Therapeutic Sciences), Dr A. Wadley (Physiology).
2.3.1.82b Seed Funding 2013 (see Table 5: WHC Dividend)
Five staff were provided with R50 000 each for projects which were submitted under this category of the WHC Dividend. The recipients of the seed funding are recorder in Table 5:
Table 6: Seed funding to staff in 2013
Name School Project
Dr R.C.Marshall Pathology Determining the prevalence of Parvovirus B19 in South African blood donors
Dr C. Martins- Therapeutic Plasmodium falciparum kinase Furness Sciences (PfcGAK) and its possible use as a drug target in malaria therapy 20
Ms A. Millen Physiology Impact of obesity and weight (nee loss, blood pressure and left Esterhuyse) venticular structure and function
Prof E.Kramer Clinical Medicine Research on Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Runners during training for and participation in the 2013 and/or 2014 Comrades Marathon. The R.A.C.E.R study.
Dr G.Gordon Pathology An investigation into the prevalence of synthetic cathinone and cannabinoid use in johannesburg, South Africa
2.3.8.3 Dean’s Discretionary Funding IN 2013 The Deans Discretionary funds were assigned to “time-off” periods to assist staff complete their Ph.Ds. Four “trime-offs” were allocated at a total cost of R275 000:
Table 7: Time-off allocation to staff in 2013
Name Department/School Budget Ph.D handed in
Ms C. Khupe CHSE R75 000 submitted
Ms J. Dietrich Clinical Medicine R75 000 submitted
Ms N. Cerutti Pathology R75 000 submitted
Mr O. Olaleye School of Oral Health R50 000 incomplete Sciences (Anatomical; Sciences)
2.3.9. Research Major Equipment
Major equipment to the Faculty was funded jointly by the URC and the NRF National Euipment Programme (NEP) (Table 7) in 2013.
Table 8: Major Equipment - URC CAPEX 2013 AWARD NAME SCHOOL EQUIPMENT VALUE
Dr Ingrid Avidon Physiology DXA scanner R 500 000 21
Junior sequencing Professor Wendy Stevens Pathology R 528 105 system
2.3.10. Research Minor Equipment
Minor equipment was funded from a number of sources to individuals across the Faculty in 2013 (Tables 8 a and b)
Table 9 a: URC CAPEX Minor Equipment Call –matched funding from Faculty - 2013 Funding from FRO (WHC Funding NAME SCHOOL EQUIPMENT COST Div) or from URC Department
Nanodrop 2000 Dr Ans Clinical Own funding UV/VIS R 125 952 R 63 000 Baeyens Medicine as matched spectrophotometer
Dr Jacqueline QUBIT 2.0 Own funding Pathology R 27 577 R 13 000 Brown Fluorometer as matched
Professor Qiagen Own funding Maureen Pathology TissueLyser II R 125 013 R 63 000 as matched Coetzee bead mill
Thermo -50oC to- Dr Raquel Clinical 80oC chest R 265 828 R 75 000 R 75 000 Duarte Medicine freezer
Professor Andrea Physiology Hemox-Analyzer R 272 000 R 50 000 R 136 000 Fuller
Dr Guinevere Pathology Ultra low freezer R 124 476 R 62 000 R 71 000 Gordon
Thermal conductance and Dr Robyn Physiology radiant heat load R 214 664 R 107 000 R 107 000 Hetem measuring equipment
Professor Ultrapure water Pathology R 59 156 R 11 800 R 30 000 Shabir Madhi filtration unit
Dr Aletta SphygmoCor Physiology R 295 260 R 97 600 R 148 000 Millen device
Dr Julitha Oral Health Ultrapure water R 47 189 R 13 500 R 24 000 Molepo Sciences filtration unit 22
Obstetrics & Professor Clinical Gynaecology R 287 331 R 143 000 R 144 000 Shane Norris Medicine ultrasound Machine
Central Mr Patrick Animal Portable autoclave R 120 000 R 60 000 R 60 000 Selahle Service
Professor Bulk printer and Own funding Stephen Public Health R 148 661 R 74 000 laptops as matched Tollman
Professor Therapeutic Own funding Sandy van Freeze dryer R 145 000 R 73 000 Sciences as matched Vuuren
Professor Therapeutic CO2 incubator R 78 375 R 19 000 R 39 000 Robyn Lynne Sciences
R 2 336 Total R 638 900 R 1 120 000 482
Table 9 b: Faculty Minor Equipment (second tranche) – 2013 (WHC dividend) NAME School Equipment Contribution
Professor Maureen MIR 154 - Panasonic cooled Pathology R 25 000 Coetzee incubator - 123L
Professor Thereza Pathology Olympus DP72 camera R 20 000 Coetzer
Dr Carol Crowther Pathology Automated microplate washer R 25 000
Dr Mignon du Plessis Pathology Apple iMac computer R 15 000
Dr Colleen Flanagan Physiology PCR machine R 48 500
Sonicator/homogenizer with Professor Bavesh Kana Pathology R 42 950 sound proof box
Dr Richard McFaraland Physiology star-oddi micro-logging system R 47 600
Dr Joanne McVeigh Physiology Respironics actical accelerometer R 30 000
Clinical Dr Colin Ice maker machine R 39 500 Medicine
Oral Health airstream horizontal laminar flow Dr Sharon Moeno R 42 000 Sciences clean bench 23
Oral Health Sub-Cell Model 96 Cell and Dr Julitha Molepo R 20 566 Sciences PowerPac Basic Power Supply
Dr Christopher Murray Physiology Hobo weather station R 31 300
Clinical Professor Shane Norris UPS system R 26 200 Medicine
Clinical Professor Frederick Raal ELx800 microplate reader R 55 000 Medicine
Clinical Professor Mohamed Tikly Research equipment R 83 000 Medicine
Professor Angela Physiology Small bench top centrifuge R 19 419 Woodiwiss
Total R 571 035
2.3.11. MRC Self-initiated Grants for new and renewals 2013
Table 10: MRC Self-initiated Grants for new and renewals 2013
Title Initials Surname Department/School Start/ and Unit/Individual Grants End (R)
Dr J Goudge Centre for Health Policy, 2013-2013 Unit 1 176.012 Public Health
Prof S Madhi Respiratory and 2013-2013 Unit 955.542 Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, Pathology
Prof SA Norris Developmental Pathways 2013-2013 Unit 1 028.79 for Health Research Unit, Clinical Medicine
Prof SM Tollman Rural Public Health and 2013-2013 Unit 889.711 Health Transitions Research Unit, Public Health
Prof PB Arbuthnot Molecular Medicine and 2013-2013 Individual 200 000 Haematology, Pathology
Dr I Avidon Physiology 2011-2013 Individual 43 000
Dr A Baeyens Radiation Sciences, 2012-2014 Individual 143 000 Clinical Medicine
Dr A Capovilla Molecular Medicine and 2012-2014 Individual 122 900 Haematology, Pathology 24
Prof T Carmichael Ophthalmology, Clinical 2012-2014 Individual 145 050 Medicine
Prof NJ Crowther Chemical Pathology, 2011-2013 Individual 150 000 Pathology
Dr P Durand Molecular Medicine and 2012-2014 Individual 69 200 Haematology, Pathology
Prof M Hosie Anatomical Science 2011-2013 Individual 140 000
Prof P Kamerman Physiology 2013-2013 Individual 172 998
Prof A Kramvis Internal Medicine, 2011-2013 Individual 114 737 Clinical Medicine
Prof HP Laburn Physiology 2011-2013 Individual 120 000
Prof E Libhaber Clinical Medicine 2011-2014 Individual 126 000
Dr H Majane Physiology 2011-2013 Individual 75 000
Dr H Myezwa Physiotherapy, 2012-2013 Individual 106 883 Therapeutic Sciences
Prof S Naicker Internal Medicine, 2012-2014 Individual 149 574 Clinical Medicine
Prof G Norton Physiology 2011-2013 Individual 65 000
Prof V Pillay Pharmacy, Therapeutic 2012-2014 Individual 102 000 Sciences
Prof A Stewart Physiotherapy, 2012-2014 Individual 71 413 Therapeutic Sciences
Dr S Velaphi Paediatrics, Clinical 2013-2015 Individual 150 980 Medicine
Prof AJ Woodiwiss Physiology 2011-2013 Individual 75 000
3. RESEARCH OUTPUTS
3.1. Publication Units and additional data on publications Reflected in Table 10 are the publication units awarded by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DoHET) to individual Schools in the Faculty for the period 2006 – 2013. The units for the Faculty for 2013, which are still to be formally confirmed, show a major increase of over 90 units since 2012. Congratulations are extended to all the researchers in the Faculty for this amazing increase! A special word of congratulations must go to the School of Therapeutic Sciences who have more than doubled their unit output in one year!
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Table 11: Units awarded to the Faculty of Health Sciences by DoHET for publications submitted for subsidy (2006 – 2013).
Schools Years
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Unconfirmed
SOAS 18.06 18.1 19.46 7.37 10.31 14.89 9.71 13.57
CHSE 0 0 0.25 0.31 1.50 0 1.00 2.20
SOCM 81.13 109.69 112.44 107.04 89.30 121.76 113.87 140.36
SOralS 7.59 3.93 10.96 4.93 2.00 0.66 15.43 3
SOPath 39.58 46.8 56.70 53.34 38.35 62.20 54.92 69.96
SOPHY 14.02 24.2 17.95 23.63 14.84 24.62 28.78 34.41
SOPubH 24.68 33.99 19.14 24.07 22.49 33.01 45.88 65.84
SOThSc 17.68 18.75 22.55 24.36 22.59 25.89 21.74 56.40
Total DNE 202.9 255.46 259.45 245.05 199.96 283.03 291.33 385.74 Units
In Table 12 below, both accredited publication numbers and their conversion into DoHET units is shown for the years 2009-2012.
Table 12: Publication numbers and DoHET units for the years 2009 -2012
Publication Year DoHET accredited (articles DoHET units (articles only) only)
2009 422 245.05
2010 352 200.08
2011 535 275.41
2012 507 291.33
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The numbers of journal articles, chapters in books and books published in 2012 by Schools are reflected in Figures 2 – 4.
300
Accredited Non-accredited
250
200
150
100 Numberofjournal articles 50
0 Anatomical Clinical Oral Health Pathology Physiology Public Therapeutic Sciences Medicine Sciences Health Sciences Schools Figure 2: The number of journal articles produced by each School in 2012 (accredited by DoHET, not accredited by DoHET)
35 Accredited Non-accredited
30
25
20
15
10
Numberofchapters books in 5
0 Anatomical Clinical Oral Health Pathology Physiology Public Therapeutic Sciences Medicine Sciences Health Sciences Schools
Figure 3: The number of chapters in books produced by each School in 2012 (accredited by DoHET; not accredited by DoHET)
27
120 School Research Entity Research Entity & School
100
80
60
40 Percentage contribution 20
0 Anatomical Clinical Oral Helath Pathology Physiology Public Therapeutic Sciences Medicine Sciences Health Sciences Schools
Figure 4: Analysis of the percentage contribution of publications by entities to Schools (2012 accredited journal articles).
Faculty Goal: The 2013 Faculty goal for publications was to increase the quantity of publications by 10%. While the number of publications recorded in 2013 has not yet been confirmed, units in the Faculty increased from 291.33 (507 accredited publications) to 385.74.
3.2. Most Prolific Authors and citation records in the FHS in 2012
The most prolific authors in the Faculty in 2012 are reflected in Table 13. The calculations were based on publications submitted to the University Research Office in 2012 (accredited by DoHET) plus searches in the following data bases: Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge and Pubmed. Table limited to those authors with four or more publications.
Table 13: Most prolific authors in the FHS in 2012
Author School No. of Author School No. of papers papers Clinical Madhi SA Pathology 23 Rees HV Medicine 6 Clinical Stevens W Pathology 23 Violari A Medicine 6 Klugman Pathology 16 Arbuthnot PB Pathology 5 Clinical Clinical Sanne IM Medicine 13 Beksinska E Medicine 5 Clinical Hofmeyr GJ Medicine 12 Blaauw DA Public Health 5 Clinical Clinical Norris SA Medicine 12 Buchmann EJ Medicine 5 Clinical Gray GE Medicine 11 Coetzee M Pathology 5 Kumar P Therapeutic 11 Crowther NJ Pathology 5 28
Sciences Von Gottenberg Clinical AM Pathology 11 Firnhaber C Medicine 5 Yengopal V Public Health 11 Fuller AJ Physiology 5 Clinical Andronikou S Medicine 10 Kahn L Public Health 5 Therapeutic Choonara Y Sciences 10 Kamerman PR Physiology 5 Therapeutic Du Toit LC Sciences 10 Keddy EH Pathology 5 Therapeutic Clinical Pillay V Sciences 10 McIntyre JA Medicine 5 Clinical Clinical Smit JA Medicine 10 Mngomezulu V Medicine 5 Clinical Clinical Venter WD Medicine 10 Moultrie HS Medicine 5 Papathanasopo Tollman SM Public Health 9 ulos M Pathology 5 Clinical Cohen C Public Health 8 Raal FJ Medicine 5 Clinical Clinical De Bruyn G Medicine 8 Richard GA Medicine 5 Clinical Martinson N Medicine 8 Schartz EJ Public Health 5 Morris L Pathology 8 Sherman GG Pathology 5 Therapeutic Clinical Ndesendo VM Sciences 8 Steward S Medicine 5 Therapeutic Norton GR Physiology 8 Stewart AV Sciences 5 Clinical Clinical Sliwa-Hahnle K Medicine 8 Tikly M Medicine 5 Clinical Soodyall H Pathology 8 Carrington Medicine 4 Wallis CL Pathology 8 Clark SJ Public Health 4 Woodiwiss AJ Physiology 8 De Gouveia L Pathology 4 Clinical Byass P Public Health 7 Dhai A Medicine 4 Chersich MF Public Health 7 Du Plessis M Pathology 4 Delany- Clinical Clinical Moretlwe AS Medicine 7 Feldman C Medicine 4 Erlwanger KH Physiology 7 Fonn S Public Health 4 Groome MJ Pathology 7 Frean A Pathology 4 Hobbs AW Pathology 7 Glencross DK Pathology 4 Anatomical Manger P sciences 7 Hetem RS Physiology 4 Anatomical Michelow PM Pathology 7 Kramer B Sciences 4 Musenge E Public Health 7 Krause A Pathology 4 Clinical Clinical Pettifor JM Medicine 7 Libhaber EN Medicine 4 Clinical Harris B Public Health 6 Loveland J Medicine 4 Clinical Karstaedt AS Medicine 6 Malony SK Physiology 4 Clinical Clinical Kramvis A Medicine 6 Maskew M Medicine 4 Clinical Lewis DA Medicine 6 Omar T Pathology 4 29
Clinical Macphail CL Medicine 6 Ramsay M Pathology 4 Clinical Clinical Maskew M Medicine 6 Richter LM Medicine 4 Clinical Meyer LC Physiology 6 Saloojee H Medicine 4 Mitchell D Physiology 6 Smith AM Pathology 4 Therapeutic Murray J Public Health 6 Van Vuuren S Sciences 4 Oral Health Owen CP Sciences 6 Weinberg M. Pathology 4
3.3. Most cited publications in the Faculty recorded in 2013
Table 14: Most cited publications in the FHS based on the ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus in a 10 year period (2003 –2013).
Document Authors Title Year Source title Cited Type
Bonner J.A., Harari P.M., Giralt J., Azarnia New England N., Shin D.M., Cohen R.B., Jones C.U., Sur Radiotherapy plus cetuximab Journal of R., Raben D., Jassem J., Ove R., Kies for squamous-cell carcinoma 2006 2034 Article Medicine, 354 (6), M.S., Baselga J., Youssoufian H., Amellal of the head and neck pp.567-578 N., Rowinsky E.K., Ang K.K.
Van Cutsem E., Kohne C.-H., Hitre E., Zaluski J., Chien C.-R.C., Makhson A., Cetuximab and New England D'Haens G., Pinter T., Lim R., Bodoky G., chemotherapy as initial Journal of 2009 1226 Article Roh J.K., Folprecht G., Ruff P., Stroh C., treatment for metastatic Medicine, 360 (14), Tejpar S., Schlichting M., Nippgen J., colorectal cancer pp.1408-1417 Rougier P.
Cohen M.S., Chen Y.Q., McCauley M., Gamble T., Hosseinipour M.C., Kumarasamy N., Hakim J.G., Kumwenda J., Grinsztejn B., Pilotto J.H.S., Godbole S.V., Mehendale S., Chariyalertsak S., New England Prevention of HIV-1 infection Santos B.R., Mayer K.H., Hoffman I.F., Journal of with early antiretroviral 2011 1012 Article Eshleman S.H., Piwowar-Manning E., Medicine, 365 (6), therapy Wang L., Makhema J., Mills L.A., De Bruyn pp.493-505 G., Sanne I., Eron J., Gallant J., Havlir D., Swindells S., Ribaudo H., Elharrar V., Burns D., Taha T.E., Nielsen-Saines K., Celentano D., Essex M., Fleming T.R.
A trial of a 9-valent New England Klugman K.P., Madhi S.A., Huebner R.E., pneumococcal conjugate Journal of 2003 566 Article Kohberger R., Mbelle N., Pierce N. vaccine in children with and Medicine, 349 (14), those without HIV infection pp.1341-1348
Recombinant factor VIIa as Boffard K.D., Riou B., Warren B., Choong adjunctive therapy for Journal of Trauma - P.I.T., Rizoli S., Rossaint R., Axelsen M., bleeding control in severely Injury, Infection and Kluger Y., Champion H.R., Lucas C., injured trauma patients: Two 2005 461 Article Critical Care, 59 Thompson E., Ross S., Jurkovich G.J., parallel randomized, placebo- (1), pp.8-18 Lynn M., Pitts L., Croce M.A. controlled, double-blind clinical trials 30
New England Violari A., Cotton M.F., Gibb D.M., Babiker Early antiretroviral therapy Journal of A.G., Steyn J., Madhi S.A., Jean-Philippe and mortality among HIV- 2008 406 Article Medicine, 359 (21), P., McIntyre J.A. infected infants pp.2233-2244
Hoyme H.E., May P.A., Kalberg W.O., A practical clinical approach Kodituwakku P., Gossage J.P., Trujillo to diagnosis of fetal alcohol Pediatrics, 115 (1), P.M., Buckley D.G., Miller J.H., Aragon spectrum disorders: 2005 330 Article pp.39-47 A.S., Khaole N., Viljoen D.L., Jones K.L., Clarification of the 1996 Robinson L.K. institute of medicine criteria
Heterosexual HIV-1 Donnell D., Baeten J.M., Kiarie J., Thomas The Lancet, 375 transmission after initiation of K.K., Stevens W., Cohen C.R., McIntyre 2010 (9731), pp.2092- 322 Article antiretroviral therapy: a J., Lingappa J.R., Celum C. 2098 prospective cohort analysis
Nair H., Nokes D.J., Gessner B.D., Dherani M., Madhi S.A., Singleton R.J., O'Brien Global burden of acute lower K.L., Roca A., Wright P.F., Bruce N., respiratory infections due to The Lancet, 375 Chandran A., Theodoratou E., Sutanto A., respiratory syncytial virus in 2010 (9725), pp.1545- 278 Article Sedyaningsih E.R., Ngama M., Munywoki young children: a systematic 1555 P.K., Kartasasmita C., Simoes E.A., Rudan review and meta-analysis I., Weber M.W., Campbell H.
A role for Streptococcus Nature Medicine, Madhi S.A., Klugman K.P. pneumoniae in virus- 2004 238 Article 10 (8), pp.811-813 associated pneumonia
Diacon A.H., Pym A., Grobusch M., Patientia R., Rustomjee R., Page-Shipp L., Pistorius C., Krause R., Bogoshi M., New England The diarylquinoline TMC207 Churchyard G., Venter A., Allen J., Journal of for multidrug-resistant 2009 234 Article Palomino J.C., De Marez T., Van Heeswijk Medicine, 360 (23), tuberculosis R.P.G., Lounis N., Meyvisch P., Verbeeck pp.2397-2405 J., Parys W., De Beule K., Andries K., Mc Neeley D.F.
Hilfiker-Kleiner D., Kaminski K., Podewski E., Bonda T., Schaefer A., Sliwa K., Forster O., Quint A., Landmesser U., A Cathepsin D-Cleaved 16 Doerries C., Luchtefeld M., Poli V., kDa Form of Prolactin Cell, 128 (3), 2007 232 Article Schneider M.D., Balligand J.-L., Desjardins Mediates Postpartum pp.589-600 F., Ansari A., Struman I., Nguyen N.Q.N., Cardiomyopathy Zschemisch N.H., Klein G., Heusch G., Schulz R., Hilfiker A., Drexler H.
Young people's sexual health in South Africa: HIV Pettifor A.E., Rees H.V., Kleinschmidt I., prevalence and sexual AIDS, 19 (14), Steffenson A.E., MacPhail C., Hlongwa- 2005 218 Review behaviors from a nationally pp.1525-1534 Madikizela L., Vermaak K., Padian N.S. representative household survey 31
Baeten J.M., Donnell D., Ndase P., Mugo N.R., Campbell J.D., Wangisi J., Tappero J.W., Bukusi E.A., Cohen C.R., Katabira E., Ronald A., Tumwesigye E., Were E., Fife K.H., Kiarie J., Farquhar C., John-Stewart G., Kakia A., Odoyo J., Mucunguzi A., Antiretroviral prophylaxis for New England Nakku-Joloba E., Twesigye R., Ngure K., HIV prevention in Journal of 2012 216 Article Apaka C., Tamooh H., Gabona F., Mujugira heterosexual men and Medicine, 367 (5), A., Panteleeff D., Thomas K.K., Kidoguchi women pp.399-410 L., Krows M., Revall J., Morrison S., Haugen H., Emmanuel-Ogier M., Ondrejcek L., Coombs R.W., Frenkel L., Hendrix C., Bumpus N.N., Bangsberg D., Haberer J.E., Stevens W.S., Lingappa J.R., Celum C.
Madhi S.A., Cunliffe N.A., Steele D., Witte New England Effect of human rotavirus D., Kirsten M., Louw C., Ngwira B., Victor Journal of vaccine on severe diarrhea in 2010 212 Article J.C., Gillard P.H., Cheuvart B.B., Han H.H., Medicine, 362 (4), African infants Neuzil K.M. pp.289-298
Effect of a structural Pronyk P.M., Hargreaves J.R., Kim J.C., intervention for the prevention Lancet, 368 (9551), Morison L.A., Phetla G., Watts C., Busza of intimate-partner violence 2006 207 Article pp.1973-1983 J., Porter J.D. and HIV in rural South Africa: a cluster randomised trial
Celum C., Wald A., Lingappa J.R., Magaret A.S., Wang R.S., Mugo N., Mujugira A., Baeten J.M., Mullins J.I., Hughes J.P., Bukusi E.A., Cohen C.R., Katabira E., Ronald A., Kiarie J., Farquhar C., Stewart G.J., Makhema J., Essex M., Were E., Fife New England Acyclovir and transmission of K.H., De Bruyn G., Gray G.E., McIntyre Journal of HIV-1 from persons infected 2010 206 Article J.A., Manongi R., Kapiga S., Coetzee D., Medicine, 362 (5), with HIV-1 and HSV-2 Allen S., Inambao M., Kayitenkore K., pp.427-439 Karita E., Kanweka W., Delany S., Rees H., Vwalika B., Stevens W., Campbell M.S., Thomas K.K., Coombs R.W., Morrow R., Whittington W.L.H., McElrath M.J., Barnes L., Ridzon R., Corey L.
Spragg R.G., Lewis J.F., Walmrath H.-D., Effect of recombinant New England Johannigman J., Bellingan G., Laterre P.- surfactant protein C-based Journal of F., Witte M.C., Richards G.A., Rippin G., 2004 200 Article surfactant on the acute Medicine, 351 (9), Rathgeb F., Hafner D., Taut F.J.H., Seeger respiratory distress syndrome pp.884-892/947 W.
Buller H.R., Prins M.H., Lensing A.W.A., Decousus H., Jacobson B.F., Minar E., New England Chlumsky J., Verhamme P., Wells P., Oral rivaroxaban for the Journal of Agnelli G., Cohen A., Berkowitz S.D., treatment of symptomatic 2012 198 Article Medicine, 366 (14), Bounameaux H., Davidson B.L., Misselwitz pulmonary embolism pp.1287-1297 F., Gallus A.S., Raskob G.E., Schellong S., Segers A.
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3.4. Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) articles published in some of the highest impact factors journals in 2013
Table 15: FHS articles published in some of the highest impact factors journals in 2013. Information derived from ISI Web of Knowledge (with cutoff of IF 20 and above).
Impact Authors Title Year Source title Volume Factor
Walensky R.P., Ross E.L., Kumarasamy N., Wood R., Noubary F., Paltiel A.D., Nakamura vol.369, Cost-effectiveness of HIV New England Y.M., Godbole S.V., Panchia R., Sanne I., no.18, treatment as prevention in 2013 Journal of 51.658 Weinstein M.C., Losina E., Mayer K.H., Chen pp.1715- serodiscordant couples Medicine Y.Q., Wang L., McCauley M., Gamble T., 1725 Seage III G.R., Cohen M.S., Freedberg K.A.
Kenyon C., Bonorchis K., Corcoran C., Meintjes G., Locketz M., Lehloenya R., Vismer vol.369, A dimorphic fungus causing New England H.F., Naicker P., Prozesky H., Wyk M., no15, disseminated infection in South 2013 Journal of 51.658 Bamford C., Du Plooy M., Imrie G., Dlamini S., pp.1416- Africa Medicine Borman A.M., Colebunders R., Yansouni C.P., 1424 Mendelson M., Govender N.P.
Fidler S., Porter K., Ewings F., Frater J., Ramjee G., Cooper D., Rees H., Fisher M., vol.368, New England Schechter M., Kaleebu P., Tambussi G., Short-course antiretroviral no.3, 2013 Journal of 51.658 Kinloch S., Miro J.M., Kelleher A., McClure M., therapy in primary HIV infection pp.207- Medicine Kaye S., Gabriel M., Phillips R., Weber J., 217 Babiker A.
Early time-limited antiretroviral Cotton M.F., Violari A., Otwombe K., therapy versus deferred therapy Panchia R., Dobbels E., Rabie H., Josipovic vol.382, in South African infants infected D., Liberty A., Lazarus E., Innes S., Van no.994, with HIV: Results from the 2013 The Lancet 39.06 Rensburg A.J., Pelser W., Truter H., Madhi pp.1555- children with HIV early S.A., Handelsman E., Jean-Philippe P., 1563 antiretroviral (CHER) McIntyre J.A., Gibb D.M., Babiker A.G. randomised trial
Katz J., Lee A.C.C., Kozuki N., Lawn J.E., Cousens S., Blencowe H., Ezzati M., Bhutta Z.A., Marchant T., Willey B.A., Adair L., Barros F., Baqui A.H., Christian P., Fawzi W., Mortality risk in preterm and vol.382, Gonzalez R., Humphrey J., Huybregts L., small-for-gestational-age infants no.9890, Kolsteren P., Mongkolchati A., Mullany L.C., in low-income and middle- 2013 The Lancet 39.06 pp.417- Ndyomugyenyi R., Nien J.K., Osrin D., income countries: A pooled 425 Roberfroid D., Sania A., Schmiegelow C., country analysis Silveira M.F., Tielsch J., Vaidya A., Velaphi S.C., Victora C.G., Watson-Jones D., Black R.E.
vol.382, Jha V., Garcia-Garcia G., Iseki K., Li Z., Chronic kidney disease: Global no.9888, Naicker S., Plattner B., Saran R., Wang A.Y.- 2013 The Lancet 39.06 dimension and perspectives pp.260- M., Yang C.-W. 272
Nair H., Simoes E.A.F., Rudan I., Gessner B.D., Azziz-Baumgartner E., Zhang J.S.F., Feikin D.R., MacKenzie G.A., Moisi J.C., Roca A., Baggett H.C., Zaman S.M.A., Singleton Global and regional burden of vol.381, R.J., Lucero M.G., Chandran A., Gentile A., hospital admissions for severe no.9875, Cohen C., Krishnan A., Bhutta Z.A., Arguedas acute lower respiratory 2013 The Lancet 39.06 pp.1380- A., Clara A.W., Andrade A.L., Ope M., infections in young children in 1390 Ruvinsky R.O., Hortal M., McCracken J.P., 2010: A systematic analysis Madhi S.A., Bruce N., Qazi S.A., Morris S.S., Arifeen S.E., Weber M.W., G. Scott J.A., Brooks W.A., Breiman R.F., Campbell H. 33
Associations of linear growth and relative weight gain during Adair L.S., Fall C.H.D., Osmond C., Stein vol.382, early life with adult health and A.D., Martorell R., Ramirez-Zea M., Sachdev no.9891, human capital in countries of 2013 The Lancet 39.06 H.S., Dahly D.L., Bas I., Norris S.A., pp.525- low and middle income: Micklesfield L., Hallal P., Victora C.G. 534 Findings from five birth cohort studies
Bhatt S., Gething P.W., Brady O.J., Messina J.P., Farlow A.W., Moyes C.L., Drake J.M., vol.496, Brownstein J.S., Hoen A.G., Sankoh O., The global distribution and no.7446, 2013 Nature 38.597 Myers M.F., George D.B., Jaenisch T., William burden of dengue pp.504- Wint G.R., Simmons C.P., Scott T.W., Farrar 507 J.J., Hay S.I.
vol.155, Chromosomal contact permits Fanucchi S., Shibayama Y., Burd S., no.3, transcription between 2013 Cell 31.957 Weinberg M.S., Mhlanga M.M. pp.606- coregulated genes 620
Georgiev I.S., Doria-Rose N.A., Zhou T., Kwon Y.D., Staupe R.P., Moquin S., Chuang G.-Y., Louder M.K., Schmidt S.D., Altae-Tran vol.340, Delineating antibody recognition H.R., Bailer R.T., McKee K., Nason M., O'Dell no.6133, in polyclonal sera from patterns 2013 Science 31.027 S., Ofek G., Pancera M., Srivatsan S., Shapiro pp.751- of HIV-1 isolate neutralization L., Connors M., Migueles S.A., Morris L., 756 Nishimura Y., Martin M.A., Mascola J.R., Kwong P.D.
Pandey G.S., Yanover C., Miller-Jenkins L.M., Garfield S., Cole S.A., Curran J.E., Moses E.K., Rydz N., Simhadri V., Kimchi-Sarfaty C., Lillicrap D., Viel K.R., Przytycka T.M., Pierce G.F., Howard T.E., Sauna Z.E., Lusher J., Endogenous factor VIII Chitlur M., Ameri A., Natarajan K., Iyer R.V., synthesis from the intron 22- vol.19, Thompson A.A., Watts R.G., Kempton C.L., inverted F8 locus may modulate Nature no.10, Kessler C., Barrett J.C., Martin E.J., Key N., 2013 24.302 the immunogenicity of Medicine pp.1318- Kruse-Jarres R., Lessinger C., Pratt K.P., replacement therapy for 1324 Josephson N., McRedmond K., Withycombe hemophilia A J., Walsh C., Matthews D., Mahlangu J., Krause A., Schwyzer R., Thejpal R., Rapiti N., Goga Y., Coetzee M., Stones D., Mann K., Butenas S., Almasy L., Blangero J., Carless M., Raja R., Reed E.
Ngugi A.K., Bottomley C., Kleinschmidt I., Prevalence of active convulsive vol.12, Wagner R.G., Kakooza-Mwesige A., Ae- epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa The Lancet no.3, Ngibise K., Owusu-Agyei S., Masanja H., and associated risk factors: 2013 23.917 Neurology pp.253- Kamuyu G., Odhiambo R., Chengo E., Sander Cross-sectional and case- 263 J.W., Newton C.R. control studies
Note bene: In order to assist the FRO in “tracking” publications and in order for the DoHET to accredit publications to the University, the FRO would once again like to appeal to all researchers to ensure that the description “Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand” appears as part of their address on all publications.
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3.5. International and national collaborations
Table 16: International and national collaborations of FHS authors on 2012 publications.
No. of Institution papers Country London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 22 UK Aurum Institute 4 RSA Baylor College of Medicine 4 USA Beth Israel Medical Center 4 USA Boston University 7 USA Brigham and Women's Hospital 4 USA Columbia University 5 USA Duke University 5 USA Emory University 11 USA Erasmus University 4 Netherlands Flinders University of South Australia 4 Australia George Washington University 4 USA Harvard University 5 USA Imperial College London 7 UK James Cook University 7 Australia Johns Hopkins University 7 USA Kenya Medical Research Institute 7 Kenya Lagos State University Teaching Hospital 3 Nigeria Makerere University 12 GHANA Moi University 5 Kenya Monash University 6 Australia South African Medical Research Council 18 RSA The University of British Columbia 3 Canada The University of North Carolina 10 USA Universität Tübingen 3 Germany Universiteit Stellenbosch 29 RSA University of Alabama at Birmingham 5 USA University of Amsterdam 16 Netherlands University of California 4 USA University of Cape Town 61 RSA University of KwaZulu-Natal 19 RSA University of Limpopo 3 RSA University of Liverpool 7 UK University of Melbourne 7 Australia University of Nairobi 7 Kenya University of New South Wales 6 Australia University of Oklahoma 4 USA University of Oxford 5 USA University of Pennsylvania 3 USA University of Pittsburgh 4 USA University of Pretoria 21 RSA University of Washington 3 USA University of Washington Seattle 10 USA 35
University of Western Australia 4 Australia University of Zimbabwe 7 Zimbabwe Vanderbilt University 4 USA
3.6. NRF Rated Scientists 2013
The Faculty of Health Sciences had 58 NRF rated researchers in 2013. The number of NRF-rated researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences from 2008 – 2013 is depicted in Figure 5. (see Figure 5) (compared with 60 in 2010 and 56 in 2012). Nine of these 58 NRF rated researchers were new ratings (Table 17). Four of the new rated researchers had been rated for the first time. Five applied for and received a re-rating. There were six A- Rated scientists in the Faculty in 2013.
70 60 58 60 55 56 52
50 46
40
Count 30
20
10
0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Year
Figure 5: The number of NRF-rated researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences from
2008 to 2013
Table 17: Faculty of Health Sciences NRF Ratings effective from the 1st January 2013
Name Title School Rating Status
Adrian, PV Dr Pathology C2 Rerated
Arbuthnot, PB Prof Pathology B3 Rerated
Choonara, Y Prof Therapeutic Y1 First time
Coetzee, M (JS) Prof Pathology B1 Rerated
Firnhaber, CS Dr Clinical Medicine C2 First time 36
Koekemoer,L Prof Pathology C1 Rerated
Kramvis, A Prof Clinical Medicine B2 Rerated
Schepartz, LA Prof Anatomical Sciences B3 First time
Wade, AN Dr Public Health Y2 First time
Faculty Goal: A Faculty goal was to increase the number of NRF ratings in 2013. While the number increased slightly, it has not regained 2010 levels. The decrease in 2013 could be due to the loss of ratings by researchers who chose not to apply for re-rating.
4. DST/NRF South African Chairs Initiative
The Faculty proudly hosts five DST/NRF South African Chairs. These are:
Professor Viness Pillay: Chair in Pharmaceutical Biomaterials and Polymer-Engineered Drug Delivery Technologies, School of Therapeutic Sciences: Cycle 2008-2012; renewed for a further 5 years - 2013- 2017. Professor Shabir Madhi: Chair in Vaccine Preventable Diseases, School of Pathology: Cycle 2008- 2012; renewed for a further 5 years - 2013-2017. Professor M. Coetzee: Chair in Medical Entymology and Vector Control, School of Pathology: Cycle 2008-2012; renewed for a further 5 years – 2013 – 2017. Professor Caroline Tiemessen: Chair in HIV Vaccine Translational Research, School of Pathology whose Chair will be entitled the DST/NRF Chair of HIV Vaccine Translational Research. Cycle 2013 – 2017. Professor John Eyles: Chair in Health Policy and Systems Research, School of Public Health. Cycle 2013 – 2017.
Faculty Goal: A Faculty Goal in 2013 was to obtain a further DST/NRF SARCHI. This was exceeded through the appointment of two Chairs to Professors Tiemessen and Eyles respectively.
5. POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND ACTIVITIES IN 2013
The number of Postdoctoral Fellows in the Faculty has increased from 26 in 2012 to 43 in 2013 (Table 18).
Faculty Goal: The Faculty Goal for 2013 was to increase the number of Postdoctoral Fellows by five. This target was exceeded. Further postdoctoral positions could easily be filled in the Faculty were positions available. Also, it is important to note that in order to attract clinical Postdoctoral Fellows the stipend needs to be increased markedly.
The HSRO continues to host a Postdoctoral Forum on a quarterly basis and a Postdoctoral Symposium every two years.
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Table 18: Postdoctoral Fellows 2013
Postdoctoral School/Dept/Unit Supported/Funded by: Research Fellow
1 Dr adhil Bhagwandin Anatomical Sciences SPARC
Respiratory & Meningeal Pathogens Respiratory & Meningeal 2 Dr Alane Emiko Izu Research Unit Pathogens Research Unit
Cell Biology, Centre for HIV and 3 Dr Anabela Picton Claude Leon Foundation STIs, NICD/ School of Pathology,
4 Dr Ananyo Choudhury Human Genetics SPARC Postdoctoral fellowship
5 Dr Antonia Wadley Physiology Hillel Friedland Fellowship
Dr Arnaud Djami 6 CPGRU Claude Leon foundation Tchatchou
Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research 7 Dr Aurelie Deroubaix Hillel Friedland Fellowship Programme
8 Dr Benjamin Rey Brain Function Research Group Claude Leon Fundation
9 Dr Buhle Moyo Antiviral gene therapy research unit NRF
10 Dr Candice Lyons Wits Research Institute for Malaria SPARC Research Fellowship
11 Dr Carren Ginsburg Agincourt URC
Developmental Pathways for Health Wellcome Trust to Birth to 12 Dr Celia Hsiao Research Unit Twenty study
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery 13 Dr Charu Tyagi NRF Platform
Centre of Excellence for Biomedical NRF Prestigious / Scarce Skills 14 Dr Christopher Ealand TB Research Fellowship
NICD Training and leadership - 15 Dr Daniel Achinko Pathology Wits Health Consortium
Dr Deepak Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research 16 NRF/URC Gopalakrishnan Programme
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery 17 Dr Divya Rani Prestigious SPARC Platform
NRF Freestanding Postdoctoral 18 Dr Givemore Muhenga Wits Research Institute for Malaria Fellowship
19 Dr Hilary Lease Brain Function Research Group NRF
20 Dr Ian Murray Brain Function Research Group Wits URC fellowship,
NIH Wits/Non-Communicable 21 Dr Kim Lamont SACRU Diseases Leadership Program 2012 38
Hillel Friedland - until August & 22 Dr KwangShik Choi Wits Research Institute for Malaria Wits Health Consortium from then upward
Dr Lomas Kumar Wits Advanced Drug Delivery 23 NRF Tomar Platform
24 Dr Luisa Nardini Wits Research Institute for Malaria National Research Foundation
25 Dr Manette Marais School of Physiology Claude Leon Foundation
Respiratory & Meningeal Pathogens Respiratory & Meningeal 26 Dr Marta Nunes Research Unit Pathogens Research Unit
Developmental Pathways for Health 27 Dr Moji Musa MRC/Cambridge Research Unit
NIH/Fogarty Non-communicable 28 Dr Nadia Carstens Human Genetics Disease Leadership Program
Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder (USA) Demography and Population Dr Nicole Catherine Hewlett Foundation Postdoctoral 29 Studies, University of the Angotti Fellow Witwatersrand (South Africa) MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt)
30 Dr Nina Patzke Neuroanatomy SPARC (Extension)
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery 31 Dr Oluwatoyin Adeleke NRF/URC Platform
Molecular Medicine and 32 Dr Rajdeep Choudhury Haematology: Evolutionary SPARC Medicine Unit
33 Dr Richard McFarland Brain Function Research Group Claude Leon Foundation
Developmental Pathways for Health 34 Dr Rihlat Mohamed Research Unit
Respiratory Meningeal Pathogens 35 Dr Sabelle Jallow WHC/NRF Research Unit
Agincourt & Demography and 36 Dr Samuel Antobam Fogarty Population Studies 39
Dr Samantha Anne Antiviral Gene Therapy Research 37 NRF Nicholson Unit
Molecular Medicine and 38 Dr Santosh Sathe Haematology: Evolutionary URC postdoctoral fellowship Medicine Unit NRF Rated Researcher grant / 39 Dr Sonja Lauterbach Wits Research Institute for Malaria South African Malaria Initiative grant
40 Dr Thandeka Khoza School of Pathology Sparc Post Doctoral Fellowish
Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research 41 Dr Trevor Bell NRF Programme
NRF/URC until end October 42 Dr Yael Dahan Malaria Entomology Research Unit 2013
Respiratory Meningeal Pathogens 43 Dr Zena Kimaro NRF Research Unit
The Faculty Postdoctoral Forum is held once a quarter and is open to all postdoctoral Fellows and their hosts. Chaired in 2013 by Professor B. Kramer, the Forum acted as an opportunity to discuss items of mutual interest and explore avanues for improving the postdoctoral culture and activities of the Faculty. A Postdoctoral brochure was designed and is now available to all new and current Postdocs in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The HSRO once again hosted the biennial Postdoctoral Symposium in 2013 which was sponsored by Roche at their wonderful new facility in Randburg. Organised and run by the postdocs themselves with assistance from the HSRO, the Syposium was a smorgasboard of research which was attended by the Fellows and their hosts as well as some of our Carnegie Fellows as well. A number of oral presentations and posters highlighted key aspects from hepatitis B viral research to thermal physiology of wild animals. Posters were presented on electronic screens. The two guest speakers, Professor Debbie Glencross of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology and Mr Clive Simkins, an external consultant and coach, delighted the audience with their presentations.The day’s events closed with a cocktail party. Abstracts from the Symposium are available from the HSRO. 40
Postdoc Fellows at the HSRO 2013 Symposium
6. EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS and POSTGRADUATE SUPPORT
External funding for the support of staff and postgraduate students who are directly associated with the HSRO are:
6.1. The Connective Tissue Diseases Research Fund (CTDR): Report prepared by Professor M. Tikly The Connective Tissue Research Fund continues to support high quality research in the area of Rheumatic Diseases. In spite of the relatively small grants to 2 students, the funding has directly or indirectly resulted in a PhD and several peer-reviewed publications in 2013:
Higher degree
Dr Nimmisha Govind – PhD for her thesis entitled “Genetics of Rheumatoid Arthritis in South Africans” (graduated December 2013).
Ongoing research activities include
PhD:
Ms Jackie Frost. Her PhD is focusing on the Wnt pathway in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis and she is currently spending 6 months at the CRG Barcelona to complete her lab work. 41
Ms Alessandra Prioreschi. Her work is looking habitual physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis measured by the Actical accelerometer and an exercise interventional study. She has had 2 papers accepted and is currently writing two other manuscripts.
MMed
Dr D Haasbroek. Her work is on full blood count correlates with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis. Dr D Ramdass. His research is on Inflammtory myopathies in South Africans.
MMed and other non-degrees projects include:
FCgamma receptor IIB polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus (J Frost). Prospective study of admisssions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at Chris Hani Hospital (Dr S Karolia). Epigenetic changes in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis (Dr P Matatiele). Oxidative DNA damage in systemic sclerosis (Ms Xolani Masuko). A randomised controlled study of treating to target in rheumatoid comparing two methods of assessing global disease activity (Dr B Hodkinson). This study was funded by Carnegie Corporation and the study is now complete with manuscript in draft stage.
Publications:
May A, Hazelhurst S, Li Y, Norris SA, Govind N, Tikly M, Hon C, Johnson KJ, Hartmann N, Staedtler F, Ramsay M. Genetic diversity in black South Africans from Soweto. BMC Genomics. 2013;14:644. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-644. PMID: 24059264. Prioreschi A, Hodkinson B, Avidon I, Tikly M, McVeigh JA. The clinical utility of accelerometry in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013;52:1721-7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ket216. PMID: 23804220. Ally MM, Hodkinson B, Meyer PW, Musenge E, Tikly M, Anderson R. Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 in comparison with acute phase proteins as a marker of disease activity and radiographic damage in early rheumatoid arthritis. Mediators Inflamm. 2013;2013:183653. doi: 10.1155/2013/183653. PMID: 23690656; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3649689. Niewold TB, Goulielmos GN, Tikly M, Assassi S. Autoimmune disease genetics. Clin Dev Immunol. 2012;2012:262858. doi: 10.1155/2012/262858. PMID: 23320016; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3540923. Rachid B, El Zorkany B, Youseif E, Tikly M. Early diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in Africa and the Middle East. Clin Rheumatol. 2012 ;31:1633-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-012-2058-5. PMID: 22903740. Hodkinson B, Meyer PW, Musenge E, Ally M, Anderson R, Tikly M. Exaggerated circulating Th-1 cytokine response in early rheumatoid arthritis patients with nodules. Cytokine. 2012;60:561-4. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.06.190. PMID: 22850274. Hodkinson B, Musenge E, Ally M, Meyer PW, Anderson R, Tikly M. Functional disability and health- related quality of life in South Africans with early rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Rheumatol. 2012;41:366- 74. doi: 10.3109/03009742.2012.676065. PMID: 22803639. Hodkinson B, Maheu E, Michon M, Carrat F, Berenbaum F. Assessment and determinants of aesthetic discomfort in hand osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71:45-9. doi: 10.1136/ard.2011.153965. PMID: 21900283. Hodkinson B, Van Duuren E, Pettipher C, Kalla A; South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association. South African recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: an algorithm for the standard of care in 2013. S Afr Med J. 2013;103:576-85. doi: 10.7196/samj.7047. PMID: 23885741. 42
Tikly M, Makan K. Gouty arthritis: an approach for general practice. S Afr Fam Pract 2013;55:307-312 Ickinger C, Musenge E, Tikly M. Patterns and predictors of joint damage as assessed by the rheumatoid arthritis articular damage (RAAD) score in South Africans with established rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol. 2013;32:1711-7. PMID: 24005837
Nine papers were presented at African Rheumatology Congress in Durban in April 2013. Dr Govind was joint winner of the best oral presentation and Ms Jackie Frost received the best poster award.
Other awards:
B Hodkinson: Tom Bothwell award for the best PhD thesis in the Department of Internal Medicine. M A Makda: Best MMed research report in the Department of Internal Medicine.
6.2. The H.E. Griffin Trust - the Colorectal Research Cancer (CRC) Group. Dr G Candy The Colorectal Research Cancer (CRC) Working Group is committed to studying aspects of the aggressive colorectal cancer which afflicts young patients of African ancestry. Sample collection. As in 2012, there have been few colorectal samples. We have obtained samples from patients at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital (Professor Bizos’s group), CH-Baragwanath Hospital where Mr Kiss has again assisted in obtaining samples and we obtained samples from Leratong Hospital through Mr Tun.
Research. Dr Willems group has published a paper on GIST tumors and Dr Penny has had two conference proceedings published. Dr Marietha Nel in Surgery, from collected specimens, isolated tumor cells uncontaminated by bacteria from patients. However, these remained alive for several weeks and then died. The cells appear to have finite life span or the media may need further optimization. The approach of growing these cells in nude mice needs to be attempted. However the Central Animal Services facility lacks areas suitable for raising these mice.
Management. CRC applications were advertised and scientists applied for funding. Three applications were awarded funding. Due to the success of this approach, funding will be advertised around September 2014 and awarded appropriately.
Publications: Baker G, Babb C, Schnugh D, Nayler S, Louw M, Goedhals J, Bringuier P-P, Blay J-Y, Willem P. Molecular characterisation of gastrointestinal stromal tumours in a South African population. Oncology Letters. 2013;5:155-160. Penny CB, Milner BL, Gibbon VE and Ruff, P. Colon cancer cell lines contain pluripotent stem cells (2012). 9th Annual Conference of the Anatomical Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZACA), Sydney, 9-11th December, 2012. Milner BL, Penny C, Gibbon VE and Ruff P (2012). Isolation and characterisation of human colorectal cancer stem cells. 50th Annual Conference of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa (MSSA), Cape Town, 4th – 7th December.
Ms Milner was awarded the Wirsam Scientific prize for the most exceptional oral presentation at the Microscopy Society Meeting.
Finances. The finances of the Group remain very sound.
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6.3. Belgian Technical Corporation Masters Fellowship
The Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) Masters Fellowship is a postgraduate fellowship from the Belgian Technical Cooperation Agency which is the administrator and coordinator for scholarships awarded by the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation. Since 2004, the Fellowships have been awarded to four postgraduate students who have obtained admission in one of the Schools in the Faculty of Health Sciences in order to study towards an MSc (Med), MSc (Dent) or MPH degree. The awardees of Felloewshps in 2013 are recorded in Table 19. The thesis, dissertation or research report must be in the field of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis or Malaria. Each fellowship covers tuition fees, accommodation, allowance, research consumables and conference travel for a period of two years.
Table 19: Awardees of BTC Fellowships for 2013
Name Degree School Supervisor(s)
Shamillah Holland MSc (Med) Therapeutic Sciences Professor R van Zyl
Ken Harris MPH Public Health Nicola Christofides Limwame
Thulani Jonas MSc Therapeutic Sciences Professor R van Zyl Mahlangu
Dr Karine Scheuermaier & Kirsten Redman MSc Physiology Dr Alan Karstaedt
Each recipient receives a total of R120 316.04 to be spent over the period of two years (2013-2014).
7. HSRO RESEARCH SHORT COURSES
7.1 SHORT COURSES
As part of efforts to enhance research throughput and overall productivity in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), the Research Office continues to run short courses, tutorials and seminars targeted at postgraduate students and staff members. The training covers research methodologies, scientific writing skills and postgraduate supervisory skills. Having realized that some postgraduate students such as registrars and supernumerary appointees may not be able to attend courses run over a number of consecutive days, some courses were run on staggered days at Chris Hani Barangwanath Hospital as well as at the Medical School. However, attendance at Chris Hani Barangwanath Hospital fluctuated with the overall total number of attendees being relatively low for the year 2013; it constitutes about 15% of the overall attendance as shown in Table 20.
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Table 20: Numbers of candidates who attended courses, tutorials and seminars held in 2013
Course/Tutorial/Seminar Number of attendees Medical School Chris Hani Barangwanath Postgraduate Staff Postgraduate Staff Students Students Research Methodology and 25 12 Techniques Course FAHS1595-Research 32 6 Techniques Course Scientific Writing Course 16 17 EXPD7000-Research 29 3 Techniques Course Supervisors Course 9 19 Qualitative Research in Medical 16 10 Contexts Course PhD Thesis Formats Tutorial 21 9 2 0 M.Dent/ M.Med Research Report 19 10 3 1 Formats Tutorial Writing an Abstract 16 12 14 2 Writing Introduction and 33 20 20 4 Literature Review Writing Methods & Results 19 17 16 6 Writing Discussion & Conclusion 15 13 15 13 Research Methodology Course 23 8 Introduction to Research 20 9 Electronic Data (REDCap) Writing Tips 9 14 Introduction to Research & 2 2 Proposal Writing Outcome Measures- validity & 1 reliability Accredited Journals & Predatory 9 9 Open Access Journals How to read a scientific paper 17 34 One-on-one scientific writing 38 6 consultations Sub-Total 366 228 73 28 Total 564 101 Grand Total 665
As expected, the table shows that more students (a total of 564) than staff members (a total of 101) attended the courses, although the number may actually be higher since attendees who registered as staff members may also be registered as postgraduate students. Regarding the one-one-one consultations on scientific writing, the response rate was satisfactory in the first month and then declined to such low levels that the activity had to be suspended. One possible contributing factor to the decline could be the fact that most of the candidates, especially those without prior exposure to research environment, lacked fundamental knowledge in terms of research methodology techniques and scientific writing skills. Consequently, the Research Office submitted a proposal to make 3 fundamental courses mandatory to the FHS Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). The proposed courses to be made mandatory are (i) research methodology course, (ii) scientific writing skills course, and (iii) basic data collection and analysis course. The GSC approved the proposal in principle 45
and a Task Force team comprised of representatives of all the Schools in the FHS was set up to work out modalities of implementation.
Lack of advance planning on the part of prospective attendees could also negatively affect attendance of short courses, tutorials and seminars offered in the FHS. Hence the HSRO has developed a timetable for 2014 which has been circulated among facilitators for their inputs and confirmation of their availability. The timetable will be widely disseminated in the FHS as soon as it has been finalized. It is hoped that these efforts will go a long way in maximizing utilization of the support mechanisms that have been put in place in the FHS, which could contribute towards increasing publications and facilitating timely completion of postgraduate studies in the Faculty.
7.1.1. Research Methodology and Techniques 2013 These courses were offered on two occasions at Medical School:
9, 16, 23, 30 January and 6 February, 21, 28 February and 7, 14 March.
The students had to have a draft protocol by the end of the course. Research Methodology lectures were also provided to MMed students at the Department of Pediatrics at CH Baragwanath Academic Hospital (twice a year).
7.1.2. Scientific Writing workshop by Professor D Mitchell
This course included three modules:
Module 1: Writing a review (19 August) Module 2: Writing a thesis, (02 September) Module 3: Writing a Scientific paper (03 September)
The workshops took place at Medical School and were attended by 35 participants (PhDs, MMED/MSc and staff members).
7.2. STATISTICAL SUPPORT
7.2.1. Introduction
The Faculty of Health Sciences established postgraduate resaerch support to improve postgraduate throughput and the quality of the research output. One of such support is to provide staff and students with biostatistical skills required for research. Such skills are imparted at various levels as outlined below.
7.2.2. Activities Conducted
7.2.2.1. Statistics Workshops
These hands-on courses are offered on an annual basis to support Faculty staff and postgraduate students. We have seen an increased uptake of these courses, especially from supervisors interested in strengthening their quantitative supervisory skills. This led to establishment of a statistics workshop specifically tailored for supervisors. The uptake of afternoon statistics sessions presented at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic 46
Hospital was quite remarkable, with participants from other faculties. Statistics postgraduate students were used as tutors for computer practical sessions. The class sizes ranged from 15-30 participants.
Table 21: Statistics workshops offered in the academic year 2013
No Name of Workshop Dates of Workshop Total . attendants
1 Applied Statistical Methods 04-08 February 22 using Statistica
2 Advanced Statistics with 04-11-18 March 20 STATA
3 Sample Size Calculation 13- 20- 27 May 22
4 Applied Statistical Methods 24 June, 21 using Statistica (Supervisors) 01-08-15-22 July
5 Applied Statistical Methods 26 June, 15 using Statistica* 03-10- 17- 24 July
6 Data Entry and 26 August, 25 Manipulation (EPI INFO) 02- 09 September
7 Applied Statistical Methods 28-29-30-31 October, 31 (STATA) 01 November
*This workshop took place at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital
Statistical workshops for GEMP3 students were provided by Associate Professors Elena Libhaber and Tobias Chirwa
7.3.2.2. Statistical consultations
The walk-in statistical consultations (3 days a week) offer face to face statistical guidance. The number of statistical consultations has been consistent at an average of four students in a session. Such consultations have been supported by 3 biostatistics postgraduate students. These consultations are being effective as we see few staff members and postgraduate students being referred from tutors for further statistical support.
7.3.2.3. Research methodology and statistical consultations by Associate Professors Elena Libhaber and Tobias Chirwa
During 2013 more than 100 one-on-one consultations were carried out at Medical School and at CH Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Research protocol development (study design, sample size calculations, etc) and statistical analysis (data entry, data coding, appropriate statistical tests and results interpretation) support provided. The majority of the consultees were medical doctors or health sciences students requesting advice 47
towards degrees: MMEDs, Masters and PhD while staff (for non-degree purposes constituted approx15% of the consultations.
7.3.3. Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the support of the School of Clinical Medicine and School of Public Health and the statistics tutors for facilitating sessions on the short courses and helping out with the statistical consultations.
Faculty Goal: A 2013 Faculty Goal was to continue to expand Faculty courses and workshops. This goal was achieved. Courses were run at two sites, Medical School and CH Baragwanath Hospital, thus catering particularly for MMed students as well. Additional short workshops were introduced to enable staff and students to attend and upskill in various topics without taking too much time from their work.
8. OTHER RESEARCH MATTERS
8.1. Research Thrust
8.1.1. Molecular Biosciences Research Thrust
The MBRT was established in 2009 to bring together researchers and postgraduate students who share common research interests and work using molecular bioscience techniques. It provides an opportunity to identify suitable collaborations and collaborators within the University and partner institutions, which is a hallmark of effective modern science. It aims to stimulate research and other academic activities in the broad area of molecular biosciences and to create a vibrant atmosphere in which scientists and students within the Faculties of Science, Health Sciences, and Engineering and the Built Environment can realise their full research potential. The MBRT includes researchers working on any aspect of science, using molecular techniques. The MBRT is championed by Prof Chrissie Rey (Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science) and Prof Michele Ramsay (Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences; SBIMB and NHLS). In 2013 it was decided that an Executive would be voted in to assist with the running of the MBRT. Professor Stefan Weiss from the School of Molecular and Cell Biology was voted in.
We currently have 131 members of the MBRT from across the Faculties of Science, Health Sciences, and Engineering and the Built Environment. This is comprised of postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, staff and joint staff. Members can access the latest information about MBRT events through regular communications sent out from the MBRT Secretariat via the email distribution list, or alternatively by viewing the MBRT website: www.wits.ac.za/research/mbrt
The MBRT runs its activities through administration provided by Ms Caryn McNamara at the the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) due to the synergies of the molecular bioscience research taking place between the two entities. However, it is important to note that the two entities have not merged. The MBRT continues to support all researchers working in the broader molecular biology field whilst the SBIMB focusses on molecular research in the health arena.
8.1.1.1. MBRT Annual Research Day The MBRT hosted the annual MBRT Research Day on 5 December 2012 for all those members working on molecular bioscience research. The day was facilitated by Dr Demetra Mavri-Damelin from the School of Molecular and Cell Biology in the Faculty of Science and by Dr Clem Penny from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Ms Caryn McNamara at the SBIMB provided logistical and administrative support to the organizers 48
in putting this event together. Prof Susan Kidson, IIDMM at UCT and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT, was the guest speaker. We had 43 presenting delegates of which 10 gave talks and 33 posters. There were 20 additional delegates in attendance, and 5 companies exhibited or donated student/postdoc prizes for the event. The Faculty Research Committees from Science and Health Sciences each committed R15,000 in 2012 to the MBRT Research Day. These funds were also supplemented by generous donations from our industry partners (BioRad Laboratories, Inqaba Biotec, Life Technologies, and Separations).
The second MBRT Research Day was held on 4 December 2013. There were 32 presenting delegates (10 talks and 22 posters). The MBRT 2013 Research Day has been organised by Drs Natalya Nikitina (Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science) and Betty Mowa (Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences). The guest speaker this year will be Dr. Paula Sommer from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She will report on “Epigenetic silencing and Small Cell Lung Cancer”, a hot topic in the cancer field.
MBRT Research Day 2012, at Wits PDH.
MBRT Research Day Poster Presentation MBRT Research Day Oral Presentation winners (left winners (left to right): David Balchin (3rd), to right): Hazel Mufandhu (2nd), Shune Oliver (3rd), Gavin Owen (2nd), Donald van der Westhuizen Dewaldt Engelbrecht (1st), Prof Michele Ramsay (MBRT (Inqaba Biotec rep), and Dr Demetra Mavri- Champion), and Dr Demetra Mavri-Damelin (Research Damelin (Research Day organiser). Absent: Day organiser). Prizes were sponsored by Separations. Bradley Peter (1st). Prizes were sponsored by Photo by: Caryn McNamara. Inqaba Biotec. Photo by: Caryn McNamara. 49
8.1.1.2. MBRT New initiatives Academic staff who are members of the Molecular Biosciences Research Thrust are working together on a collaborative project to put together a new one-year cross-faculty MSc in Molecular Bioscience (Course work and Research Report). The course is currently under development under the leadership of Prof Stefan Weiss (Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science) in consultation with the Faculty Deans and is being taken through the appropriate committees and approval processes for implementation in 2015.
8.1.1.3. Events This year we hosted one guest speaker under the banner of the MBRT: Prof Heini Dirr, the DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Protein Biochemistry and Structural Biology, gave a seminar on 4 March 2013 at Medical School to all clinical researchers and postgraduate students, entitled: “Can structural biology add value to your research with proteins?”. It is hoped that a one week course in protein expression and/or structural biology will follow in due course for members of the MBRT to attend.
8.2. Vice-Chancellor’s Call for A-rated scientist
Under the new leadership of Professor Adam Habib (Vice-Chancellor), Wits is re-energising and augmenting its research character. To fully realise this agenda, Wits has been attempting to recruit 30 additional leading scholars (NRF A-rated or equivalent). The following scholars were appointed in the Faculty of Health Sciences: Prof Lenore Manderson (School of Public Health) Prof Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala (School of Public Health)
8.3. HSRO Initiatives
8.3.1. Wits Research Institute for Malaria (WRIM) Launch
The Faculty of Health Sciences launched the Wits Research Institute for Malaria (WRIM) on 28 November 2013. WRIM will provide an environment to enhance the ground-breaking research already taking place at Wits on one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, Malaria. The new Institute will fulfill not only the mission of Wits University, but also that of global players such as the World Health Organization and the Global Fund.
Professor Maureen Coetzee, Research Professor of Medical Entomology in the School of Pathology and Professor Thérèsa Coetzer, Head of the Plasmodium Molecular Research Unit and Head of the Red Cell Membrane Research Unit in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the Wits School of Pathology and the National Health Laboratory Service, will jointly head the new Institute. The vision of the Institute is to strengthen malaria research in the existing fields as well as in the fields of epidemiology and clinical medicine.
Wits currently has three leading research groups which work on malaria vectors, parasites and pharmacology. The University and the Faculty have supported the combination of these groups into an Institute. The Institute was formally constituted in March 2013 and celebrated at the launch in November 2013 in the Adler Museum. The launch was attended by Mrs Yvonne Mhinga (Chaka Chaka) who is the Unicef/WHO/RBM Goodwill Ambassador for Malaria and a great supporter and patron of the Wits initiative.
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From left: Professor Beverley Kramer, Professor Judith Bruce, Professor Robyn van Zyl, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Professor Thérèsa Coetzer, Professor Maureen Coetzee, Professor Sharon Fonn, Professor Johnny Mahlangu and Professor Laetitia Rispel at the WRIM launch
8.3.2. Writing Retreats In 2013, the HSRO was able to offer two rounds of writing retreats, funded from the WHC Dividend. These were short (2 to 3 day) or “spaced- day” writing retreats for academics to complete research paper/s that are currently in progress. They are not method workshops but writing periods that allow for the completion of a paper or conversion of a conference presentation into an actual paper. These retreats could be facilitated by mentors of suitable calibre and background. Each delegate attending the retreat was required to produce a paper to be submitted to a journal on the DoHET list.
The writing retreats resulted in 119 (see Tables 22 and 23) publications being accepted/submitted/ in preparation. While we cannot presume that these publications would not have been produced without the WHC Dividend funding, we believe the outcome to be substantial for the amount invested.
Table 22: Summary of writing retreat outcomes Feedback received from 13 of the 14 groups which were awarded funding. Money spent R320,602.00 Articles published / accepted 37 (22 ISI, 15 DHET) Articles submitted 48 (26 ISI, 20 DHET, 2 not listed) Articles in preparation 34 TOTAL 119
Table 23: Writing retreat results - breakdown per Department/School/Group Department/School/Group Writing Retreat Budget (Publications accepted/ submitted/ in preparation) 1 Molecular Medicine and 11 R27,073.00 Haematology 2 Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) 15 R23,715.00 (Round 1 and 2 retreats) 3 Therapeutic Sciences 9 R26,800.00 4 Human Genetics (Round 1 and 2 16 R74,137.80 retreats) 51
5 Occupational Therapy 15 R28,864.80 6 Physiotherapy 14 R13,406.40 7 Family Medicine No report received R24,250.00 8 Brain Function Research Group 6 R38,250.00 (BFRG) 9 Nursing Education 8 R21,763.00 10 Centre for Rural Health 11 R10,842.20 11 Developmental Pathways for Health 12 R27,000.00 Research Unit (DPHRU) 12 Soweto Cardiovascular Research 2 R4,500.00 Unit (joint retreat with DPHRU) TOTAL 119 R320,602.00
A list of authors and titles of papers is available from the HSRO on request.
8.3.3. Writing dyads for postgraduate students
The HSRO again offered writing dyads for postgraduate students (Masters and Ph.Ds) in 2013 to improve postgraduate throughput and graduation rates. The aim of these dyads is to enable writing, reading and fast- tracking of feedback on dissertations or theses through the pairing of supervisors and postgraduates at a retreat. Each group should consist of a minimum of 7-8 Postgraduate students and their supervisor/s. The amount per dyad group did not exceed R25 000. Preference was given to those supervisors and their students who were close to submission.
Funding was awarded to two groups of supervisors / postgraduate students from the Department of Family Medicine (Professor Laurel Baldwin-Ragavan) and the Department of Psychiatry (Professor Bernard Janse van Rensburg). Family Medicine was awarded R17,000.00 and Pshychiatry R35,000.00 (for two dyads).
8.3.4. FORUM FOR EMERGENT RESEARCHERS
The Emergent researchers group, chaired by Dr Penny Moore, continued to meet four – six times annually, to attend presentations covering various topics of interest to the group. In 2013, these included a presentation by Dr Bavesh Kana, entitled “Define your own real estate - Succeeding with research”. In July, Mr Clive Simpkins, journalist and expert in media training and communications presented a group Media Communications Workshop. This was followed in October by a more focused, small group workshop focused on media skills coaching. The final meeting of 2013 was presented by Ms Melissa Badenhorst (Marketing Manager: Worldwide Information Services). Melissa led a hands-on computer based training session on the Thomson Reuters Research platform, which is available through the WITS library services. This session focused on assessment of research outputs and on advanced literature search platforms.
8.3.5. POSTGRADUATE DEGREES AWARDS
Each year, the Faculty Research Office calls for the nomination of students who have excelled in their postgraduate studies. Awards are presented at the Faculty’s Annual Prize Giving Ceremony, which usually takes place in March/ April. There are three categories of award: 52
Doctorate Masters degrees by dissertation only Masters degrees by coursework and research report
In each category, the student judged to have completed a degree of particular excellence will receive a medal and certificate for the most prestigious degree in that category. If none of the submissions are judged to be of sufficient quality, no award will be made. The 2012 and 2013 Postgraduate Degrees Awards winners are shown in Table 22 and 23 below.
Table 24: Postgradaute Degrees Awards Winners 2012
PhD Category
Category Names Title of dissertation School Supervisor(s)
PhD Dr Gill Nelson Living in the shadow of a Public Health Professor Jill dust cloud: Occupational Murray respiratory diseases in Surgery the South African mining Professor Geoffrey industry, 1975 to 2009 Candy
Masters Category
Masters of Ms Roxanne Naidoo Effect of Dodonaea Pathology Professor Mrudula Science by viscosa var. Patel Research angustifolia on the oral pathogens
MMed/MDent Dr Hanlie Perineural infiltration of Oral Health Professor Shabnum Engelbrecht the inferior alveolar Sciences Meer nerve in mandibular ameloblastomas
Masters by course Not awarded work and research report: 50% research
Masters by course Not awarded work and research report: 30% research
Table 25: Postgraduate Degrees Award winners 2013
PhD Category
Category Names Title of dissertation School Supervisor(s)
PhD Dr Anne Von Studies on bacterial Clinical Medicine Professor Charles Gottberg respiratory pathogens Feldman causing bacteraemia and meningitis in South Africa Professor Keith Klugman 53
Masters Category
Masters of Ms Rivka Lilian Identifying interventions to Pathology Professor Gayle Science by improve outcomes of the Sherman Research South African prevention of mother-to-child Professor Elena transmission programme Libhaber
Masters by course Ms Helen Savva Factors associated with the Public Health Dr Nicola work and research utilization of health services Christofides report: 50% by female sex workers in research South Africa Dr Marlise Richter
There were no applications from MMed or MDent students in 2013.
8.3.6. PRESTIGIOUS RESEARCH LECTURE SERIES
In 2013, the HSRO hosted two highly successful Prestigious Research Lectures (PRL). The first lecture for the year, the 8th in the PRL series, was held in May and was entitled ‘Eliminating TB!’. The lecture was presented by Associate Professor Bavesh Kana (Head of the Wits University node of the DST/DRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, School of Pathology) and Professor Gavin Churchyard (CEO of the Aurum Institute for Health Research and Honorary Professor in the School of Public Health). Professor Bill Bishai, an internationally-renowned TB researcher and Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH) was the expert commentator on the evening.
The presenters highlighted the complexity of the TB epidemic and the urgent steps required in South Africa if we hope to achieve the World Health Organisation’s ‘Stop TB’ goal of stabilising and ultimately eliminating this disease by 2050. They further highlighted some of the problems faced with TB management in South Africa which includes adherence to the treatment regimen, the diagnosis of TB which takes too long, the increase of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant TB which are resistant to first and second line antibiotics. The country’s TB epidemic is also fuelled by the large, mature and unabated HIV epidemic.
Photographs (left) - Professor Bill Bishai, Dr Bavesh Kana, Professor Gavin Churchyard and Professor Beverley Kramer, (right) - Dr Bavesh Kana, Professor Bill Bishai and Professor Gavin Churchyard responding to questions from the audience.
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In November, the HSRO hosted the 9th PRL Series ahead of World AIDS Day on the 1st of December. The lecture entitled ‘Antibody Based HIV Vaccines – are we any closer?’ was presented by Dr Penny Moore (Senior Scientist in the Centre for HIV and STIs, NICD/NHLS, Research Associate, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and Senior Researcher in the School of Pathology) and Professor Maria Papathanasopoulos (Co-Director of the HIV Pathogenesis Research Laboratory and the Genotyping Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology). Dr Gwynn Stevens, Senior Director at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) acted as expert commentator. Dr Frew Benson, Chief Director of Communicable Diseases, National Department of Health, South Africa concluded the evening by commenting on infectious diseases in South Africa.
The lecture focused on the hurdles faced and lessons learned from research conducted both locally and internationally on the immune responses of HIV infected people, the identification of viable vaccine targets and previous vaccine trials and how these observations are now being translated into designing and testing novel HIV vaccine candidates. Results from a recent clinical trial that provided protection from HIV infection have provided hope that a vaccine against HIV is in fact possible. Scientists are now looking for a preventative vaccine with the ability to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies, which target the HIV envelope glycoprotein and are able to neutralise the wide range of global HIV strains. Dr Moore and Prof Papathanasopoulos showed with this lecture that they are certainly at the forefront of the cutting edge research on broadly neutralizing antibodies.
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Photographs (left) - Professor Maria Papathanasopoulos, Professor Beverley Kramer, Dr Penny Moore and Dr Gwynn Stevens, (right) - Dr Frew Benson addresses the audience.
8.3.7. RESEARCH AWARDS DINNER
The fifth annual Faculty Awards Dinner was held in July 2013 at the Country Club Johannesburg, Auckland Park to honour outstanding achievements by researchers within the Faculty over the last year. An award certificate was presented by the former Dean, Professor Ahmed Wadee, to researchers who had received recognition in the previous 12 months.
These were: Professor Emeritus Duncan Mitchell, Professors Patrick Arbuthnot, Wendy Stevens, Helen Rees, Justus Hofmeyr, Karen Sliwa, Lizette Koekemoer, John Pettifor, Laetitia Rispel, Maureen Coetzee, Glenda Gray, Sharon Fonn, Shabir Madhi, Viness Pillay, Himla Soodyall. Associate Professors Caroline Tiemessen, Cindy Firnhaber, Lesley Scott, Bavesh Kana, Ian Sanne, Karen Hofman, Lynne Schepartz, Stephen Tollman, Kathy Kahn, Peter Kamerman, Yahya Choonara, Honorary Professors Mario Altini, Osman Sankoh, Honorary Associate Professor Jill Murray, Drs Alisha Wade, Neil Martinson, Penny Moore, Peter Adrian, Robyn Hetem and Ms Erin Hutchinson.
The following research units were recognised for their outstanding and consistent research productivity: Brain Function Research Group, Carbohydrate and Metabolism Research Unit, Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Pulmonary Infection Research Unit and the Centre for Health Policy.
Professor Maryna Steyn, Forensic/Physical Anthropologist and Head of the Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC), University of Pretoria, was invited to deliver the after-dinner talk. She gave everyone a glimpse of her fascinating and adventurous career as a forensic anthropologist.
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Professor Shane Norris receiving a certificate of Professor Himla Soodyall receiving her certificate recognition from the Professor Ahmed Wadee of recognition from Professor Ahmed Wadee. for the achievements by the Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU).
8.3.8. CARNEGIE ACADEMIC MEDICINE PROGRAMME
Director: Professor J. Pettifor
As part of the Programme to build the next generation of African scientists, the Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme within the Faculty of Health Sciences aims to provide academic clinicians with the opportunity to spend two years in fulltime research obtaining their PhD, attending relevant courses in research methodology and ethics, in curriculum design and teaching, and in scientific writing, and to support them in their first postdoctoral year developing their research further.
The Programme has been generously supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York since 2010, and the grant has just been renewed for a further 3 years. It has had a most successful start with all four of the first cohort of Fellows, who joined the programme in March 2011, graduating with their PhDs in December this year. The second cohort of four fellows, who joined in August 2012, are all making exceptional progress in their research and we are optimistic that they will achieve similar success. A call for applications for a further four fellows has just closed and will be appointed in January 2014
The continued support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York in renewing the grant for a further three years will allow us to train a further eight academic clinicians, whom we hope will with the original cohort of eight form a nucleus of academic clinicians showing a renewed interest in clinical research at Wits and in South Africa and who will support, mentor and foster research among more junior members of the clinical staff.
Faculty Goal: This Programme is hugely important in producing “Clinician Scientists” for South Africa and Africa and was initiated in response to a recommendation by the Academy of Science of South Africa. This programme fits into the Faculty plan for increasing PhDs. Funding may become an impediment as we only have funding from the Carmegie Organisation for a further two years.
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8.3.9. RESEARCH ENTITY FORUM
In 2013 the Research Entity Forum continued to bring together Directors of Research Entities in the Faculty, informed them of issues and engaged with them on research matters in the Faculty. The Forum became an official sub-committee of the FRC in 2012.
In 2013, four meetings of the Forum were held. Key items discussed were:
Short term posts Part-time supervision of external students Institutional Identity/branding in powerpoint presentations and posters presented in conferences Open access publishing Mangled emails, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) staff using NHLS email addresses reported that emails they receive from Wits staff are mangled emails University Cost Recovery process (CORY) RINC for 2014
8.3.10. Health Sciences Alumni Diaspora Programme – 2013
The Health Sciences Alumni Diaspora Programme has proven to be successful in bringing ‘home’ Alumni researchers to Wits for short periods of time. Previous visits have resulted in research collaborations, student and staff exchanges, co-applications on grants and supervision of postgraduate students. While the Faculty Goal was to increase Diaspora visitors to eight in number in 2013 this was not possible as thje HSRO could only host two visitors as we no longer received SPARC funding for this programme. These researchers are listed in the table below. However, in 2013 the Carnegie Corporation of New York requested that a concept document be submitted to them for the funding of this programme. The application was successful and the programme, now the Carnegie-Wits Alumni Diaspora Programme has received funding for a further 3 years. Funding awarded includes a salary provision for a part-time projects assistant, six Alumni visits to Wits and three visits by Wits staff to international institutions annually.
Name Current institution Area of expertise Wits School/ Wits host Department researcher Dr Steven Soldin Department of Endocrinology Department of Dr Jaya Laboratory (steroid hormone, Chemical George, Medicine, National thyroid hormone, Pathology Professor Nigel Institutes of Health active peptides), Crowther. (NIH) and the oncology, clinical Department of pathology Medicine, (chemistry) and Georgetown pharmacology University Professor Roy Zent Vanderbilt Medical Grant writing and HSRO Professor (Vice Chair of Centre, Vanderbilt review. Paper Beverley Research of University, writing and review. Kramer Medicine, Vanderbilt Nashville, USA University) and Ambra Pozzi 58
Professor Steven Soldin visited the Faculty for a week in August during which he had numerous meetings with senior researchers in the Faculty and also presented three talks. The titles of the talks presented are: “The role of analyte specificity in improving diagnosis and treatment of disease”, “Children are not little adults” and an informal talk on clinical toxicology with the Chemical Pathology team. Dr Soldin is interested in setting up a Translational Clinical Research Laboratory in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits as he is of the opinion that “translational research is a natural growth point for every top class University and could enable a doubling of excellent papers in diverse areas of clinical research.”
Photograph: Meeting with Heads of Schools and Senior Researchers (back row, from Left): Prof Judith Bruce, Prof Martin Smith, Prof Laetitia Rispel, Prof David Gray. (front row, from Left) Dr Julitha Molepo, Prof Roy Zent, Prof Beverley Kramer and Dr Demitri Constantinou. (Far right) – Dr Steven Soldin.
Professors Roy Zent and Ambra Pozzi returned to the Faculty for a third consecutive year to present lectures and workshops on scientific paper and grant writing. They also met with the Hillel Friedland Postdoctoral Fellows and senior researchers in the Faculty to discuss possible collaborations. The grant and paper writing workshops have been well attended and the feedback received have been overwhelmingly positive. Some of the comments received are: “I have attended a number of this type of lecture and can say that this was the most directly relevant and useful one I have attended”, “it was great to have objective, experienced grant writers and reviewers present their perspective” and “Thank you - overall found the sessions very relevant and useful. Feedback provided was very useful.” All the participants have indicated that they would recommend the sessions to their colleagues.
Photograph: Meeting with the Hillel Friedland Postdocs and their hosts (from Left): Prof Anna Kramvis, Prof Maureen Coetzee, Dr Aurelie Deroubaix, Prof Roy Zent, Dr Antonia Wadley, Dr KwangShik Choi and Prof Ambra Pozzi.
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8.3.11. VANDERBILT COLLABORATION
In 2013 a group of Wits Staff once again visited Vanderbilt Medical School in order to pursue strategic initiatives. The staff included Professor M. Lukhele, Head: School of Clinical Medicine; Professor M. Smith, Head: Department of Surgery; Professor M. Hale, Head: Department of Anatomical Pathology; Professor J. Bruce, Head: School of Therapeutic Sciences; Professor D. Constantinou, Director Centre for Sports Science and Professor B. Kramer, Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support;.
The visit to Vanderbilt Medical School was brief (three days April/May 2013)) and was arranged by Bev Kramer with Roy Zent (Vanderbilt) in order for the Heads of the School of Clinical Medicine and of Therapeutic Sciences in particular, to examine the scope and depth of the possibilities of collaboration at training and research level with Vanderbilt. Thus, unlike the first visit, where all Wits staff attended all meetings, on this visit our programmes diverged and then anastomosed as the need arose. Thus each Wits staff member was able to meet with and see very specific individuals/departments.
The visit covered all spheres of academia, ie training research and even administration, as well as bioinformatics.
Once again, all Vanderbilt staff were exceptionally warm, welcoming and engaging. They were keen to listen and learn about Wits and almost everyone reiterated their wish to collaborate or enquired about collaboration. Vanderbilt staff acknowledged that they could benefit from a Wits collaboration in relation to the diverse disease/pathology profiles of patients associated with Wits.
It was my impression that all the Wits staff viewed the visit as beneficial and returned with a considerable list of “action points” which they hope to take forward in the near future. I am pleased that they could be exposed to a culture at Vanderbilt that speaks to collegiality and collaboration. The ongoing exchange os\f staff is critical for this collaboration to contionue and grow. A full report is available from the HSRO.
In addition a number of collaborative projects are already in existernce with Vanderbilt (obtainable from HSRO and visit the Wits–Vanderbilt Website at http://www.wits.ac.za/health/research/vanderbilt- wits/18702/vanderbiltwits.html). New items of note are the joint funding obtained by Professor Maureen Coetzee of our Malaria Institute and Dr Larry Zwiebel of Vanderbilt, and a joint Gates grant between Professor Shabir Madhi and Dr David Atronoff (Vanderbilt). In addition, the continued support from the Biomedical Informatics Unit at Vanderbilt for the Wits initiative resulted in a three month visit by Dr Michael Klipin to Vanderbilt to undergo training.
8.3.12. MEDICAL BIOINFORMATICS SYSTEM
a) Overall Perspective The Faculty of Health Sciences Biomedical Informatics Initiative for research, training and patient care is an essential building block for high quality, sustainable health care in South Africa and Africa.
The initiative was originated by Professor Martin Veller. There has been ongoing support and input from Professor Veller and Professor Beverley Kramer. Professor Mac Lukhele, Head of the School of Clinical Medicine has been a strong supporter of the initiative. Acknolwedgement is made of the Acting Dean, Professor Sharon Fonn.
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b) REDCap
As at December 2013 there were over 150 active users and over 300 projects created of which approximately 100 have been moved to production. The hands on training workshops hosted by the REDCap administrator, Irma Mare have been central to the increased numbers of users.
The development team led by Ashley Gritzmann and several software engineers has created two defined user interfaces for REDCap. i) A method of creating user defined printouts called ReportMyWay ii) A data transfer interface to allow Professor Ballot to communicate directly between her database and the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) as part of ongoing collaborative research.
In addition, the Donald Gordon Medical Centre has a Research office headed by Dr June Sinclair. REDCap is being used by several groups there for clinical data capture
Wits has the capacity to act as a support node amongst the REDCap consortium partners in the SAST time zone. With the help and participation of Paul Harris, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, and Director, Office of Research Informatics, Vanderbilt University and Prof Scott Hazelhurst, Associate Professor in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering we have agreed in principle to start hosting the Consortium meetings in March 2014.
In the next year we hope to identify a critical mass of personnel to ensure sustainable delivery and maintenance of REDCap. c) Visit by Dr M. Klipn to Vanderbilt
With the assistance of the HSRO of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Department of Surgery Miller Fellowship, Dr Mike Klipin (Wits) was hosted by Dr Kevin Johnson, Professor and Chair of Biomedical Informatics, for three months, from August to November 2013, in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University. This enabled a general overview and understanding of the field and participation in the “Introduction to Biomedical Informatics” course offered in the master’s program in Biomedical Informatics. The opportunity to spend time with world leaders in the field of biomedical informatics was invaluable.
Major insights from the visit to Vanderbilt are: Biomedical Informatics attempts to use information from a molecular level to a population level to improve patient care Healthcare institutions have unique complexities that require unique tools, and biomedical informatics systems Adding technology to a dysfunctional process will doom any project to failure The implementation of new technology into the healthcare domain is a study in itself Inter-operability between systems is key to a functional repository of data Technology implementation has both a financial and productivity cost, but the payback is data Data is King (or Queen) The possible benefits are almost infinite in terms of research, patient care, disease management and healthcare planning
Wits has the necessary people with the insight to develop a strategy that will suite our needs. d) The future Continue to support and develop REDCap as a data management instrument within the Faculty, with a focus on sustainability. 61
Introduce and maintain the Wits REDCap consortium support meetings Explore the need for the integration of present databases within the Faculty into a central repository Create the capacity for all patients discharged from a Wits-associated hospital to have an electronic discharge summary.
Mrs Irma Mare and colleagues (Dr Michael Klipin and Professor Scott Hazelhurst) received the Best Poster Award at the 5th African Conference on Digital Scholarship and Curation in 2013. The poster was entitled “Wits Faculty of Health Sciences Medical Informatics Database”.
8.3.13. SPARC Open Access online journal page charges
As the University has signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access and as Open Access is said to lead to efficiency benefits to researchers which allows easy and faster access to research and knowledge, the HSRO applied to SPARC and was supported with a grant of R400 000.00 to test whether open access would lead to faster publishing of papers and increased or earlier citations. Open access is important for the rapid dissemination of cutting edge knowledge and increased citation rates could assist with increased rankings of institutions.
Researchers in the Faculty were notified of the initiative and applied for page charges on submission of the paper to an accredited open access journal. In general, the costs for open access publication were in the range R13 000- R18 000 per publication. Funding was provided according to the number of Faculty staff members on a publication. A total of 36 publications were supported. A list of submissions/publications is attached (some are in the process of publication). Turn-around time for publication (from submission to publication) varied between one to three months. This is much faster than the traditional journals which in some instances can take between 8-12 months or more.
Citation counts are interesting. Some of the publications already have citations, but these are only 1 or 2 citations per article at this stage. However, one should consider that this is extremely fast, as in order to be noted as a citation on a citation index, the article which is citing the paper has had to be published as well. It is our intention to do a follow-up analysis of citations at a later stage.
On the basis of the 2013 subsidy formula, each publication should be awarded R120 000 by the DoHET, which would leverage ~R4.3 million in subsidy. Although many of the publications were authored by FHS staff alone, some were co-authored with researchers from other institutions. Thus, even if we calculate the DoHET subsidy on half the number of FHS authors on these papers, the initial investment of R400 000 would have raised R2.15 million in subsidy.
8.3.14. POSTGRADUATE HUBS
The entries to the hubs at both the Medical School and C H Baragwanath Academic Hospital are controlled by an ICAM system, with 24 hours access to Postgraduate Students. The numbers of entries to the Hubs in 2013 is illustrated in Table 26.
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Table 26: Entry numbers at the Medical School and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) Postgraduate Hubs in 2013.
2013 Medical School CHBAH
20,264 1366
Monthly PG lunchtime seminars, particularly at the Medical School, continue to be a source of interest. A Biostatistical Service (one-on-one consultations) is available in the Medical School Hub on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays between 13h00 to 17h00. The HSRO wishes to thank Ms Nosipho Ludick at CH Baragwanath Learning Centre for assistance with matters relating to that Hub.
8.3.15. SEMINAR AT ONE – A SEMINAR SERIES FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Since 2010, the HSRO has been offering a successful series of monthly lunchtime talks for postgraduate students at the Postgraduate Hub in Medical School and in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Access to leading researches from different fields was made available to students by creating opportunities for dialogue and learning.
Seminars were presented by the following:
“Professionalism and Ethics related to presentations at conferences and symposia” by Dr Kevin Behrens-Steve Biko Institute. “Nutrition Research at C H Baragwanath Academic Hospital: Challenges and Achievements” by Dr Alison Feeley - DPHRU, School of Clinical Medicine. “Does Research Involvement improve teaching skills?” by Mrs. Juliana Freeme- School of Therapeutic Sciences. ”Publishing in Nature Medicine- luck or chutzpah” by Dr. Penny Moore- NICD, School of Pathology. “Maternal Physical Activity: Influence on maternal and delivery outcomes” by Mrs Estelle Watson- Centre for Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Therapeutic Sciences. “The Complexities of Clinical Supervision” by Professor Patricia De Witt - School of Therapeutic Sciences. “Glucose Metabolism and Pregnancy in South African Women” by Mrs. Shelley Macaulay- DPHRU, School of Clinical Medicine. “Experiences of a Postgraduate journey from an MSc and Mdent perspective” by Dr Catherine Nqcobo- School of Oral Sciences. “Tips and Tools for Detecting Plagiarism” by Dr Kevin Behrens,-Steve Biko Institute. “Mismanaging Time Inadvertently” by Dr. Aceme Nyika- HSFRO. “Why we need more female Post doctoral fellows” by Dr. Kim Lamont- SOCRU, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wits/ NIH (USA) Non- Communicable Diseases Leadership Programme.
8.3.16. MEDIA LECTURE AND WORKSHOPS by Mr Clive Simpkins
In 2013, the HSRO approached Mr Clive Simpkins, Media and Communications Expert to present an interactive workshop to Emerging Researchers in the Faculty. The workshop was held in July with the purpose of giving concise but practical insight into how researchers should respond to print media, radio, TV or social media 63
interviews, or when asked for comment. The workshop assisted with improving their competence and confidence when engaging with the media and provided them with an understanding of the media’s usefulness in publicising their work. Mr Simpkins presented this two hour workshop and provided each participant with a copy of his book, Media Appearance Secrets free of charge.
Interested individuals were then invited to participate in a more intensive media workshop in a small group setting. The workshop on media engagement and public speaking involved a combination of one-on-one interaction with Mr Simpkins, on various aspects of presenting information to the media and also the general public. Mr. Simpkins discussed the basic rules about the presentation of information during television and radio interviews. He also discussed nuanced approaches to unpacking complex information and the use of real-life comparisons to make the data more accessible. For public speaking and seminars, the appropriate use of presentation aids and slides were dealt with in detail. Mr. Simpkins then conducted live mock interviews with a video camera and played back the interviews to point out key details of the interview process. The workshop covered extensive background on how to prepare for interviews and how to enjoy the media experience. Overall, the workshop was creatively compiled and executed with enthusiasm and a great deal of energy. The participants reported that it was a very useful experience.
8.3.17. Contributions to PedMed
The editor of PedMed, has offered the Faculty a page in every issue of this magazine to showcase interesting paediatric research, opinions, contentions, or any important and clinically-relevant information. PedMed is a Media24 print publication which is distributed with the Medical Chronicle on a national level. The editor of the magazine feels that there is a gap in the market for a paediatric publication which fulfils multiple needs (providing information that is clinical, contemporary and interesting, while simultaneously being an easier and more entertaining read than a purely scientific medical journal). The HSRO felt that this was a good opportunity for the public exposure it will bring the Faculty and its researchers.
In 2013, the Faculty submitted three articles to PedMed for publication:
‘The diabetic pregnancy: A bitter-sweet state’ by Ms Shelley Macaulay and Professor Shane Norris, Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU) ‘Maternal nutrition and exercise in Pregnancy’ by Ms Estelle Watson, DPHRU ‘Millennium Development Goal 4 – How are we doing?’ by Professor Peter Cooper, Head of the Department of Paediatrics.
8.3.18. Diamonds and Pearls: Insights into the management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women
The HSRO hosted the second seminar on ‘Diamonds & Pearls: insights into the management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women’ in 2013. The event was organized by Prof Elena Libhaber and Dr Naomi Rapeport and took place on the 21st November in the Marie Curie Theatre at Wits Medical School. In 2012 the symposium covered the guidelines on prevention of cardiovascular diseases, on Dyslipidemia, depression and also Hypertension, Valvular Heart diseases in pregnancy and peripartum cardiomyopathy. This year additional topics enriched our scientific knowledge such as: Current Chemotherapy in breast cancer, Cardiac Complications of chemotherapy in breast cancer, Cardiac Nuclear imaging in women, Screening for Thrombophilia in women and Atrial Fibrillation in women. The speakers were distinguished Wits Faculty and alumni: Dr Daniel Vorobiof, Dr Eric Klug, Prof Carlos Libhaber, Dr Emma Wypkema, and Dr Naomi Rapeport. The Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support, Prof Beverley Kramer opened the seminar and Dr Colin Shamroth moderated the discussion. The contents of the symposium have been placed on the Wits Health Sciences Resaerch Office 64
web page by request. Prof Beverley Kramer expressed her wish that the meeting should be an annual event on the FHS calendar!
8.3.19. POSTGRADUATE SOCIAL
The HSRO once again hosted a postgraduate social to encourage social interaction amongst postgraduate students within the Faculty. Dr. Larry Benjamin, who runs social quiz events, was the Master of Ceremony. Postgraduates from a variety of disciplines teamed up in groups of six and dressed up to enjoy the pub-quizz presented by Dr Larry Benjamin. Three rounds of questions taxed the postgrads (and some of the staff!) to the limit and allowed for a hilarious, fun-filled evening! Thank you to the Faculty Postgraduate Committee for assisting with the organization of the event!
Spot prizes were awarded for the loudest team mate, the most eccentric hairstyle, the best team name, the most motivated team and for the best team mascot.
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Photographs: A great time was had by all!!!
8.4. HSRO ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH FACULTY AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION
8.4.1. FACULTY RESEARCH NEWSLETTER
In 2013, the Faculty Newsletter which was initiated in 2009, continued to profile researchers, explore research being undertaken in the Faculty, highlight outstanding research and report on prestigious awards and achievements. Suretha Erasmus and Nomfundo Sibiya changed the design and layout of the Newsletter. Nomfundo Sibiya was responsible for gathering and collating the information. Professor Beverley Kramer, Associate Professor Andrea Fuller and Mrs Suretha Erasmus serve as editors. The HSRO receives many compliments about the Newsletter, one of which was sent by the Dean of a sister Faculty of Health Sciences and which read “I am always bedazzled by your newsletter. Sets the standard.” The Newsletter is emailed to members of the Faculty, members of the wider University community (including SET), Health Sciences alumni, and other interested external parties (including potential donors). Efforts to increase the distribution list are ongoing.
8.4.2. HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH OFFICE BULLETIN
The Research Bulletin continued to assist with emphasizing notifications regarding courses, workshops, events and funding opportunities (both internal and external). It is generally sent on the 1st of each month, and lists all 65
notices/application closures relevant to the month ahead. Links to webpages with further information or documents are included when necessary.
Ms Nomfundo Sibiya is responsible for collating and editing the content of the Bulletin, with Mrs Suretha Erasmus and Professor Beverley Kramer acting as supervising editors.
8.4.3. POSTGRADUATE BROCHURE
As part of continuous efforts aimed at providing postgraduate students with information about the academic and social environment in the Faculty of Health Sciences in particular and the University of the Witwatersrand in general, the Office of the Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support provides an information brochure for postgraduate students which is updated annually. As usual, the updated brochure will be handed out to postgraduate students in January 2014 during registration. A process to expand the brochure in order to cover the full postgraduate cycle from the point of admission to graduation has been ongoing. Compilation of all relevant information into the new comprehensive brochure has been completed except for the online admission and registration processes as well as samples of pertinent updated forms which have to be finalized before they can be incorporated. The new, comprehensive brochure will become available in 2014.
8.4.4. POSTGRADUATE HERALD (NEWSLETTER)
The Faculty of Health Sciences Postgraduate Herald continued to serve the Postgraduate Student Community. Each issue consists of helpful hints and tips on various topics written by three HSRO staff members (Faculty Research Coordinator, Research Methodology Coordinator and the Faculty Biostatistician). Submissions by Postgraduate students are also included. Students funded through the Postgraduate Conference Travel were requested to write a report on the conference which they attended and these reports were included in the Herald throughout the year in 2013.
Ms Nomfundo Sibiya is responsible for the quarterly publication, as well as its distribution to Postgraduate students, with Mrs Suretha Erasmus and Professor Beverley Kramer acting as supervising editors.
8.4.5. RESEARCH AND POSTGRADUATE OFFICE WEBPAGE
In 2013, the HSRO webpages have been restructured to adhere to the website guidelines set by the Marketing Department, Wits for a uniform Wits website. News and Events pages have been created to reflect the latest achievements and activities in the Faculty. The HSRO publications, including the Biennial Research Review, Monthly Research Newsletter, Funding Information Booklet, Postgraduate Herald and lists of Research Publications in the Faculty are now available online. The Postgraduate Seminar Series or ‘lunch time talks’ held at Medical School and the Learning Centre, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital were made available online for those individuals who could not attend the talks. All the pages are continuously updated by Mrs Suretha Erasmus and Ms Nomfundo Sibiya. Mr Jonathan Taylor at Wits Marketing continued to be a source of invaluable assistance.
8.4.6. POSTGRADUATE FACEBOOK PAGE
The HSRO Postgraduate Facebook Page was created a year ago in November of 2012. Information such as workshops and courses, funding, other important dates, news or exciting events are advertised. This creates 66
awareness amongst Postgraduate students to enhance their learning experience. The page is still continuing to receive growing attention from students.
8.4.7 EXTERNAL MEDIA LIAISON
In 2013, the Faculty contracted an external company to assist with communication and public relations to the community. The aims of this contract where to further establish and build on the University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Science’s reputation for teaching and research excellence among the national, international and academic community; to strengthen this reputation to attract high calibre staff; to raise the public profile of the Faculty in the minds of the public and health professionals locally and internationally, including alumni; to increase the awareness of the Faculty‟s reputation among the non- academic community in South Africa in order to attract the best candidates for undergraduate and postgraduate courses as the competition between South Africa‟s top medical schools is fierce.); to embrace the media in an information-based, proactive liaison programme to enhance relationships and encourage engagement with the Faculty and its professionals, on an ongoing basis and via the media, ensure public recognition of work undertaken by the Faculty.
This programme worked extremely well with numerous articles about the Faculty being aired on radio or in the press. A full report on these activities is available from the HSRO.
Unfortunately we have not been allowed to continue with this contract as the University feels that these functions should be controlled centrally. This has in 2014 already led to a major drop in features on the Faculty in the press.
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9. This section of the HSRO Annual Report includes “Notable Research Activities and Achievements by School”
9.1. SCHOOL OF ANATOMICAL SCIENCES
Appointments . Mr Brendon Billings was appointed Council member of Royal Society of South Africa. Awards and recognition . Professor Lynne Schepartz received an NRF B3 rating.
Substantial research grants . Professor Lynne Schepartz received Project team member. Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research International Collaboration Grant: The Diros Project: Greek-American Collaborative Archaeological Research & Training at Neolithic Alepotrypa Cave. $35,000 (through Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Millsaps College). . Desiré Brits received NRF Thuthuku PhD track Grant (R122000.00) and NRF Institutional matched funds (R184 000.00). . Professor Amadi Ihunwo received the NRF Grant under the Competitive Support for Unrated Researcher (CSUR): 2014 – 2016. Amount: R 594,500.00. Project Title: Integration of neurons generated during adult hippocampal neurogenesis: a comparative study.
Significant local collaborations . Erin F. Hutchinson collaborated with Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa.
Significant international collaborations . Professor Lynne Schepartz: . Co-director of Biological Anthropology study with Anastasia Papathanasiou (Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology of Southern Greece): The Diros Project: Greek-American Collaborative Multi-Disciplinary Research on the Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece. . Wu Xiujie, Liu Wu and Xing Song (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing), Erik Trinkaus (Washington University St. Louis, USA), Maria Martinon- Torres (CIENH, Burgos, Spain) and Sari Miller-Antonio (California State University, Stanislaus, CA USA): Research on Chinese fossil hominins. . Wang Minghui (Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing): Burial status and health in Bronze Age Chinese populations. . Anastasia Papathanasiou (Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology of Southern Greece): Skeletal biology field research on Neolithic-Iron Age populations of Kea island, Greece. . Sari Miller-Antonio (California State University Stanislaus, CA USA) and Fang Hui (Shandong University, China): Skeletal biology field research on Bronze Age Shang burials from Daxinzhuang, Shandong, China. . Britney Kyle McIlvaine (University of Northern Colorado, USA), Clark S. Larsen and Paul W. Sciullli (Ohio State University, OH USA): Skeletal biology research on Albania and Greek populations. . Jack L. Davis and Sharon Stocker (University of Cincinnati, OH, USA), Sari Miller-Antonio (California State University Stanislaus, CA USA) and Anastasia Papathanasiou (Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology of Southern Greece): Skeletal biology and mortuary analysis of Greek Mycenaeans from Pylos. . John Papadopoulos and Sarah Morris (UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, CA, USA), Lorenc Bejko (Institute of Archaeology Albania): The prehistoric tumulus of Lofkënd, Albania. . Erin F. Hutchinson collaborated with Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand . Professor Amadi Ihunwo collaborated with the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Staff and student participation in congresses . Lynne A. Schepartz and Sari Miller-Antonio. Paper for the Archaeological Institute of America Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA USA: Burnt, Stained, or Lost Forever? Taphonomy and Bone Patterning at Panxian Dadong, South China. . Lynne A. Schepartz and Britney K. McIlvaine. Poster for the American Association of Physical Anthropologists meeting in Knoxville, TN: Hybridization of exploitation? Bioarchaeological evidence for the nature of Corinthian colonial interactions in Albania. . Desiré Brits: 41st Annual Conference of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa, University of KwaZulu Natal, 68
Durban, South Africa (20 – 24 April 2013). . Desiré Brits: 9th Annual Meeting of the Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey (12 – 15 June 2013). . Candice Small: 15th Meeting of the International Association of Craniofacial Identification: Facing an African Experience, Kruger National Park, at the Mopani Rest Camp (3 – 7 August 2013). . Robert Ndou and Lynne Schepartz. The 1st Imaging with Radiation Conference (IMRAD1) and Workshop, 23 – 27 September 2013, Pelindaba, South Africa. . Robert Ndou and Lynne Schepartz. The 2nd International Conference on Forensic Research & Technology" (Forensic Research – 2013) during October 7-9, 2013 - Las Vegas, USA. . Brendon Billings: Poster for German-South African School on Comparative Neuroscience Group winners (Best Oral Presentation). . Brendon Billings: Poster for 13th Sona International Conference and School on “Drug addiction and the brain” (Morocco). Best poster presentations (Lab group winners). . Erin F. Hutchinson, B. Kramer, J.A Kieser. Forensic Biology Symposium, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand. Oral Presentation: Developmental changes associated with the immature and mature mandible. . Erin F. Hutchinson, B. Kramer, J.A Kieser. International Association of Dental Research (General Session: Seattle, Washington, USA) Poster Presentation: Morphometric changes in the early and late human mandible. . Erin F. Hutchinson, J.A Kieser, B. Kramer. American Association of Physical Anthropologists (General Session: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Poster Presentation: An assessment of the growth and development of the paediatric tongue and mandible within a South African population. . Erin F. Hutchinson, B. Kramer, J. Hoffman, J.A. Kieser. Imaging with Radiation (1st South African Bi-annual Conference, NECSA: Pelindaba, South Africa) Oral Presentation: Dental age estimations in a paediatric cadaver population. . Kolkenbeck-Ruh, C. Hartmann, Erin F. Hutchinson. 125th Meeting of the American Anatomical Association: “Experimental Biology 2013” (Boston, USA). Poster Presentation: Anatomical Variations in the superior thyroid artery within the South African population. . Kolkenbeck-Ruh, C. Hartmann, Erin F. Hutchinson. University of the Witwatersrand Interfaculty Postgraduate Symposium (Johannesburg, South Africa). Oral Presentation: Anatomical Variations in the superior thyroid artery within the South African population. . Professor Amadi Ihunwo participated in the following congresses: . 10th Stem Cell Summit: Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine Conference. Boston, MA.USA. 29 – 30 April 2013. Poster: Placing South Africa in the legal and ethical debate on adult neural stem cell research. . 11th International Conference of the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA), Rabat, Morocco 13 – 18 June 2013. Symposium Paper: The ethics of using wild-caught animals in research. . 11th Annual Conference of the Neuroscience Society of Nigeria (NSN) Ibadan, Nigeria. 28 November – 01 December 2013. Oral Paper: Neurogenesis in Animals.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Professor Amadi Ihunwo facilitated the following workshops: . 6th Teaching Tools in Neuroscience Workshop, Rabat, Morocco. 7 – 13 June 2013. . IBRO/ISN Neuroscience School, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. 02 – 07 December 2013.
Publications . W. Liu, L.A. Schepartz, S. Xing, S. Miller-Antonio, X. Wu, E. Trinkaus and M. Martinon-Torres. (2013) Late Middle Pleistocene hominin teeth from Panxian Dadong, South China. Journal of Human Evolution 64(5): 337-355. Impact factor: 4.094. . B.K McIlvaine, L.A Schepartz, C.S Larsen, PW Sciulli. (in press). Evidence for long-term migration on the Balkan Peninsula using dental and cranial nonmetric data: Early interaction between Corinth (Greece) and its colony at Apollonia (Albania). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 153. Impact factor: 2.831. . Brits D, Steyn M., L’Abbé E.N. A histomorphological analysis of human and nonhuman femora. International Journal of Legal Medicine – in press. (doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0854-3) Impact Factor: 2.686 (2012). . Pininski M., Brits D. (2014) Estimating stature in South African populations using various measures of the sacrum. Forensic Science International 234:182.e1-82.e7. Impact Factor: 2.433.
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Visitors Professor Anthony Turner from University of Leeds, Britain visited the School of Anatomical Sciences and presented a most interesting lecture entitled Biology of neurodegeneration: progress towards mechanisms and therapies on 29 October 2013.
From left: Professor Anthony Turner, Dr Natalia Nalivaeva, Professor Amadi Ihunwo, Brendon Billings and Tanya Augustine.
9.2. SCHOOL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
CARBOHYDRATE AND LIPID METABOLISM RESEARCH UNIT – DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Director: Professor Frederick Raal
Awards/Recognition Professor FJ Raal is a member of the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel which is developing new guidelines on the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia for Europe. Professor Raal was awarded a Faculty of Health Sciences Research Award in July 2013. The Unit received the 2013 AstraZeneca LASSA award for the best publication in the field of Lipidology in South Africa published in the preceding two years. Professor Raal is an ongoing active member of the Endocrine Society in recognition of achievements in clinical practice, research and education in the field of Endocrinology.
Significant Publications: Raal FJ. Lomitapide for homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Lancet 2013; 381:7-8 Editorial. IMPACT FACTOR 39.06 Stein EA, Raal FJ. Polygenic familial hypercholesterolaemia: does it matter? Lancet 2013;381:1255-57 Editorial. IMPACT FACTOR 39.06 Stein EA and Raal FJ. Insights into PCSK9, low-density lipoprotein receptor, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism: Of Mice and Man. Circulation 2013;127:2372-2374. Editoria. IMPACT FACTOR 14.7 Stein EA, Honarpour N, Wasserman SM, Zu F, Scott R, Raal FJ. Effect of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 monoclonal antibody, AMG 145, in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Circulation 2013;128:2113-2120. IMPACT FACTOR 14.7 Koren MJ, Giugliano RP, Raal FJ et al. Efficacy and Safety of Longer-term administration of Evolocumab in patients with hypercholesterolemia: 52-week results from the open-label study of long-term evaluation against LDL-C (Osler) randomized trial. Circulation. On line. IMPACT FACTOR 14.7 Nordestgaard BG, Chapman MS, Raal FJ et al. Familial hypercholesterolaemia is underdiagnosed and undertreated in the general population: guidance for clinicians to prevent coronary heart disease. Consensus Statement of the European Atherosclerosis Society. European Heart Journal. On line. IMPACT FACTOR 14.10
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Participation in Congresses The Unit presented two posters and gave two oral presentations at the SEMDSA/LASSA Congress held in Johannesburg from 18-21 April 2013. Professor Raal was an invited speaker at the 81st Congress of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), and delivered a plenary lecture. Professor Raal was an invited speaker at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting held in Amsterdam from 31 August – 4 September 2013. He gave an oral presentation and two poster presentations.
Prestigious research visitors Dr Michael Irwig, Assistant Professor of Medicine, George Washington University, Pennsylvania visited our Unit in February 2013 and gave an interesting lecture on “The use and abuse of anabolic steroids”. Professor Ian Campbell, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Scotland visited the Unit in July 2013 and gave a talk on “The importance of blood glucose monitoring for improved glycaemic control”. Professor Gordon Francis, Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada visited our Unit in August 2013 and is keen to collaborate in Lipid research. Professor Steven Soldin visited the Unit as part of the Wits Alumni Diaspora Program in August 2013 and delivered an interesting talk on “Anylate specificity in improving diagnosis and treatment of endocrine conditions”
CLINICAL HIV RESEARCH UNIT – DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Director: Professor Iann Sanne
Awards/Recognition Professor Cindy Firnhaber received the Faculty of Health Sciences research award in July 2013. Professor Ian Sanne also received the Faculty of Health Sciences research award in July 2013. Alana Brenan - 20th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2013, Atlanta, GA. Awarded a Young Investigators Award for “Viremia Copy-years as a Measure of Viral Load Burden and Associated Mortality Risk among Antiretroviral Therapy Patients in Johannesburg, South Africa” and “The Effect of 30 vs. 40mg of Stavudine vs. Tenofovir on Treatment Outcomes amongst HIV-positive Patients in Johannesburg, South Africa”.
Substantial Research Grants/ Funding 2 UM1 AI069463-08 (Rees / Sanne) 15 Mar 2007- 31 Jan 2021. Clinical Trials Units for NIAID Networks (UM1) 2013 funding - $4,686,848 The major goals of this project is that the HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks and their CTU/CRS will pursue clinical trials to address the highest priorities in HIV/AIDS research, including: 1) Adult HIV therapeutic strategies, including HIV cure, noninfectious comorbidities, and the infectious comorbidities of hepatitis and tuberculosis; 2) strategies to address HIV and HIV-associated infections in pediatric and maternal populations; 3) integrated HIV prevention strategies; 4) microbicide strategies to prevent HIV infections; 5) vaccines to prevent HIV infections; and 6) strategies to address antibacterial resistance. 2 UM1 AI068635-08 (Kuritzkes) 01 Jun 2012 – 31 Dec 2021. NIAID 2013 funding $187,230 ACTG LEADERSHIP # 108079 (AIDS Clinical Trials Group Network). The major goal of this project is for the ACTG Leadership to oversee the overall administrative, scientific, and laboratory management of the ACTG and provides guidance to and coordinates the activities of the Leadership and Operations Center, the Network Coordinating Center, and the Statistical and Data Management Center. AID-674-A-12-00029 (Long) 01 Oct 2012 – 30 Sept 2017. USAID $5,000,000 HIV Innovations for Improved Patient Outcomes for Priority (INROADS) The major aim of this project: INROADS is a program of operations research, economic evaluation and policy analysis aimed at assisting the South African Government to achieve the goals of its National Strategic Plan on HIV, STIs, and TB 2012-2016 (NSP). This includes a set of activities for strengthening South African capacity to generate policy-relevant information and use it to improve program implementation. 5UM1 AI068636-07 (Kuritzkes) 01 Jun 2012–31 Dec 2014. NIAID / DAIDS 2013 funding $381,180 HPTN 052 71
A Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Antiretroviral Therapy plus HIV Primary Care versus HIV Primary Care Alone to Prevent the Sexual Transmission of HIV-1 in Serodiscordant Couples STREAM (Nunn A) 01 Jul 2012–Jun 2015. USAID / IUATLD $1,213,537 The Evaluation of a Standardized Treatment Regimen of Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs for Patients with MDR-TB. The major aim of this study is to assess whether the proportion of patients with a favorable efficacy outcome on the study regimen is not inferior to that on the control (WHO approved MDR-TB) regimen, and to compare the proportion of patients who experience grade 3 or greater adverse events, during treatment and follow-up, in the study regimen as compared to the control regimen. START Wood, R (PI) 01 Sept 2011–31 Aug 2016. University of Cape Town $1,214,537 Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment The goal of this research is to establish whether earlier ART would prevent morbidity and mortality in HIV
IeDEA-SA Prof P MacPhail (PI) 01 July 2010 – 30 June 2013. University of Bern 2013 Funding: $48,411. International epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Southern Africa. The continued commitment of the Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU) to contribute clinical data to IeDEA-SA annually and we that these data can be used for regional, multiregional and consortium-wide analyses. PanACEA-MAMS-TB-01 Hoelscher M (PI) 01 March 2013 – 31 Sept 2014. PanACEA/EDCTP €249,719. A multiple arm, multiple stage (MAMS), phase 2, open label, randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate four treatment regimens including SQ109, two increased doses of rifampicin, and moxifloxacin in adult subjects with newly diagnosed, smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis
Significant local collaborations Names of main collaborators Institution & Department name Brief activity description
Kurt Firnhaber Right To Care Technical Assistance
Wendy Stevens NHLS Technical Assistance - Laboratory
Jessica Trusler BARC SA Technical Assistance – Research Laboratory Requirements
Gavin Churchyard Aurum Institute TB Policy
Andreas Diacon Stellenbosch TB Expert / Technical Assistance
Robin Wood UCT HIV
Provincial Department of Health, City of Joburg Annual Event – World TB Day TB Alliance Volunteer community and social workers join forces with provincial nurses: VCT/HCT in poor resource communities at soup kitchens, churches and taxi ranks. A TB Imbizo is also held.
Community Witkoppen & Community Advisory Board Education campaign in poor Westdene (CAB) resource settings to reduce stigmatization of HIV/AIDS & TB
Significant international collaborations Names of main collaborators Institution & Department name Brief activity description
Prof Sydney Rosen Center for Global Health and These collaborators worked on 72
Prof Matthew Fox Development, Boston University, all economic and epidemiology Prof Bruce Larson Boston, MA, USA. projects led by the Health Prof William Macleod Economics and Epidemiology Prof Gesine Meyer Rath Research Office
National Institutes of Health NIH funded network Various grant applications for collaborations with the HIV individuals in poor resource Prevention Trial Network and the settings AIDS Clinical Trials Group
Prof Myron Cohen University of North Carolina Various USAID and NIH grants in Prof Charles van der Horst School of Public Health HIV prevention and treatment of Prof Annelies van Rie HIV and TB Prof Jennifer Smith
Prof Luis Montaner Wistar Institute Philadelphia Multiple studies evaluating the Pennsylvania immunology in HIV patients and TB and HPV coinfected HIV patients
Prof Daniel Westreich Duke University Much of this work, including his dissertation and postdoctoral work, and the ongoing R00, has been done in close collaboration with colleagues at the Clinical HIV Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, including Prof Ian Sanne and Drs Mhairi Maskew, Cindy Firnhaber, and Denise Evans. Their collaboration on analyses of data from the Themba Lethu Clinic in Johannesburg South Africa, has been absolutely invaluable to his work. There is future work planned with numerous CHRU personnel, as well.
International Funding Agency USAID Patient Care projects at the CHRU Clinic
Participation in Congresses/ Workshops ORAL PRESENTATIONS – 2013 Manu O. Platt, Philip M. Keegan, Clement Penny, and Denise Evans. A novel, multiplex cathepsin zymography assay to monitor adherence to antiretroviral therapy in resource limited settings. 17th ICASA Conference 2013. Cape Town, South Africa. 7 – 11 December 2013. (oral presentation) Moyo F, Chasela C.C and Evans D. Comparison of treatment outcomes of patients starting antiretroviral therapy in a private or public HIV clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. 9th Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) Conference in collaboration with the African Federation of Public Health Associations (AFPHA), 26-27 September, Cape Town, South Africa. Govindasamy D, Kranzer K. Risk factors, barriers and facilitators for linkage and retention in pre-ART care. 30 June – 3 July 2013. 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fox M, Shearer K. Current CD4 count, more than baseline, predicts loss to follow-up from care. 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa 73
Evans D, McNamara L, Maskew M, Selibas K, van Amsterdam D, Baines N, Webster T and Sanne I. Impact of nutritional supplementation on immune response, body mass index and bioimpedance in HIV-positive patients starting antiretroviral therapy. 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa Berhanu R, Naidoo S, Evans D, Jong E, and Mellet K. Drug induced liver injury (DILI) in TB co-infected HIV- positive patinets attending a hospital-based TB clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa Takuva S, Maskew M, Evans D, Sanne I, MacPhail P and Fox M. Impact of varying CD4 count levels on the prognostic value of baseline and last haemoglobin measurement on death among patients on antiretroviral therapy. 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa Takuva S, Maskew M, Evans D, Sanne I, MacPhail P and Fox M. Anemia is a strong risk factor for death regardless of CD4 count among patients on anti retroviral thereapy. 6th SA AIDS Conference, 18-21 June 2013, ICC, Durban. Fox MP, Shearer K. Attrition through multiple stages of HIV care in South Africa: A challenge for test-and-treat. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 54 – Oral Abstracts Paper # 1103
POSTER/ABSTRACT PRESENTATIONS – 2013 Nnambalirwa M, Evans D, McNamara L and Nyasulu P. Markers of poor adherence among HIV-positive adults on antiretroviral therapy at Themba Lethu Cllinic, Johannesburg, South Africa. 17th ICASA Conference 2013. Cape Town, South Africa. 7 – 11 December 2013. (poster presentation) Schnippel K, Mongwenyana C, Long L, Larson B. Missing Visits, Missing Opportunities: Losses from Care during PMTCT at Primary Health Care Clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa. Poster, Abstract #2420004, International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), 2013, 7-11 December 2013, Cape Town, South Africa. F Moyo, Chasela C.S, and Evans D. Comparison of treatment outcomes of patients starting antiretroviral therapy in a private or public HIV clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. 9th Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) Conference in collaboration with the African Federation of Public Health Associations (AFPHA), 26 – 27 September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa Shearer K, Brennan A, Maskew M, Long L, Sanne I, Fox MP. The relation between Efavirenz vs Nevirapine and virologic failure in Johannesburg, South Africa. SA AIDS, Durban 18th – 21st June, 2013 Mohamed K, Evans D, Sauls C, Richter K, Smith J and Firnhaber C. Human papilloma virus (HPV) testing on self-collected specimens: perceptions among HIV positive women attending rural and urban clinics in South Africa. SA AIDS, Durban 18th – 21st June, 2013 Badal-Faesen S, Evans D, Brown S, Firnhaber C and Wester W. Long-term effect of Tenofovir on bone mineral density abnormalities: results from a cross-sectional pilot study in Johannesburg, South Africa. SA AIDS, Durban 18th – 21st June, 2013 McNamara L, Takuva S and MacPhail P. Variation in common Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms by racial group and HIV serostatus in Johannesburg, South Africa. SA AIDS, Durban 18th – 21st June, 2013 Mahomed K, Evans D, Sauls C, Richter K, Smith J, Firnhaber C. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing on self- collected specimens: Perceptions among HIV Positive women attending rural and urban clinics in South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference, 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa Badal-Faesen S, Evans D, Brown S, Firnhaber C, Wester W. Long-term Effect of Tenofovir on Bone Mineral Density Abnormalities: Results from a Cross-Sectional Pilot study in Johannesburg, South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference, 18-21 June 2013, ICC Durban, South Africa Sanchez A, Zhang X, Havlir D, Luetkemeyer A, Kumwenda J, Sanne I, Ive P, Sattler F. Mortality Risk Factors in TB/HIV Co-infected Patients. Sub-Study of A5221. 20th CROI 2013, Georgia World Congress Centre, Atlanta, 3-6 March, 2013. Session 148 – Poster Abstracts Paper #856 Papasavvas E, Glencross D, Mayisela N, Omar T, Williamson A, Siminya M, Yin X, Liu Q, Firnhaber C, Montaner L. HPV Genotype Impacts T cell activation and Cervical Cellular infiltrates Irrespective of lesion grade in Art – suppressed HPV/HIV – 1 co infected women. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Paper # 733 Isherwood L, Kushner N, Conradie F, Fallows D, Louw R, Veldsman C, Axcell A, Diniso P, Nkosi Y, Duse A. Sequencing of Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Samples from a Cohort of Patients in a TB Hospital in 74
Gauteng, South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 147 – Poster Abstract Paper #844 Shearer K, Maskew M, Ajayi T, Majuba P, Sanne I, Fox MP. Incidence of herpes Zoster among HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa – Whom should we vaccinate? 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 151 – Poster Abstracts Paper #867 Luetkemeyer A, Kendall M, Wu X, Lourenco M, Jentsch U, Swindells S, Ganoza C, Havlir D, Grinsztejn B, Sanne I, Firnhaber C and ACTG A5255 Study Group. 2 Rapid line probes for diagnosis of TB, isoniazid & rifampin resistance in HIV+ TB suspects in high HIV-TB prevalence resource-limited settings. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 146 – Poster Abstracts Paper # 840 Derry C, Hanrahan C, Selibas K, Bassett J, Sanne I, Van Rie A. Community-based Intensified Case Finding Targeting Household Contacts of TB and HIV Patients: Urban South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Paper # 852 Brennan A, Maskew M, Sanne I, Fox M. Viremia Copy – years as a Measure of Viral Load Burden and Associated Mortality Risk among ART Patients: Johannesburg, South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 108 – Poster Abstracts Paper # 576 Hanrahan C, Selibas K, Cunningham B, Derry C, Scott L, Stevens W, Sanne I, Van Rie A. Quantitative Xpert MTB/RIF and the Role of HIV among a Cohort of TB Suspects: South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 146 – Poster Abstracts Paper #838 Van Rie A, Jong E, Mkhwanazi M, Sanne I. Diagnosing TB in Those Hardest to Diagnose: Urine Lipoarabinomannan for Suspects of Disseminated and Extrapulmonary TB. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 146 – Poster Abstracts Paper #841 Brennan A, Maskew M, Sanne I and Fox M. The Effect of 30 vs 40 mg of Stavudine vs Tenofovir on Treatment Outcomes amongst HIV infected Patients in Johannesburg, South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 197 – Poster Abstracts Paper #1098 Sierra-Madero J, Tierney A, Rassool M, Azzoni L, Sereti I, Andrade J, Mosqueda-Gomez L, Pineirua A, Sanne I, Lederman M and the CADIRIS Study Team. Efficacy and Safety of Maraviroc to Prevent Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in High-risk Subjects Initiating ART: 24 week Results of a Randomized, Placebo- controlled Trial. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Atlanta, USA. 3-6 March 2013. Session 54 – Poster Abstracts Paper # 182LB
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Journal Club – CHRU The Clinical HIV Research Unit has hosted 16 Journal Club Meetings throughout 2013. Various topics were discussed mainly HIV, TB and Infectious Diseases. These Journal Club meetings have been attended by various researches, investigators and students as well as internal staff from CHRU and Right To Care. In total there were 135 attendees during 2013. 1 CPD point per hour has been accredited for Journal Club. HE2RO’s 10th Anniversary On 4th December 2013, HE2RO and Boston University’s Center for Global Health and Development (BU-CGHD) held a celebratory meeting at the Adler Museum at Wits Medical School. The meeting was to celebrate 10 years of collaboration, research and training in the fields of health economics and epidemiology in South Africa. Presentations were given that showcased the research carried out on topics including but not limited to costs and outcomes of ART, models of ART delivery, patient economic outcomes & the benefits of HIV treatment, epidemiological outcomes of HIV treatment rollout, costs and outcomes of treating MDR-TB, loss to initiation of HIV treatment & linkage to care, and the role of cost modeling in changing the South African HIV & TB guidelines. HE2RO Short courses - Cost, Cost‐Effectiveness, and Cost-Benefit Analysis. 28 August – 6 September 2013. Johannesburg. 29 participants. Boston University (BU) instructor - Workshop on Research Application to Policy. 14 -16 August 2013. Johannesburg. 20 participants. Boston University (BU) instructor - Advanced Epidemiological Methods. 19 – 23 August 2013. Cape Town. 13 participants. Boston University (BU) instructor - Introductory Short course in Epidemiology. 24 – 28 June 2013. Johannesburg. 18 participants. HE2RO instructor 75
Significant Publications Brennan AT, Maskew M, Ive P, Shearer K, Long L, Sanne I, Fox MP. Increases in regimen durability associated with the introduction of tenofovir at a large public-sector clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. JIADS. 2013;16:1879. PMCID:PMC 3835788 Brennan AT, Maskew M, Sanne I, Fox MP. The interplay between CD4 cell count, viral load suppression and duration of antiretroviral therapy on mortality in a resource-limited setting. Trop Med Int Health.2013 Feb 18. Doi 10.111/tmi.12079. PMCID: PMC 23419157 Clouse K, Pettifor A, Shearer K, Maskew M, Bassett J, Larson B, Van Rie A, Sanne I, Fox MP. Loss to follow-up before and after delivery among women testing HIV positive during pregnancy in Johannesburg, South Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 2013 Feb 3. doi: 10.1111/tmi.12072. [Epub ahead of print] PMCID: PMC 3600093 Clouse K, Pettifor A, Maskew M, Bassett J, Van Rie A, Gay C, Behets F, Sanne I and Fox M. Initiating ART when presenting with higher CD4 counts results in reduced loss to follow up in South Africa. AIDS 2013, 27(4): 645-650. PMCID: PMC 3646627 Clouse K, Pettifor A, Maskew M, Bassett J, Van Rie A, Behets F, Gay C, Sanne I, Fox M. Patient retention from HIV diagnosis through one year on antiretroviral therapy at a primary healthcare clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Feb 1;62(2):e39-46. PMCID: PMC 3548953 Conradie F, Mabiletsa T, Sefoka M, Mabaso S, Louw R, Evans D, Van Rie A. Prevalence and incidence of symmetrical symptomatic peripheral neuropathy in patients with multidrug-resistant TB. S Afr Med J. 2013 Oct 11;104(1)24-26. (pubmed in process) PMID: 2438808 Cotton MF, Violari A, Otwombe K, Panchia R, Dobbels E, Rabie H, Josipovic D, Liberty A, Lazarus E, Innes S, van Rensburg AJ, Pelser W, Truter H, Madhi SA, Handelsman E, Jean-Philippe P, McIntyre JA, Gibb DM, Babiker AG; CHER Study Team. Early time-limited antiretroviral therapy versus deferred therapy in South African infants infected with HIV: results from the children with HIV early antiretroviral (CHER) randomised trial. Lancet. 2013 Nov 9;382 (9904):1555-63. PMID: 24209829 Denslow SA, Rositch AF, Firnhaber C, Ting J, Smith JS. Incidence and progression of cervical lesions in women with HIV: A systematic global review. Int J STD AIDS. 2013 Aug 29. PMID:24216030 Dhana AV, Howell P, Sanne I, Spencer D. Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from pericardial fluid using the new Xpert MTB/RIF assay. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Aug 28. (Pubmed in process) PMID: 23986128 Fenner L, Reid SE, Fox MP, Garone D, Wellington M, Prozesky H, Zwahlen M, Schomaker M, Wandeler G, Kancheya N, Boulle A, Wood R, Henostroza G, Egger M; IeDEA Southern Africa. Tuberculosis and the risk of opportunistic infections and cancers in HIV-infected patients starting ART in Southern Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 2013 Feb;18(2):194-8. PMCID: PMC 3553249 Fidler S, Porter K, Ewings F, Frater J, Ramjee G, Cooper D, Rees H, Fisher M, Schechter M, Kaleebu P, Tambussi G, Kinloch S, Miro J, Kelleher A, McClure M, Kaye S, Gabriel M, Phillips R, Weber J and Babiker A. Collobarator: Conradie, F. Short-course antiretroviral therapy in primary HIV infection. NEJM 2013, 368(3): 207- 217. Firnhaber C, Mayisela N, Mao L, Williams S, Swarts A, Faesen M, et al. Validation of Cervical Cancer Screening Methods in HIV Positive Women from Johannesburg South Africa. PloS One. 2013;8(1):e53494. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053494. PMCID:PMC 3543403 Gall A, Kaye S, Hué S, Bonsall D, Rance R, Baillie G, Fidler S, Weber J, McClure M and Kellam P; Collaborator: Conradie F. SPARTAC Trial Investigators. Restriction of V3 region sequence divergence in the HIV-1 envelope gene during antiretroviral treatment in a cohort of recent seroconvertors. Retrovirology 2013, 10(8): 1-11. PMCID:PMC 3605130 Godfrey CC, Michelow PM, Godard M, Sahasrabuddhe VV, Darden J, Firnhaber CS, Wetherall NT, Bremer J, Coombs RW, Wilkin T; A5282 Study Team. Improving Diagnostic Capability for HPV Disease Internationally Within the NIH-NIAID Division of AIDS Clinical Trial Networks. Am J Clin Pathol. 2013 Dec;140(6):881-9. PMID:24225757 Hanrahan CF, Selibas K, Deery CB, Dansey H, Clouse K, Bassett J, Scott L, Stevens W, Sanne I, Van Rie A. Time to Treatment and Patient Outcomes among TB Suspects Screened by a Single Point-of-Care Xpert MTB/RIF at a Primary Care Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. PLoS One. 2013 June 6;8(6). PMID: 23762367 Hoffman CJ, Schomaker M, Fox MP, Mutevedzi P, Giddy J, Prozesky H, Wood R, Garone DB, Egger M, Boulle A for the IeDEA Southern Africa Collaboration. CD4 count slope and mortality in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy: multicohort analysis from South Africa. JAIDS 2013, 63(1): 34-41. PMCID: PMC 3655761 76
Johnson LF, Mossong J, Dorrington RE, Schomaker M, Hoffmann CJ, Keiser O, Fox MP, Wood R, Prozesky H, Giddy J, Garone B, Cornell M, Egger M and Boulle A for the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS Southern Africa (IeDEA-SA) Collaboration. Life expectancies of South African adults starting antiretroviral treatment: collaborative analysis of cohort studies. PLoS Med 2013, 10(4): e1001418. PMCID: PMC 3621664 Kayigire XA, Friedrich SO, Venter A, Dawson R, Gillespie SH, Boeree MJ, Heinrich N, Hoelscher M, Diacon AH; Collaborator: Sanne I. Pan African Consortium for the evaluation of Anti-tuberculosis Antibiotics. Direct comparison of Xpert MTB/RIF assay with liquid and solid mycobacterial culture for quantification of early bactericidal activity. J Clin Microbiol. 2013 June;51(6): 1894-8. PMID: 23596237 Larson BA, Schnippel K, Brennan A, Long L, Xulu T, Maotoe, Rosen S, Sanne I, Fox MP. Same-Day CD4 Testing to Improve Uptakes of HIV Care and Treatment in South Africa: Point-of-Care is not Enough. AIDS Res Treat. 2013:941493. PMCID:PMC 3730392 Laughton B, Cornell M, Boivin M, Van Rie A. Neurodevelopment in perinatally HIV-infected children: a concern for adolescence. J Int AIDS Soc. 2013 Jun 18;16:18603. doi: 10.7448/IAS.16.1.18603. PMCID: PMC 3687073 Madhi SA, Izu A, Violari A, Cotton MF, Panchia R, Dobbles E, Sewraj P, van Niekerk N, Jean-Philippe P, Adrian PV, McIntyre J, Pelser W, Sheik AN, Budge M, Saleh M, Mashinini S, Dlamini S, Kemese V, Bolton J, Cotton MF, Rabie H, van Rensburg AJ, Dobbels E, Fourie G, Bester M, Orange W, Arendze R, Andrea C, Smuts M, Smith K, Louw T, Abrahams A, Kelly K, Bohle A, Mong I, Howard J, Cyster T, Solomon G, Benjamin G, Mkalipi J, Branes E, Gray G, Sanne I and the CIPRA-4 team. Immunogenicity following the first and second doses of 7-valent pnemococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-infected and –uninfected infants. Vaccine 2013, 31(5): 777-783. PMID: 2322884 Maskew M, Fox MP, van Cutsem G, Chu K, Macphail P, Boulle A, Effer M, Africa FI. Treatment Response and Mortality among Patients Starting Antiretroviral Therapy with and without Kaposi Sarcoma: A Cohort Study. PLoS One. 2013 June 5;8(6). PMCID: PMC 3673971 Menezes C, Duarte R, Dickens C, Dix-Peek T, van Amsterdam D, John MA, Ive P, Maskew M, MacPphail P, Fox MP, Raal F, Sanne I and Crowther N. The early effects of stavudine compared with tenofovir on adipocyte gene expression mitochondrial DNA copy number and metabolic parameters in South African HIV-infected patients: a randomized trial. HIV Med 2013, 14(4): 217-225. PMID: 23036096 Meyer-Rath G, Brennan A, Long L, Ndibongo B, Technau K, Moultrie H, Fairlie L, Coovadia A, Rosen S. Cost and outcomes of paediatric antiretroviral treatment in South Africa. AIDS. 2013 Jan 14;27(2):243-50. PMID:23014517 Vardhanabhuti S, Acosta EP, Ribaudo HJ, Severe P, Lalloo U, Kumarasamy N, Taulo F, Kabanda J, Oneko O, Ive P, Sambarey P, Chan ES, Hitti J, Hong F, McMahon D, Haas DW; the A5207 Study Team. Clinical and Genetic Determinants of Plasma Nevirapine Exposure following an Intrapartum Dose to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission. J Infect Dis. 2013. Aug 15 (208(4):662-671. PMID:23687222 Walensky RP, Ross EL, Kumarasamy N, Wood R, Noubary F, Paltiel AD, Nakamura YM, Godbole SV, Panchia R, Sanne I, Weinstein MC, Losina E, Mayer KH, Chen YQ, Wang L, McCauley M, Gamble T, Seage GR 3rd, Cohen MS, Freedberg KA. Cost-effectiveness of HIV treatment as prevention in serodiscordant couples. N Engl J Med.2013 Oct 31;369(18):1715-1725. PMID: 24171517 Yager N, Robinson N, Brown H, Flanagan P, Frater J, Fidler S, Weber J and Phillips R; the SPARTAC Trial Investigators. Longitudinal analysis of an HLA-B*51 restricted epitope in integrase reveals immune escape in early HIV-1 infection. AIDS 2013, 27: 313-323.
DEVELOPMENTAL PATHWAYS FOR HEALTH RESEARCH UNIT – DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS Director – Professor Shane Norris
Appointments Linda Adair (University of North Carolina) and David Dunger (University of Cambridge) appointed as Honorary Professors at DPHRU.
Awards/Recognition Professor Shane Norris appointed as Chair of the Organising Committee for the 9th World Congress of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Professor Norris is a member of the Chronic Diseases Initiative for Africa.
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Significant international research collaborations Collaboration with Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University around capacity development in epidemiology and grant funding from NIH, and nesting of Emory summer programme students in DPHRU.
Postdoctoral Fellows Dr Celia Hsiao Dr Moji Musa Dr Rihlat Said Mohamed Dr Carren Ginsburg (moved to Agincourt) Dr Emily Mendenhall
EFFECTIVE CARE RESEARCH UNIT (ECRU) – DEPARTMENT OF OBSTERICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
Director: Professor Justus Hofmeyr
Substantial research grants Calcium and Pre-eclampsia (CAP) study – Funding: A sub-grant from the University of British Columbia, a grantee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Sub-grant amount: USD 1.7 million over 5 years: Nov 2010 to October 2015.
Significant Local Collaborations Calcium and Pre-eclampsia (CAP) study. Collaborating sites in Southern Africa: University of Cape Town, University of Zimbabwe, University of Stellenbosch. Co-ordination and overall Principal Investigator: Effective Care Research Unit. PROMISE PEP study, University of the Western Cape.
Significant International Collaborations Calcium and Pre-eclampsia (CAP) study. World Health Organization RHR, Geneva, Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS), Argentina. PROMISE PEP study, University of Montpelliere, France. Feasibility and Safety Study of a new device (Odon Device) for assisted vaginal deliveries, World Health Organization.
Participation in Congresses/Workshops Hofmeyr G J, for the Calcium and Pre-eclampsia (CAP) Study Group. Low dose calcium supplementation for preventing pre-eclampsia: A systematic review and commentary. 32nd Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa, Mpekweni Beach Resort, 12-15 March 2013. Hofmeyr G J. Options for difficult second stage. 32nd Conference on Priorities in Perinatal Care in Southern Africa, Mpekweni Beach Resort, 12-15 March 2013. Hofmeyr G J. Evidence and global health: constraints and ethical dilemmas. African Cochrane indaba, Cape Town, 6-8 May 2013. Hofmeyr G J. Tricks of delivering the difficult shoulder. TOGSICON International Conference on evidence and excellence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Thrissur, Kerala, India 15-17 Nov 2013. Hofmeyr G J. Postpartum IUCD insertion. TOGSICON International Conference on evidence and excellence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Thrissur, Kerala, India 15-17 Nov 2013. Hofmeyr G J. The unusual ectopic pregnancies. TOGSICON International Conference on evidence and excellence in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Thrissur, Kerala, India 15-17 Nov 2013.
Significant Publications Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Styles C. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 9;10:CD003934. Hofmeyr GJ, Gülmezoglu AM, Novikova N, Lawrie TA. Postpartum misoprostol for preventing maternal mortality and morbidity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 15;7:CD008982. 78
Hofmeyr GJ, Abdel-Aleem H, Abdel-Aleem MA. Uterine massage for preventing postpartum haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 1;7:CD006431. Mathai M, Hofmeyr GJ, Mathai NE. Abdominal surgical incisions for caesarean section. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;5:CD004453. Hofmeyr GJ, Hodnett ED. Antenatal care packages with reduced visits and perinatal mortality: a secondary analysis of the WHO antenatal care trial - Comentary: routine antenatal visits for healthy pregnant women do make a difference. Reprod Health. 2013 Apr 12;10:20. doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-10-20. Cluver C, Novikova N, Hofmeyr GJ, Hall DR. Maternal position during caesarean section for preventing maternal and neonatal complications. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;3:CD007623.
New Research Initiatives The ECHO study (evidence for Contraceptive options and HIV Outcomes). Joined international consortium including World Health Organization, Geneva; FHI 360, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Washington University and Wits Reproductive Health Research Institute, to develop a protocol for a major international trial of the effect of hormonal contraception on HIV acquisition. The GAP (Gentle Assisted Pushing) Study. Protocol approved by Wits HREC and funding approved by World Health Organization. Feasibility and Safety Study of a new device (Odon Device) for assisted vaginal deliveries. Protocol approve by Wits HREC.
Visitors Prof Jim Roberts, University of Philadelphia. Annual Steering Committee meeting of the CAP study
Calcium and Pre-eclampsia Study Steering Committee meeting, Eastern Cape, March 2013
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PERINATAL HIV RESEARCH UNIT (PHRU) – DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS
Director: Professor Glenda Gray
Appointments Dr Neil Martinson was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Faculty member for the Open University of Catalunya, Barcelona for online TB course.
Awards and recognition Professor Glenda Gray was honoured by President Jacob Zuma with the National Order of Mapungubwe for her research on the mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Professor Glenda Gray received Outstanding African Scientist award from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Dr. Neil Martinson was awarded the Faculty of Health Sciences Research award and Sanofi Aventis Advisory Board on Rifapentine. Ms Janan Dietrich received Harvard CFAR Meeting Award, 6 – 7 December 2013, Cape Town and Time off Grant from Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Substantial research grants
Principal Contract Signed Completion Sponsor Name Start Date Investigator Amount date date
USAID - United Gray, Prof GE States Agency (Glenda 38 585 859.00 19-Jan-10 01-Oct-09 31-Mar-13 International Elisabeth) Development
Gray, Prof GE NIH - National (Glenda 20 606 412.00 09-Oct-08 01-Aug-07 31-Dec-13 Institute of Health Elisabeth)
JHU - Johns de Bruyn, Dr G Hopkins University 19 816 620.00 18-Feb-10 01-Oct-09 30-Sep-13 (Guy) - Agency
Martinson, Dr NIH - National 19 807 139.00 04-Dec-06 26-Sep-12 30-Jun-13 N (Neil) Institute of Health
Martinson, Dr RTC - Right to Care 19 618 289.00 13-Jul-12 01-Jan-12 30-Sep-13 N (Neil)
Martinson, Dr NIH - National 18 106 458.50 03-Jul-07 01-Jul-07 31-May-13 N (Neil) Institute of Health
Martinson, Dr Society for Family 15 684 948.00 22-Mar-12 01-Mar-12 29-Sep-13 N (Neil) Health, The
McIntyre, Prof USAID - United JA (James States Agency 12 270 303.08 28-May-07 15-Oct-05 31-Dec-16 Alasdair) International 80
Development
NIAID - National Gray, Prof GE Institute of Allergy (Glenda and Infectious 11 933 083.00 18-Feb-10 01-Jun-10 31-Dec-13 Elisabeth) Diseases of the NIH
Gray, Prof GE NIH - National (Glenda 8 881 626.00 16-Jul-07 01-Mar-08 28-Feb-13 Institute of Health Elisabeth)
Gray, Prof GE NIH - National (Glenda 11 516 954.50 07-Mar-08 01-Jun-08 31-Dec-13 Institute of Health Elisabeth)
Martinson, Dr JHU - Johns 7 493 771.00 22-Oct-10 28-Jul-10 31-May-13 N (Neil) Hopkins University
Gray, Prof GE NIH - National (Glenda 282 112 313.50 01-Jan-07 15-Feb-07 31-Jan-14 Institute of Health Elisabeth)
Significant Local Research Collaborations
Names of main collaborators Institution & Department name Brief activity description
Prof. James McIntyre ANOVA Health Pediatric Treatment trials
Prof. Mark Cotton University of Stellenbosch Pediatric treatment trials
& Tygerberg Hospital
Prof. Gavin Churchyard Aurum Institute HIV Vaccines trials network
Prof. Ian Sanne Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU) AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)
Prof. Helen Rees Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Microbicides Research Institute
Prof Shabir Madhi National Institute for Communicable Pediatric treatment trials Diseases (NICD)
Dr Barbara Laughton University of Stellenbosch Pediatrics Development
Prof Anneke Hesseling University of Stellenbosch Pediatric TB Research
& Desmond Tutu TB Research Center 81
Dr Helena Rabie University of Stellenbosch Pediatric Infectious Diseases
& Tygerberg Hospital
Dr Marvin Hsiao University of Cape Town Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Dr Alex Welte the South African Centre for Epidemiological Research Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis at Stellenbosch University
Drs. Bhavesh Khana, Tanvier National Institute of Communicable TB research Omar, Caroline Tiemessen Disease (NICD) / National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS )
Prof. Linda-Gail Bekker Desmond Tutu TB Centre, TB research Dr. Robin Wood University of Cape Town
Significant International Collaborations
Names of main collaborators Institution Brief activity description
Larry Corey Fred Hutchinson Cancer HIV Vaccines trials network Research Center,
Prof. David Adler University of Rochester, USA Control & prevention of infectious diseases
Prof. Richard Chaisson Johns Hopkins University TB research (Multiple), Baltimore, USA Prof. Sharon Nachman Stony Brook University, USA Pediatric Infectious Diseases Paul Palumbo Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Pediatric HIV Research Center ,USA Prof. Diana Gibb Clinical Trials Unit MRC, Epidemiology & Pediatrics London,UK Prof Abdel Babiker Clinical Trials Unit MRC, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics London,UK Prof. Michael Boivin Michigan University, USA Neurology Prof Louise Kuhn Columbia University, USA Epidemiology Prof. Louis Montaner Wistar Institute,Philadelphia, USA HIV-1 Immunopathogenesis Dr Livio Azzoni Dr Emmanouil Papasavvas Wistar Institute,Philadelphia, USA Pediatrics & Immunology Professor Nigel Klein University College London and Infectious Diseases & Immunology Oxford University, UK Dr Helen Payne University College London and Psychotherapy Oxford University, UK Prof. Deenan Pillay University College London, UK Virology – HIV drug resistance Prof David Cooper The Kirby Institute for infection Antiretroviral therapy research and immunity in society, Australia Dr Robert Siliciano Johns Hopkins University, USA Immunology Drs. Andrea Ciaranello, Elena Harvard school of Public health / Antiretroviral therapy research, Orthopedics Losina, Carolina Rusu and Julie Massachusetts General Hospital and Arthritis and Epidemiology Levison Other International Collaborations
North Carolina University
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Institute for Public Health, Mexico
Staff and Student participation in Congress
Conference / session chairing Dr. Neil Martinson was a Co-Chair of the 2013 TRAC-B ICASA Conference, 7-11 December 2013, Cape Town, South Africa. Dr Lerato Mohapi was a Co-chair ‘First Line Treatment in Africa’ session at the 17th ICASA Conference, 7 – 11 December 2013, Cape Town, South Africa. Oral Presentations Gray G. Efficacy trials in South Africa: Factors affecting vaccine induced immune response in HIV clinical trials. Keystone symposium on HIV vaccines. Colorado, USA. 10-14 February 2013. Gray G. What have we learnt from RV144 – Where to from here. Are anti-body immunogens ready for prime time? SA Science Symposium. Johannesburg, South Africa. 8 April 2013. Gray G. HIV vaccines current state of play. SHIP stakeholder conference. Cape Town, South Africa, 22-23 April 2013. Gray G. The effect of behavioural interventions to reduce incidence: results from randomised trials (Project Accept/HPTN0435). HVTN Full Group Meeting. Washington DC, USA. 7-9 May 2013. Gray G. State of the art of findings on HIV vaccines. 7th IAS Conference on HIV pathogenesis TX & Prevention. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 30 June -3 July 2013. Gray G. New development in HIV - The research agenda. MPH/MSC paediatric HIV module. Johannesburg. 29 July -2 August 2013. Gray G. Emerging clinical trial data. AIDS vaccine annual meeting. Barcelona, Spain. 7-10 October 2013. Gray G. HIV vaccines - Where are we in 2013. 10th Annual congress on vaccinology. Cape Town, South Africa. 13-15 October 2013. Gray G. Expansion into Southern Africa and the road to licensure. HVTN Conference. Cape Town, South Africa. 22-25 October 2013. Gray G. An update on HIV vaccine research. MTN Regional Meeting.. Cape Town, South Africa. 26-31 October 2013 Gray G. Opportunities for African investigators to advance HIV research. Grant writing workshop for early career investigators in HIV Research. Cape Town. 6 December 2013. Martinson N A. Commentary: Preventive Treatment against TB in Pregnancy. Scientific Agenda Workshop III. ACTG Leadership Retreat November 18, 2013, Washington DC, USA. Martinson N A. TB Transmission in Resource Limited Settings and Obstacles to Elimination. 6th International Clinicians Course for TB/HIV in South Africa, 14 November 2013, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Martinson N A. Household contact tracing for TB and HIV. Symposium on Contact investigation: Operational research to increase case detection and improve the safety of shared air. 44 Union Conference on Lung Health, 3 November 2013, Paris. France. Martinson N A. Infectious TB in adults dying at home: A pilot study in North West Province, South Africa. K-RITH – NIH MRC Research Summit, Durban South Africa, 17-18 June 2013. Martinson N A. DFID Southern African Round Table Discussion on Regional Health Strategy, Cape Town South Africa, 25 September 2013 Martinson N A. TB Epidemiology, PhD Lecture, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 17 July 2013 Martinson N A. DFID Southern African Round Table Discussion on Regional Health Strategy, Cape Town South Africa, 25 September 2013 Violari A. Safety and efficacy of darunavir/ritonavir in treatment-experienced pediatric patients: Week 48 results of the ARIEL trial. 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis Treatment & Prevention. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 30-03 July 2013 Violari A. Treating children with HIV, when to start and with what? Residential Course Programme. 12-13 June 2013, Eastern Cape, South Africa Laher F, Lebina L, Otwombe K, Mukudu H, Essien T, Gray G, Martinson N. Circumcision of HIV-infected males at a programme in Soweto, South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference. ICC Durban. 18 – 21 June 2013. 83
Laher F, Hornschuh S, Makongoza M, Dietrich J. A qualitative study of antiretroviral treatment adherence amongst adolescents and young adults in Soweto, South Africa. 7th SAHARA Conference, Dakar, Senegal 07-10 October 2013. Laher F, Tutu-Gqashe T, Mohapi L, Otwombe K. Causes and predictors of early mortality in adults who present for treatment with CD4 count <50cells/mm3 in Soweto, South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference. ICC Durban. 18 – 21 June 2013.
Poster presentations Lebina L, Masonoke K, Rakgokong M, Variava B, Golub J, Chaisson R, Martinson N. Latent TB surveillance in school children and contact tracing in Motlosana, North West Province, South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference. ICC Durban. 18 – 21 June 2013. Otwombe K, Laher F, Tutu-Gxashe T, Gray G, Mohapi L. The effect of a maturing antiretroviral program on early mortality for patients with advanced immune-suppression in Soweto, South Africa. 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013). Atlanta, USA, 3 – 6 March 2013. Cerwensky K, Laher F, Otwombe K, Churchyard G, Bekker LG, DeRosa S, Nchabeleng M, Mlisana K, Kublin J, Gray G. Predictors of HVTN 503 MRK-AD5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef vaccine induced immune responses. AIDS Vaccine Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 October 2013. Dietrich J, Otwombe K, Heritage T, Coetzee J, Lazarus E, Meyer Z, Laher F. Nurturing a new generation of scientific writers in Soweto, South Africa. Afri-Can Synchronicity Forum, Entebbe, Uganda, 17 – 19 January 2013. Laher F, Hornschuh S, Otwombe K, Mohapi L, Violari A, Gray G. Outcomes of adolescents and young adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Soweto, South Africa. IAS 2013. Available online: http://pag.ias2013.org/Abstracts.aspx?AID=798McIlleron H, Martinson N, Denti P, Mashabela F, Hunt J, Shembe S, Msandiwa R, Velaphi S, Cohn S, Chaisson R, Dooley KE, TSHEPISO Study Team. Effects of maternal tuberculosis treatment on nevirapine concentrations among neonates receiving nevirapine for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. 7th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis Treatment & Prevention. Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia, 30-03 July 2013. Hoffmann J, Mashabela F, Msandiwa R, Shembe S, Cohn S, Lala S, Chaisson, RE, Martinson N, TSHEPISO Study Team. Infant Feeding among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women with and without TB and Their Infants in Soweto, South Africa. 6th SA AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa, 18-21 June 2013.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop PHRU Community Advisory Board (CAB) hosted a conference on ‘strengthening community engagement in medical research’ on 03 – 05 December 2013 in Johannesburg. During the conference, training was provided to CAB members to develop/enhance their skills in basic statistics and understanding research reports and/ publications.
Significant Publications Boyd M A, Kumarasamy N, Moore C L, Nwizu C, Losso M H, Mohapi L, Martin A, Kerr S, Sohn A H, Teppler H, Van de Steen O, Molina J M, Emery S, Cooper D A and SECOND-LINE Study Group. (2013). Ritonavir-boosted lopinavir plus nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors versus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir plus raltegravir for treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults with virological failure of a standard first-line ART regimen (SECOND-LINE): A randomised, open-label, non-inferiority study SECOND-LINE Study Group* Summary. Lancet 2013; 381(9883): 2091–9. wits-2014-001656. Cotton M F, Violari A, Otwombe K, Panchia R, Dobbels E, Rabie H, Josipovic D, Liberty A, Lazarus A, Innes S, Janse van Rensburg A, Pelser W, Truter H, Madhi S, Handelsman E, Jean-Phillipe P, McIntyre JA, Gibb DM, Babiker AG. (2013). Early time-limited antiretroviral therapy versus deferred therapy in South African infants infected with HIV: results from the children with HIV early antiretroviral CHER randomised trial. The Lancet online paper. wits-2014-001690. Fogel J M, Wang L, Parsons T L, Ou S S, Piwowar-Manning E, Chen Y, Mudhune V O, Hosseinipour MC, Kumwenda J, Hakim J G, Chariyalertsak S, Panchia R, Sanne I, Kumarasamy N, Grinsztejn B, Makhema J, Pilotto J, Santos B R, Mayer K H, McCauley M, Gamble T, Bumpus N N, Hendrix C W, Cohen M S, Eshleman S H. (2013). Undisclosed antiretroviral drug use in a multinational clinical trial (HIV Prevention Trials Network 052). J Infect Dis. 208(10):1624-8. PMCID: PMC3805242. 84
Gray G E, Michael N L. 2013. Cautious optimism for HIV vaccine science. Curr Opin HIV AIDS., 8(5):367-8. wits- 2014-001714. Hoffmann C J, Variava E, Rakgokong M, Masonoke K, van der Watt M, Chaisson R E, Martinson N A. (2013). High Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis but Low Sensitivity of Symptom Screening among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in South Africa. PLoS One. 2013; 8(4): e62211., 2013 April 17, PMCID: PMC3629105. wits-2014-001587. Katz I T, Nkala B, Dietrich J, Wallace M, Bekker L G, Pollenz K, Bogart L M, Wright A A, Tsai A C, Bangsberg D R, Gray G E. (2013). A Qualitative Analysis of Factors Influencing HPV Vaccine Uptake in Soweto, South Africa among adolescents and their caregivers. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 30;8(8):e72094. wits-2014-001705. Laeyendecker O, Piwowar-Manning E, Fiamma A, Kulich M, Donnell D, Bassuk D, Mullis C E, Chin C, Swanson P, Hackett J Jr, Clarke W, Marzinke M, Szekeres G, Gray G, Richter L, Alexandre M W, Chariyalertsak S, Chingono A, Celentano D D, Morin S F, Sweat M, Coates T, Eshleman S H. (2013). Estimation of HIV incidence in a large, community-based, randomized clinical trial: NIMH project accept (HIV Prevention Trials Network 043). PLoS One. Jul 11;8(7):e68349. PMCID: PMC3708944. wits-2014-001543. Lazarus R, Struthers H, Violari A. (2013). Promoting safe infant feeding practices – the importance of structural, social and contextual factors in Southern Africa. J Int AIDS Soc. 16:1803, PMCID: PMC3568174. wits-2014- 001640. Lebina L, Laher F, Mukudu H, Essien T, Otwombe K, Gray G, Martinson N. (2013). Does routine prophylactic oral flucloxacillin reduce the incidence of post-circumcision infections? Am J Infect Control. 41(10):897-900 PubMed - in process wits-2014-001830. Madhi S A, Dittmer S, Kuwanda L, Venter M, Cassim H, Lazarus E, Thomas T, Liberty A, Treurnich F, Cutland C L, Weinberg A, Violari A. (2013). Efficacy and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in HIV-infected children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. AIDS, 27(3):369-79. wits-2014-016832. Madhi S A, Kuwanda L, Venter M, Violari A. (2013). Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Seasonal and H1N1 (2009)-Pandemic Influenza Virus Illnesses in HIV-Infected Children during 2009. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jul 31. [Epub ahead of print]. McCoy S I, Zheng W, Montgomery E T, Blanchard K, van der Straten A, de Bruyn G, Padian NS. (2013). Oral and injectable contraception use and risk of HIV acquisition among women in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS, 27:1001– 1009. wits-2014-001613. Mhlongo S, Dietrich J, Otwombe K N, Robertson G, Coates T J, Gray G. (2013). Factors associated with not testing for HIV and consistent condom use among men in Soweto, South Africa. PLoS One. 2013; 8(5): e62637, May 2013,16 PMCID: PMC3656000. wits-2014-001592. Miller C L, Dietrich J, Nkala B, Palmer A, Hogg R S, Tshabalala C, Makongoza M, Kanters S, Kaida A, Gray G. (2013). Implications for HIV prevention: lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents in urban South Africa are at increased risk of living with HIV. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 32(6):e263-4. PubMed in process. wits-2014-001814. Mujugira A, Magaret A S, Celum C, Baeten J M, Lingappa J R, Morrow R A, Fife K H, Delany-Moretlwe S, de Bruyn G, Bukusi E A, Karita E, Kapiga S, Corey L, Wald A; Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study Team. (2013). Daily Acyclovir to Decrease Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2): Transmission from HSV-2/HIV-1 Coinfected Persons: A randomized controlled trial. J Infect Dis. 208(9):1366-74. PMCID: PMC3789565. Wits-2014- 001888. Otwombe K, Laher F, Tutu-Gxashe T, Gray G and Mohapi L (2013). The effect of a maturing antiretroviral program on early mortality for patients with advanced immune-suppression in Soweto, South Africa. Plos One (In Press). Schnippel K, Rosen S, Shearer K, Martinson N, Long L, Sanne I, Variava E. (2013). Costs of inpatient treatment for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa. Trop Med Int Health., 18(1):109-16. wits-2014-000925. Simani O E, Adrian P V, Violari A, Kuwanda L, Otwombe K, Nunes M C, Cotton M F, Madhi S A. (2013). Effect of in-utero HIV exposure and antiretroviral treatment strategies on measles susceptibility and immunogenicity of measles vaccine. AIDS. 27(10):1583-91. PUBMED in process. wits-2014-001718. Technau K G, Lazarus E, Kuhn L, Abrams E J, Sorour G, Strehlau Renate Reubenson G, Davies M A, Coovadia A. (2013). Poor early virologic performance and Durability of Abacavir-based first-line regimens for HIV-Infected Children. Pediatric Infect. Dis J 32(8): 851-855. wits-2014-001703.
New Research Initiatives
Tuberculosis research and HIV prevention interventions Optimising the Response of Prevention HIV Efficacy in Africa (ORPHEA) 85
- The project is designed to look at cost effectiveness of HIV prevention methods namely; medical male circumcision (MMC), HIV counselling and testing (HCT), pre-mother to-child transmission (PMTCT) in 5 African countries. In South Africa 70 state clinics in KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga have been assessed. Data regarding how these health services are offered and associated costs was collected from health professionals through interviews. Currently data collection has been completed and research team currently doing analysis. Study on Prepex - new device for medical male circumcision - This is a phase d, multisite and non-randomised study assessing the safety, acceptability, and the training requirements of the PrePex Device for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in South Africa. The overall objective of the study is to obtain data to inform the possible implementation of the Prepex male circumcision device to assist the scale up of medical male circumcision in South Africa. The project started in August 2013 and is currently ongoing in three sites; Emalahleni in Mpumalanga, Tsakane and Zuzimpilo in Gauteng. A total of 182 participants have been enrolled across these three sites. Studies on new TB Diagnostic tools - Two studies designed to test the effectiveness of the new automated smear reader for improvement of TB diagnosis were initiated in Klerksdorp site in the reporting period; - BL study – Early Treatment Response in Smear -positive and Smear Negative/GeneXpert Positive Adult TB Patients with HIV Co-infection - BD study - Operational Assessment of a Novel Automated Acid Fast Bacilli Detection Process and Procurement of Sputum Specimens for Resuscitation promoting Factor Study. - Investigators are currently collecting samples in both studies.
Socio-behavioural HIV Research Sex workers project - Launched in October 2013, the Soweto Sex Worker Programme is geared to reducing new incidence of HIV through ensuring human rights based access to healthcare and legal services. Using a strong peer education model, the project provides peer outreach, health and human rights education, violence and risk reduction workshops, community capacity building initiatives, as well as HIV counselling and testing services. The programme aims to cumulatively test 80% of the sex worker reached over a 30 month period. Further to this, the project is preparing to conduct an efficacy and adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for reducing new incidents of HIV amongst sex workers in Soweto. This multiphase,, concurrent mixed-methodology project aims to assess: 1) whether adherence to daily oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) can be optimized through an intervention, 2) correlate adherence to PrEP with efficacy of PrEP in preventing new HIV incidents 3), mechanisms to optimizing adherence, and 4) differences in adherence between this and other PrEP studies. In developing a tailoring intervention, the study will be informed by a preliminary Needs Assessment of Soweto Sex Workers. Our PrEP study will form the basis of a feasibility study for a larger PrEP intervention. Vaccines research HIV Vaccine Research - Pox/protein licensure research - Post the success of RV144 vaccine, the PHRU has collaborated with the HVTN to test and further develop the AIDS VAX/ALVAC regimen. The research team is designing and implementing a series of studies to understand whether the regimen that was successful in Thailand will also be successful in SA. Expanded serotype vaccine research for HPV in young adults - V501 is a nonavalent HPV vaccine that aims to improve coverage for cervical cancer and warts prevention beyond Guardacil which is the current best licenced vaccine product. The study is currently enrolling. Flu vaccine study - This study is comparing the effectiveness of the two registered Flu vaccines, Agrippal and Fluvirm in geriatrics. Though these study products are licenced but they have never been tested in geriatrics. The study is currently at the close-out phase. Paediatrics research Tb vaccines for children - In collaboration with AERAS (AERAS 404/P1113), the paediatrics research group started the IMPAACT P1113 / AERAS C-015-404 Phase I/II, study assessing the Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Protein Tuberculosis Vaccine (Aeras-404) in BCG-Primed Infants.The study is currently at enrollment. 86
In collaboration with the University of Columbia the pediatrics research team also started the project designed to study chronic effects of HIV and Antiretroviral therapy on growth, co-morbidities, and mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA methylation patterns. The study is currently open for enrollment. Community outreach activities – Public promotion of research PHRU research work is supported by long-standing Community Advisory Board that serves as the partner to PHRU. With the support of the CAB the unit remains a leader in community engagement and participation in research. In collaboration with the board the unit continuously creates awareness and educates the community about HIV/AIDS and TB. Investigators use this platform to provide research updates and to promote ongoing research. Outreach activities conducted in the current year includes but not limited to: STI / Condom Week: second week of February – this outreach is aimed at creating STI awareness and promoting condom usage, exploring the relationship between STIs & HIV. Department of Health and local STI clinics also take part in this activity. World TB Day: 24 March - In Soweto and in Klerksdorp where our Tb research centres are based platforms were created where communities were educated about signs & symptoms, services available for Tb, how to control an infection. The community was also encouraged to seek help as early as possible as well as importance of completing treatment. International HIV Vaccines Day: May 18 - This event is a good platform to give the community an update of HIV Vaccines research as well as to acknowledge and appreciate volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to be trial participants. S.A National Youth Day: June 16 – With a theme “Young People Taking HIV back to 1976” meaning that if young people fought apartheid in 1976 they can end the HIV epidemic in the present day. S.A National Women’s Day: August 9 - An acknowledgement that women are at the centre of the epidemic and vulnerable in different ways. We acknowledge women trial participants for their commitment and dedication. World AIDS Day, 01 December - in remembrance of those who have succumbed to the disease and giving hope to those who are infected and affected by the pandemic. Other initiatives in the reporting period HVTN Site expansion Plan - PHRU members of staff (Fatima Mayat, Tebogo Magopane and Anusha Nana) assisted the HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN) representatives with their Site Expansion Plan in the Sub Saharan Africa region. Prof. Gray is spearheading this program. As a well-established HVTN site, we are offering our expertise and making recommendations to assist the newer sites in developing necessary capacity to conduct HIV vaccines research. PHRU – Wits School of Pharmacy experiential learning program - This initiative commenced in April 2013 between PHRU and Wits Pharmacy School. The aim of this initiative is to expose and up skill the student pharmacists with the knowledge and expertise in clinical research pharmacy, especially related to prevention and treatment of HIV and its associated diseases. PHRU hoped to send a strong message enticing young professionals to remain in the service of their communities especially with the challenges faced in South Africa related to HIV as well as shortages of pharmacists nationwide. During the 4 month rotation of experiential learning, four groups of six fourth year pharmacy students spent 4 sessions each at PHRU over a 2 week period. They were provided a theoretical background and then allowed to job shadow through different areas of the PHRU clinic. Also covered was the clinical trial processes, historic events which has led to the inception of the stringent guidelines and the numerous approval processes that must be followed, sending the message that as a health care professional, serving the community, patient and participant safety and care is the most important goal. We have embarked on training these students to highlight the vital role of a clinical research pharmacist and adherence to good clinical and good pharmacy practice. We hope that the ethical and stringent processes that we have exposed them to, will have left a mark and will lay the foundation for well-rounded professionals entering the workplace and that this experience and on-going support from PHRU will create a strong pharmacist network within clinical research pharmacy. Medical Male Circumcision - PHRU has and continues to play a big role in scaling up MMC, in the reporting period new MMC sites were opened in; Tshepong and Potchefstroom in North West, Pelonomi Hospital and Botshabelo in Free State (Picture no.6 & 7).
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Visitors Gates Foundation visited Zuzimpilo clinic to observe the PREPEX, Gate Foundation is the funder of this project. TB Alliance representatives visited Klerksdorp site for TB day activities with CAB. Drs. Richard Chaisson, Dr Jonathan Goloub and Dawdy NM from Johns Hopkins University visited our TB research site. Dr. Thomas Evans, the AERAS CEO visited our vaccines research site. Mitchel Warren, Executive Director of full name (AVAC) visited vaccines research site. Dr. Vicky Cardenas, Director of Epidemiology & Site Feasibilty & Utilization. AERAS visited vaccines research site. Dr. John Parapatt Director: Strategy & Cormecial Excellence visited vaccines research site. Dr Zhongkai Shi, Director Clinical Development – AERAS, visited vaccines research site. HVTN representatives leading the HVTN site expansion in sub-Saharan Africa visited PHRU – PHRU to leads this site expansion.
PULMONARY INFECTION RESEARCH UNIT – DEPARTMENT INTERNAL MEDICINE
Director: Professor Charles Feldman
Appointments Professor Charles Feldman was re-appointed on to the Board of the Medical Research Council (SA) for a second term from November 2013 for a period of three years.
Substantial research grants The following grants were received in 2013: Wits Health Sciences Faculty Research Committee (FRC) – R150, 000. National Research Foundation – R100, 000.
Significant Local collaborations Professor Ronald Anderson, PhD – Emeritus Professor, Medical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology. Dr Helen Steel, PhD – Research Scientist in Professor Anderson’s Unit. Professor Annette Theron, PhD - Associate Professor in Professor Anderson’s Unit. Professor Riana Cockeran, PhD – Professor of Immunology, Department of Immunology, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria. Professor Gregory Tintinger MB BCh, PhD – Professor of Internal Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Significant International collaborations Professor Tim Mitchell PhD – Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biological and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Scotland. This collaboration is related to the work on the pneumococcus, with particular relevance to the studies on the pneumococcus (including genetic studies), pneumolysin, the macrolides, and cigarette smoke condensate. Dr Victor Yu – University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA. This was a multicentre international collaboration with investigators across the world investigating various aspects of pneumococcal bacteraemia, pneumococcal meningitis and cryptococcal infection. The former project is completed and the latter two still have to be written up. Dr Julio Ramirez – Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This is an ongoing multicentre international collaboration with investigators across the world. It has a web (internet)-based case report form and aims at recruiting and investigating various aspects of the management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia across the world. Professor Grant Waterer – Perth, Australia and Dr Richard Wunderink, USA. This is a multicentre international collaboration including Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Spain and is investigating genetic factors predisposing to community-acquired pneumonia. 88
The ICON Group – This is a group of investigators outside of Europe and North America, brought together under an educational grant from Glaxo-Smith Kline. The current Chairperson of this group is Grant Waterer. This study group is involved in the investigation of various aspects of COPD. The first project was completed and published in 2012. The second project under the auspices of ICON is currently underway.
Participation in Congresses/workshops Professor Charles Feldman was active at the American Thoracic Society Congress, Philadelphia, USA, 17 – 22 May 2013, having both invited and abstract presentations, at the South African Thoracic Society (SATS) Combined Congress, Sun City, South Africa, 5 – 9 June, 2013, with invited and abstract presentations and at the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine Congress, Durban, South Africa, 28 August – 1 September, 2013, with invited presentations. His submitted abstract presentation at SATS on the effect of cigarette smoke condensate on pneumococcal biofilm formation and was awarded the “Best Congress Presentation Award” by the South African Thoracic Society.
Significant Publications Feldman C, Anderson R. Cigarette smoking and mechanisms of susceptibility to infections of the respiratory tract and other organ systems. J Infect 2013; 67(3): 169 – 184. IF 4.073 Feldman C, Anderson R. HIV- associated bacterial pneumonia. Clin Chest Med 2013; 34(2): 205 – 216. IF 2.066. Tintinger G R, Anderson R, Feldman C. Pharmacological approaches to regulate neutrophil activity. Semin Immunopathol 2013; 35(4): 395 – 409. IF 5.379. Brink AJ, Coetzee J, Corcoran C, Clay C G, Hari-Makkan D, Jacobson R K, Richards G A, Feldman C, Nutt L, van Greune J, Deetlefs J D, Swart K, Devenish L, Poirel L, Nordmann P. Emergence of OXA-181 carbapenemases among Enterobacteriaceae in South Africa and evidence of in vivo selection of colistin resistance as a consequence of selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51(1): 369 – 372. IF 4.068. Mutepe N D, Cockeran R, Steel H C, Theron A J, Mitchell TJ, Feldman C, Anderson R. Effects of cigarette smoke condensate on pneumococcal biofilm formation and pneumolysin. Eur Respir J 2013; 41(2): 392 – 395. IF 6-355. Arnold F W, Wiemken T L, Peyrani P, Mirsaeidi M, Ramirez J A, Community Acquired Pneumonia Organization (CAPO) Study Group. Outcomes of females hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia are worse than in males. Eur Respir J 2013; 41(5): 1135 - 1140. IF 6.355.
SOWETO CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH UNIT – DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE Director: Professor Karen Sliwa
Substantial research grants/ funding National Research Foundation (ID No. 86823), Mozambique/South African Research Cooperation Programme (2013 – 2015). Australian Government Centre of Excellence NHMRC 1044897. Grant on Reducing Heart Disease/ PROTECT AFRICA Study (2013 – 2017). National Research Foundation (ID No. 86823), Mozambique/South Africa Research Cooperation Programme on Pulmonary Hypertension (2013 – 2015).
Participation in Congresses/Workhops Professor Karen Sliwa gave three invited lectures: - Contemporary epidemiology of the heart; - Managing advanced cardiovascular disease in pregnancy at Groote Schuur Hospital - A general lecture on peripartum cardiomyopathy Writing Retreat held on 9 and 10 September 2013 Dr Kim Lamont and Mrs Sandra Pretorius attended a Wits Writing Retreat held at Whispering Pines outside Magaliesburg. The retreat was led by Prof Shane Norris from the Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU). Prof Nigel Crowther, Prof John Pettifor and Dr Lisa Micklesfield were also present, as mentors for the group, as well as postgraduate students from Prof Norris’s unit. The purpose of the retreat was to assist each person attending to produce a publication towards October 2013.
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Publications Tibazarwa K, Sliwa K, Wonkam A, Mayosi BM. Peripartum cardiomyopathy and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: a tale of two cases. Cardiovasc J Africa. 2013;24:e4-e7. Halkein J, Tabruyn P, Riche-Hoch M, Sliwa K, Struman N, et al. MicroRNA-146a is a therapeutic target and biomarker for peripartum cardiomyopathy. J Clin Invest 2013. www.jci.org/articles/view/64365. Sliwa K, Mayosi BM. Recent advances in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognosis of acute heart failure and cardiomyopathy in Africa. Heart Online. First, published on May 16, 2013 as 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-303592. Bachelier-Walenta K, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Sliwa K. Acute heart failure: Is it peripartum cardiomyopathy or not? Obstetric Medicine 2013; 6:42-44. Kratz MT, Schumacher H, Sliwa K, et al. Heart rate and blood pressure interactions in the development of erectile dysfunction in high-risk cardiovascular patients. Eur Journal of Preventative Cardiol. 2013. DOI: 10.1177/2047487313494835. Haghikia A, Podewski E, Libhaber E, Sliwa K, et al. Pheonotyping and outcome on contemporary management in a German cohort of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Basic Research in Cardiology, 2013;108:366. Sliwa K, Damasceno A, Mayosi BM. Non-commicable diseases in developing countries: Focus on research capacity building – reply. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Jun 10; 173(11):1031-2. Ojji D, Stewart S, Ajayi S, Manmak M, Sliwa K. A predominance of hypertensive heart failure in the Abuja Heart Study cohort of urban Nigerians: A prospective clinical registry of 1515 denovo cases Eur J Heart Fail Advanced Access, published April 23 2013, doi: 10.1093/eurjhf/hft061. Sliwa, K, Davison BA, Mayosi BM, Damasceno, Sani M, Ogah O, Mondo C, Ojji D, Dzudie AS, Kouam Kouam C, Suliman A, Schrueder N, Yonga G, Ba SA, Maru F, Alemayehu B, Edwards C, Cotter G. Readmission and death after acute heart failure event: predictors and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: results from the THESUS-HF registry. Eur Heart J, 2013, doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/eht393.
DIVISION OF RADIOLOGY – DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Awards/Recognition Professor Savvas Andronikou: Honorary membership to the Society for Paediatric Radiology (North America) 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou: Board Member World Federation of Paediatric Imaging 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou Chairman Outreach World Federation of Paediatric Imaging. Professor Savvas Andronikou: ISR International Committee of Radiology Education – TB imaging. Professor Savvas Andronikou Chairman of the South African Society of Paediatric Imaging (SASPI): 2012 – 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou President of the African Society of Paediatric Imaging 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou: President of the College of Radiologists of South Africa 2012 – 2015. Professor Savvas Andronikou: Editorial Board ‘Paediatric Radiology’ Journal. Professor Savvas Andronikou: member of ISR International Committee of Radiology Education 2012 – 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou: member of ISR 2014 congress committee 2013. Professor Savvas Andronikou was also a visiting Professor at the following Institutions: - Children’s hospital Philadelphia May 2013. - Stanford; Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital USA May 2013. - Toronto Hospital for Sick Children May 2013. - Columbia Medical Centre New York May 2013. - Kansas / Missouri University December 2013. Professor Victor Mngomezulu: member of the delegation representing the RSSA at the European Congress of Radiology March 2013. Professor Victor Mngomezulu: Senator of the College of Radiologists of South Africa. Dr Jaishree Naidoo: Board Member WFPI representing South Africa. Dr Jaishree Naidoo: Vice-chair of the South African Society of Paediatric Imaging (SASPI) 2012 – 2013. Dr Jaishree Naidoo: Chair of the South African Society of Paediatric Imaging (SASPI). Dr LT Hlabangana: Councillor of the College of Radiologists of South Africa. 90
Dr LT Hlabangana: Communications Officer of African Society of Paediatric Imaging 2013. Dr LT Hlabangana: Chairperson of RSSA NHI subcommittee. Dr Nasreen Mahomed Member of the WHO Radiology Working Group and WHO certified in paediatric CXR readings for vaccine studies. Dr Nasreen Mahomed. (One of only 4 radiologists from the world on this 60 member PCV committee): Invited and attended the WHO Short and Long-term Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) Impact Evaluation meeting in Geneva, September 2013. Professors Victor Mngomezulu, Savvas Andronikou, Dr LT Hlabangana and Dr G Rubin are examiners for College of Radiologists of South Africa.
Significant Local research collaborations KIDCRU / CHER and Radiology University of Stellenbosch: FA as a marker for White Matter Abnormalities in Children with HIV on ART: Christelle Ackermann, Savvas Andronikou, Muhammad G. Saleh, Alkathafi A. Alhamud, Els Dobbels, Andre van der Kouwe, Barbara Laughton, Ernesta M. Meintjes. KIDCRU / CHER and Radiology University of Stellenbosch: White Matter Signal Abnormalities in Children with suspected HIV-related Neurological Disease on combination antiretroviral therapy. Christelle Ackermann, Savvas Andronikou, Barbara Laughton, Els Dobbels, Steve Innes, Ronald van Toorn, Mark Cotton. University College London: Detection of Abnormal Airway Variation in CT Scans Related to Paediatric Tuberculosis. Benjamin Irving, Pierre Goussard, Savvas Andronikou, Robert Gie, Tania S. Douglas, Andrew Todd-Pokropek, and Paul Taylor. Paediatric Pulmonology; University of Stellenbosch: Ongoing projects on children with lymphobronchial TB in collaboration with dr Pierre Goussard and Prof Robert Gie by Drs Susan Lucas, Ahmed Krim, Dewald Bester, Heleen Hanekom. Child Health UCT: Ongoing projects on children with TB in collaboration with Prof Heather Zar by Drs Leisha Rajkummar, Thandi Buthelezi and Gregory Baker. UCT Biomedical Engineering: Effects of Motion Corrupted Volumes on DTI Findings between HIV-Infected and Healthy Children. Muhammad G. Saleh, Alkathafi A. Alhamud, Christelle Ackermann, Savvas Andronikou, Barabara Laughton, Andre J.W. van der Kouwe, Ernesta M. Meintjes. Department of Child Health, UCT and Red Cross Children’s Hospital UCT. Limited Chest MRI for Detection of Intrathoracic Lymphadenopathy in Children with Suspected TB. Tanyia Pillay, Savvas Andronikou, Sabien Belard, Heather Zar.
Significant International research collaborations Children’s Hospital Philadelphia: Clinical and Imaging Features of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex / Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney: A Unique Genetic Disorder. Susan J Back, Savvas Andronikou, Tracy Kilborn, Bernard Kaplan, Kassa Darge. Children’s Hospital Philadelphia: Recognizing the ‘Nutmeg’ Lung on Fetal MRI - a sign of congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia. T Victoria, S Andronikou. World Federation of Paediatric Imaging: Audit of volunteer telereporting for Khayelitsha clinic. Rachel Griggs, Savvas Andronikou, Maria Ines Boechat. World Federation of Paediatric Imaging International collaboration: Mini-symposium: WFPI activity offering paediatric imaging to the developing world - Co-ordinator: Savvas Andronikou. Imaging the World, USA and UCLA, USA, Red X Children’s hospital, South Africa, World Federation of Paediatric Imaging: Mediastinal Bedside Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool for Childhood Tuberculosis. Sabine Bélard, Washiefa Isaacs, Kara-Lee Pool, Savvas Andronikou, Heather Zar , Brian Garra, Dorothy Bulas, Maria Ines Boechat. Karolinska University, Sweden, University of Cape Town: Comparison of three major hospital trauma-imaging referrals and findings: South Africa- Sweden collaboration. Souzana Bellou, Susan Lucas, Savvas Andronikou, Matts Beckman, Jeanine Owen, Steven Beningfield, Anders Sundin, Victor Mngomezulu. Medecins Sans Frontiers: Quality Assessment of X-rays Interpreted via Teleradiology for Médecins Sans Frontières. Saskia Spijker, Savvas Andronikou, Cara Kosack, Richard Wootton, Maryline Bonnet, Nathalie Lemmens. Harvard and University of Toronto: New Paediatric Neuroimaging Handbook: S Andronikou, S Prabhu, S Blaser. 91
Derek Harwood-Nash International Fellowship in Paediatric Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital (USA), affiliated with Harvard University – Dr Nasreen Mahomed, April - June 2013. The Second International Training Workshop on Ultrasound Therapy of Tumours: Prof Victor Mngomezulu and Dr Colin J van Rensburg; delegates sent by Gauteng Provincial Government and Wits University, July 2013.
Staff and student participation in congresses Assessment of the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting operability and tumour stage in Wilms’ tumours (Nephroblastomas), when correlated with surgical findings and histopathology – Dr T Pillay – ESPR Congress Budapest June 2013. The role of MRI in the management of post-traumatic pancreatic pseudocysts in children – Dr T Pillay – ESPR Congress Budapest June 2013. Radiology-A South African Experience – Dr Nasreen Mahomed, Boston Children’s Hospital – Radiology Department-June 2013. Corpus Callosum Thickness on MRI as a Surrogate Marker of Brain Volume in Children with HIV and its Correlation with Developmental Scores and Clinical Parameters – Savvas Andronikou, The Society for Paediatric Radiology 56TH Annual Meeting May 15-18, 2013, San Antonio, Texas. Chest X-Ray Findings in HIV Infected Children Starting HAART at a Tertiary Institution in South Africa – Dr Nasreen Mahomed, The Society for Paediatric Radiology 56TH Annual Meeting May 15-18, 2013, San Antonio, Texas. HIV-related cerebrovascular disease: the South African experience – Professor V Mngomezulu European Congress of Radiology, March 2013, Vienna, Austria. Introduction of a pictorial poster with a “crash course” for the improvement of the quality of paediatric chest radiographs in an unsupervised unit – Dr LT Hlabangana – International Forum for Quality and Safety in Health Care, London, UK, 16 – 19 April 2013. Africa Health Congress 7 – 9 May 2013, Dr LT Hlabangana and Dr ML Kemp invited speakers–Wits boycotted the congress due to unlawful detention of Prof Karabus in UAE. Focal TB Lesions of the Brain [Neuro-TB Imaging], Prof. Savvas Andronikou, Arab Health Congress 2012, 12th Middle East Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Conference, 23-25 January 2012 (Invited). Reading the MRI of the brain in children - for beginners and advanced Prof. Savvas Andronikou, Arab Health Congress 2012, 12th Middle East Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Conference, 23-25 January 2012 (Invited). Imaging Pediatric Anatomy, Prof. Savvas Andronikou, Arab Health Congress 2012, 12th Middle East Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Conference, 23-25 January 2012 (Invited). Reading the CXR of the newborn, Professor Savvas Andronikou, Here Be Lungs, Lanzerac 16 – 17 February 2012 (Invited). Indications for chest CT and MR scans in neonates & infants, Professor Savvas Andronikou, Here Be Lungs, Lanzerac 16 – 17 February 2012 (Invited). Paediatric imaging guidelines, Professor S Andronikou, Update CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, 9 – 11 March 2012 (Invited). Imaging in paediatric tuberculosis and HIV, Professor S Andronikou, Update CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, 9 – 11 March 2012 (Invited). Challenges imaging children in developing countries, Professor Savvas Andronikou, 2nd Pan African Radiology Conference 3-6 April 2012, Biblioteca Alexandrina, Alexandria (Invited). Imaging pediatric orbital conditions, Professor Savvas Andronikou, 2nd Pan African Radiology Conference 3-6 April 2012, Biblioteca Alexandrina, Alexandria (Invited). Beginners guide to imaging the pediatric brain, Professor Savvas Andronikou, 2nd Pan African Radiology Conference 3-6 April 2012, Biblioteca Alexandrina, Alexandria (Invited). Pediatric imaging anatomy, Professor Savvas Andronikou, 2nd Pan African Radiology Conference 3-6 April 2012, Biblioteca Alexandrina, Alexandria (Invited). CT in Abdominal Trauma: Radiation Dose Considerations, Professor S Andronikou, 7th Nordic Trauma Radiology Course, Biomedicum, Helsinki May 21- 24, 2012 (Invited). Special Considerations for Pediatric Skeletal Trauma, Professor S Andronikou, 7th Nordic Trauma Radiology Course, Biomedicum, Helsinki May 21- 24, 2012 (Invited). Registrar intervention for better after-hours interpretation of CT, Professor S Andronikou, 7th Nordic Trauma Radiology Course, Biomedicum, Helsinki May 21- 24, 2012 (Invited). 92
Tuberculosis from Alpha to Omega, Professor S Andronikou, JESPeR lecture 35th Postgraduate Course, European Society of Paediatric Imaging, Athens, May 28- 29, 2012 (Invited). Computed Tomography demonstration of the complications and associations of lymphobronchial Tuberculosis in children. Susan Lucas, Savvas Andronikou, Pierre Goussard, Robert Gie, 49th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology, Athens 30thMay - 1st June 2012 (Invited). Corpus callosum thickness on MRI as a surrogate marker of white matter volume in children with HIV and its correlation with developmental scores, Savvas Andronikou, Christelle Ackermann, Barbara Laughton, Els Dobbels, Steve Innes, Reghana Taliep, Ronald van Toorn, Mark Cotton, Bruce Spottiswoode, John Pettifor, 49th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology 30th may- 1st June 2012 (Invited). Adequacy of paediatric renal tract ultrasound requests and reports, Nishentha Govender, Savvas Andronikou, Matthew Goodier, 49th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology, Athens 30th may- 1st June 2012 (Invited). An Approach To Paediatric X-Rays For The Diagnosis Of TB, Prof Savvas Andronikou, The South African Paediatric Association (SAPA), Bana Pele, Polokwane, 22nd – 26th August 2012. What is new in chest imaging? Professor Savvas Andronikou, South African Thoracic Society of SA COPICON Congress, Sun City, 29 August – 2 September 2012. New MRI sequences- what they are and what they show, Professor Savvas Andronikou, CUT Radiography Seminar: Spring Clean for a Change, Japie van Lill Auditorium, CUT campus, Bloemfontein, 31 August – 1sr September 2012 (Invited). Task shifting / role extension of radiographers for reading paediatric CXR for TB in clinics, Prof. Savvas Andronikou, CUT Radiography Seminar: Spring Clean for a Change, Japie van Lill Auditorium, CUT campus, Bloemfontein, 31 August – 1st September 2012 (Invited). Optimising CT Dose in children, Professor Savvas Andronikou, RSSA / SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, Sandton 9-11 November 2012 (Invited). CNS infection in children in South Africa – whats new? Professor Savvas Andronikou, RSSA / SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, Sandton 9-11 November 2012 (Invited). Assessment of the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting operability and tumour stage in Wilms’ tumours (Nephroblastomas), when correlated with surgical findings and histopathology – Dr T Pillay, RSSA / SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, Sandton 9-11 November 2012. Chest X-Ray Findings in HIV Infected Children Starting HAART at a Tertiary Institution in South Africa – Dr Nasreen Mahomed, RSSA / SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, Sandton 9-11 November 2012. Invited Speaker: Radiology society of Ethiopia CME course. Dec 8 2012 Savvas Andronikou. - Lectures to Radiology department: (Neonatal ICU interpretation; Paediatric Intracranial infections; Paediatric anatomy; HIV / TB co-infection). - Lectures for Radiology Society CME: (How to read an MRI of a child’s Brain; Dose reduction in fluoroscopy). Invited speaker: European TB Network. International Meeting on Childhood Tuberculosis (March 22th – 23th, 2013 - Padova) Italy. Savvas Andronikou: The diagnostic role of imaging in paediatric tuberculosis. Invited speaker 6th Annual SPR Education Summit Educational Issues Worldwide. The Society for Paediatric 56TH Annual Meeting May 15-18, 2013, San Antonio, Texas. Unique Issues in Africa. Savvas Andronikou. Invited Speaker Radiological Society of North America Educational Programs Around the World: An International Forum Sunday, December 1, 2013: Professor Andronikou. Invited speaker Radiological Society of North America ‘Resident and Fellows Interested in International Outreach Exchange’. Hosted by the ACR RFS International Outreach Subcommittee, December 4th 2013: Professor Andronikou. External Examiner for Ethiopian final radiology exit examinations 6TH December 2012. Savvas Andronikou.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop RSSA / SASPI Paediatric Imaging Congress, Sandton 9-11 November 2012 (Savvas Andronikou - Organizing Committee, Dr Jaishree Naidoo – Scientific Committee Chair). Outreach paediatric imaging training: Tanyia Pillay; Jaishree Naidoo, Savvas Andronikou through SASPI. Protocol development workshop – (endorsed by Colleges of Radiology, CMSA) (x3): Susan Lucas, Tebogo Hlabangana, Savvas Andronikou, Noleen Gordon.
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Publications Goussard P, Gie RP, Kling S, Andronikou S, Lucas S, Janson J, Roussouw G. Bronchoscopic assessment of airway involvement in children presenting with clinically significant airway obstruction due to tuberculosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013 Oct;48(10):1000-7. [IF: 2.38]. Andronikou S, Irving B, Hlabangana L T, Pillay T, Taylor P, Goussard P, Gie R. Technical developments in postprocessing of paediatric airway imaging. Pediatr Radiol. 2013 Mar;43(3):269-84. [IF: 1.57]. Dekker G, Andronikou S, Greyling J, Louw B, Brandt A. Contrast meals and malrotation in children-metal markers for improved accuracy. Pediatr Radiol. 2013 Jan;43(1):115-8. [IF: 1.57]. Andronikou S, van Wyk M J, Goussard P, Gie RP. Left main bronchus compression as a result of tuberculous lymphnode compression of the right-sided airways with right lung volume loss in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012 Nov 28. [IF: 2.38]. Lucas S, Andronikou S, Goussard P, Gie R. CT features of lymphobronchial tuberculosis in children, including complications and associated abnormalities. Pediatr Radiol. 2012 Aug;42(8):923-31. [IF: 1.57]. Kufa T, Mngomezulu V, Charalambous S, et al. Undiagnosed tuberculosis among HIV clinic attendees: association with antiretroviral therapy and implications for intensified case finding, isoniazid preventive therapy, and infection control. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes. 2012 Jun 1;60(2):e22-8. [IF: 4.65]. Peprah KO, Andronikou S, Goussard P. Characteristic magnetic resonance imaging low T2 signal intensity of necrotic lung parenchyma in children with pulmonary tuberculosis. J Thorac Imaging. 2012 May;27(3):171-4. [IF: 1.26]. Terreblanche O D, Andronikou S, Hlabangana L T, Brown T, Boshoff P E. Should registrars be reporting after- hours CT scans? A calculation of error rate and the influencing factors in South Africa. Acta Radiol. 2012 Feb 1;53 (1):61-8. [IF: 1.33]. Govender N, Andronikou S, Goodier M D. Adequacy of paediatric renal tract ultrasound requests and reports in a general radiology department. Pediatr Radiol. 2012 Feb;42 (2):188-95. [IF: 1.57]. Von Bezing H, Andronikou S, Van Toorn R, Douglas T. Are linear measurements and computerized volumetric ratios determined from axial MRI useful for diagnosing hydrocephalus in children with tuberculous meningitis? Childs Nerv Syst. 2012 Jan;28 (1):79-85. [IF: 1.24]. Andronikou. See Right Through Me. An imaging anatomy atlas: Springer Verlag. 2012 (Chief Editor). Andronikou S. Doc Andy and the X-ray team (A children’s picture book about X-ray procedures. McHugh K and Andronikou S. Chapter: Imaging in Children in Textbook of hospital care for pregnant women and girls, newborn infants and children in poorly resourced countries (Pending print 2013).
New research initiatives A non-invasive and minimally invasive Medicine Research Unit is being planned in collaboration with Chongqing Medical University and HIFU Corporation in China after Professor Victor Mngomezulu and Dr Colin J van Rensburg’s visit in July 2013.
Visitors Professor Kelvin Hong – Johns Hopkins (USA). Dr Souzanna Bellou - Karolinska (Sweden). Professor Kassa Darge - Children’s Hospital Philadelphia (USA).
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
Substantial research grants Medical Research Council Grant – R126 000 for 3 years. Project: “Effect of diuretic therapy on central aortic pulse pressure and the component waveforms in mild-to-moderate hypertensives of African ancestry”. Study in collaboration with Professors Gain Norton and Angela Woodiwiss from the Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit.
Publications Peters F, Khandheria BK, dos Santos C, Matioda H, Maharaj N, Libhaber E, Mamdoo F, Essop MR. Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Clinical and Echocardiographic Perspective. Circulation Imaging 2012, Mar;5(2):187-93. 94
Libhaber E, Norton G, Libhaber C, Woodiwiss A, Candy G, Essop M, Sareli P. Prevalence of residual left ventricular structural changes after one year of antihypertensive treatment in patients of African descent: role of 24-hour pulse pressure. Cardiovasc J Afr 2012; Apr;23(3):147-52. Diar HA, Nakwa FL, Thomas R, Libhaber EN, Velaphi S. Evaluating the QuickRead® C-reactive protein test as a point-of-care test. Pediatrics and International Child Health. 2012;32:35-42. Woodiwiss AJ, Libhaber CD, Libhaber E, Sareli P, Norton GR. Relationship between on-treatment decreases in inappropriate versus absolute or indexed left ventricular mass and increases in ejection fraction in hypertension. Hypertension 2012 Sep;60(3):810-7. Subramaney U, Libhaber E, Pitts N, Vorster M. Personality, depressive symtoms and prior trauma exposure of new recruits at two Metropolitan Police Service academies in South Africa. S Afr J Psych 2012;18(4):176-180. Maharaj N, Khandheria BK, Peters F, Libhaber E, Essop MR. Time to Twist: Marker of Systolic Dysfunction in Africans with Hypertension. Europ Heart J-Cardiovasc Imaging 2013;Apr;14(4):358-65. Maharaj N, Peters F, Khandheria BK, Libhaber E, Essop MR. Left Ventricular Myocardial Mechanics in a normal African Adult population. Europ Heart J-Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 Jun;14(6):526-33. Libhaber CD, Norton GR, Maseko MJ, Majane OH, Millen AM, Maunganidze F, Michel FS, Brooksbank R, Libhaber E, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ. Relationship between inappropriate left ventricular hypertrophy independent of absolute or indexed mass and ejection fraction at a community level. J Hypertens. 2013, Jan;31(1):169-76. Blauwet LA, Libhaber E, Forster O, Tibazarwa K, Mebazaa A, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Sliwa K. Predictors of outcome in 176 South African patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Heart. 2013 Mar;99(5):308-13. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl- 2012-302760. Epub 2012 Oct. Haghikia A, Podewski E, Libhaber E, Labidi S, Fischer D, Roentgen P, Tsikas D, Jordan J, Lichtinghagen R, von Kaisenberg C.S, Struman I, Bovy N, Sliwa K, Bauersachs J. Denise Hilfiker-KleinerPhenotyping and outcome oncontemporary management in a German cohort of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Basic Res Cardiol. 2013;108(4):366. doi: 10.1007/s00395-013-0366-9. Epub 2013 Jun 28.
DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRICS
Substantial research grants
Professor Sithembiso Velaphi received the following grants: GDD Grant from CDC - $150 000, October 2012 – September 2013 (Year 1). - $300 000, October 2013 – September 2014 (Year 2). MRC Grant – R150 000; March 2013 – February 2014.
Staff and student participation in congresses Professor Haroon Saloojee presented at the following conferences: - Social accountability in health science education (invited speaker). 28th International Pediatric Association conference, Melbourne, 28 August 2013. - Promoting excellence in evidence based practice (EBP) in the undergraduate medical curriculum: the Wits experience (poster). 28th International Pediatric Association conference, Melbourne, 24 August 2013. - Getting back on track to meet the child Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Gauteng province, South Africa: achievable and at what cost? (poster). 28th International Pediatric Association conference, Melbourne, 24 August 2013. Professor Antoinette Cilliers presented at the 6th World Congress Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, 17 – 22 February 2013 in Cape Town. Dr Kbashnie Thandrayen received the “New Investigator Award” on the occasion of the 6th International Conference on Children’s Bone Health 22nd-25th June 2013 at Rotterdam, Netherlands for the abstract and oral presentation on “Fracture patterns and bone mass in South African adolescent-mother pairs: The Birth to Twenty cohort”. Professor Peter Cooper Chaired a Pre-Congress Workshop and Congress Symposium on “Transforming Health Education – Responding to the Lancet Commission on Health Professional Training for the 21st Century”.
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Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Professor Haroon Saloojee was the convener of the 4th South African Child Health Priorities Conference, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 31 October – 2 November 2013.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
Staff and student participation in congresses Professors Szabo, Subramaney, Janse van Rensburg, Drs Groenewald and Clark presented at the South African Society of Psychiatrists’ Biological Psychiatry Congress on 29 August – 1 September 2013.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop The Department of Psychiatry hosted its 25th Annual Research Day on the 12th June 2013.
STEVE BIKO CENTRE FOR BIOETHICS
Appointments
Dr Kevin Behrens was promoted to Senior Lecturer.
Awards/Recognition Professor Ames Dhai - Member of the National Health Research Ethics Council. - President of the South African Medical Association (National) for the period 2013 – 2014. Dr Kevin Behrens - Member – Editorial Board of the South African Journal of Bioethics and Law. - Member of the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee. - Member – Editorial Board of Critical Essays: A Graduate Journal of Philosophy. In December 2013, the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics was awarded the title of World Medical Association (WMA) Co-operating Centre. The title, which is for 3 years, acknowledges the academic contributions that the Centre has made to the WMA, with particular regard to the current revision of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Significant international research collaborations The staff of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics were invited by Professor Carl Mitcham, editor of the Ethics in Science, Technology and Engineering: An International Encyclopaedia to contribute to 2nd Edition of the Encylopedia. The revised edition is peer-reviewed and features updated and new material, interpretation of legislation since 2005 and new references. The book is expected to be published in 2014. The following contributions were made: - Ms J Gardner. Responsibility, African Perspectives. - Dr A Egan. Corruption, Science and Technology in Africa - Dr A Egan. Development of Science and Technology in Africa - Dr A Egan. Mining, Development and Ethics in Africa - Dr K Behrens. Digital Divide, African Perspective - Dr K Behrens. Environmental Ethics, African Perspectives - Dr N Tsotsi. Bioethics, African Perspectives - Professor A Dhai. Participated in decisions on content, shape and form, and collaborations related to the 2nd Edition of the Ethics in Science, Technology and Engineering: An International Encyclopaedia. She reviewed and edited entries in her area of and commissioned content, and suggested additional entries. She also participated in the creation of the front and back matter (preface, bibliography and primary source documents). In October, the World Health Organisation published the Report on the Use of Placebos in Vaccine Trials. This report was an outcome of a meeting on the use of placebos in vaccine trials held in January 2013, at which Professor Ames Dhai served as an expert consultant to the WHO. In 2012, Professor Ames Dhai and Prof Eleanor Ross co-supervised the research report of Olga Zvonareva, an MSc Global Health candidate at Maastricht University. The report on the issue of payment of research participants 96
was accepted for publication in Developing World Bioethics, and published 2013. The published article was a collaborative effort between the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics at Wits University and the Department of Health, Ethics and Society at Maastricht University. Professor A Dhai 2012 – 2013 participated in the World Medical Association’s (WMA) revision of the Declaration of Helsinki Working-Group meetings. The Declaration of Helsinki is the most widely recognised guideline on the ethical conduct of research involving human participants and the 2013 revision was adopted at a General Assembly of the (WMA) in October. Following the adoption of the revised Declaration of Helsinki, the WMA awarded the Centre the title of “World Medical Association Cooperating Centre” in recognition the academic contributions to the WMA.
Participation in congresses Dr Anthony Egan. Conscience in Medicine. Ethics Alive, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. Kevin Behrens. Mainstreaming African Ethics into the Bioethics Curriculum. Oral presentation at 2013 UNESCO Chair in Bioethics 9th World Conference, 21 – 23 November 2013 in Naples, Italy. Robyn Fellingham. Humanising Medical Ethics: Reflections on a Bioethics OSCE in a South African Medical School. Oral presentation at 2013 UNESCO Chair in Bioethics 9th World Conference, 21 – 23 November 2013 in Naples, Italy. Ames Dhai and Yolande Guidozzi. Developing Policy for Biobank Research in South Africa: The Wits Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical) Approach. Oral presentation at 2013 UNESCO Chair in Bioethics 9th World Conference, 21 – 23 November 2013 in Naples, Italy. Ames Dhai. Introduction. Roundtable Discussion on Science and Media Ethics by the University of Witwatersrand, South African Science Journalists Association and the Human Science Research Council. University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Ames Dhai. Keynote address – Ethics Consideration and Biobanking. Human Biobank Convention. 03 October 2013. National Health Laboratory Services, Sandringham, Johannesburg. Kevin Behrens. Principlism in Bioethics: Where is the Love?. Wild Coast Philosophy Symposium. 27 April 2013. Cintsa, Eastern Cape.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop The Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics hosts the Faculty’s annual Ethics Alive week. Ethics Alive is a weeklong event that promotes professionalism and ethics in teaching, research and practice of the health sciences. This year the theme was Healthcare Professionals and Social Conscience.
Publications Dhai A, Mahomed S. Biobank Research: Time for Discussion and Debate. SAMJ Apr 2013; 103 (4): 225 – 227. Sathar A, Dhai A, van der Linde Stephan. Collaborative international research: Ethical and regulatory issues pertaining to human biological materials at a South African institutional research ethics committee. Developing World Bioethics 2013: 1 – 8 . Dhai A, Payne-James J. Problems of capacity, consent and confidentiality. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013: 59 – 75. Behrens K and Fellingham R. Great expectations: Teaching ethics to medical students in South Africa. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013: 59 – 75. Developing World Bioethics 2013: 1 – 8. Bajomo AS, Ayo-Yusum OA, Rudolph MJ, Tsotsi NM . Impact of oral lesions among South African adults with HIV/AIDS on the oral health-related quality of life. Journal of Dental Sciences 2013: 1 – 6. Behrens K. Towards an indigenous African bioethics. SAJBL Jun 2013; 6 (1): 32 – 35. Zvonareva O, Engel N, Ross E, Berghmans R, Dhai A, Krumeich A. Engaging diverse social and cultural worlds: Perspectives on benefits in international clinical research from South African Communities. Developing World Bioethics; 2013: 1 – 10. Gostin GO, Friedman EA, Buse K, Waris A, Mulumba M, Joel M, Dare L, Dhai A, Sridharh D. Towards a framework convention on global health. Bull World Health Organ 2013;91:790–793. Porter M, Lownie M, Cleaton-Jones P. Maxillofacial injury: A retrospective analysis of time lapse between injury and treatment in a South African academic maxillofacial and oral surgery unit. SAJS November 2013 51 (4): 138 - 142. 97
Sathar A, Dhai A. Human Biological Material in Collaborative Research: Ethical Issues. 2013; Lambert Academic Publishing. Germany.
New research initiatives Professor Ames Dhai, Adv. Yolande Guidozzi and Dr Norma Tsotsi are members of the University’s Biobanks Ethics Committee (BEC) which was formed in August 2013. The BEC’s mandate is to: - Develop principles, policy and guidelines for the review and approval of applications for the establishment of biobanks; - To review all applications for the establishment of biobanks and to make recommendations to the HREC; and - To review all research using tissue samples and / or associated data from approved biobanks and make recommendations to the HREC. Visitors 2013 Ethics Alive guest lecturer was Dr Jeff Blackmer, Executive Director, Office of Ethics, Professionalism and International Affairs, Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa, ON.
WITS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND HIV INSTITUTE (WRHI) – DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL MEDICINE Director – Professor Helen Rees
Awards/Recognition Professor Rees was awarded the Faculty of Health Sciences Recognition of Dedication and Achievement in Research Award. Professor Rees was appointed Chairperson of the WHO’s African Regional Advisory Committee on Immunisation. Lawrence Mashimbye, Researcher, was featured in the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans 2013. Dr Admire Chikandiwa, Programme Manager for HPV Research, was one of five researchers under 35 to be honoured by the Society for AIDS in Africa.
Significant research grants Wits RHI was awarded in excess of R712,897,135 in grants in 2013, of which R15,576,511 was for research, for varying study durations.
Significant international collaborations HARP – HPV African Partnership – a collaboration between LSHTM, University of Montpellier, University of the Witwatersrand and University of Ougadougou. D4T study – The d4T study is a Phase 3 pivotal study to assess the safety and efficacy of low-dose stavudine (d4T) relative to the current standard preferred therapy, Tenofovir. The aim is to see if lowering dosages will reduce common side effects of d4T and will allow this much cheaper ARV option to be more safely continued as part of the country’s ARV treatment regimens. The study will be implemented in three sites across South Africa, Uganda and India and is being led by Professor Francois Venter and co-ordinated by Wits RHI. STRIVE (formerly Pathways) – RPC to tackle structural drivers of HIV in partnership with LSHTM, MITU, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, ICRW in India and Washington DC. Feasibility of Cash Transfer Interventions in Urban Populations (CHANGE) – collaborations with Johns Hopkins. mHealth – Wits RHI's research around mHealth has a number of foci including three PhD-level research projects. The first looks at the impact of maternal health text messages on new mothers’ behaviour, the second investigates mHealth impact on loss to follow-up compared with standard of care, and the third PhD project focuses on retention to care and adherence of an integrated mHealth support service. Additional mHealth research at Wits RHI includes formative studies to guide our new and ongoing projects, investigating pre- and post-ART adherence, testing the use of mHealth for prevention services by sending supportive information around testing by SMS, using mobile phones to encourage parent engagement in child HPV vaccinations, and other innovative mHealth services that will soon be provided to special/vulnerable populations. Additional research will be conducted around the impact of mHealth in rural settings. 98
ECHO – A planning grant for a clinical trial: a three- or four-arm, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial to evaluate the relative risk of HIV acquisition in women using DMPA, NET-EN, or progestin implants vs. copper IUDs – collaboration with FHI 360. IMPAACT – The International Maternal Paediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Group is a cooperative group of institutions, investigators, and other collaborators organised for the purpose of evaluating potential therapies for HIV infection and its sequelae in the infant, paediatric, adolescent and pregnant women populations. It is a collaborative effort between Contract Laboratory Services and Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (EKSNICHD), NIH.
Participation in Congresses/ Workhops Title Authors Conference Name Place Presentation type
Nevirapine-containing ART Nanda K, Delany-Moretlwe does not reduce combined S, Dubé K, Lendvay A, oral contraceptive Kwok C, Molife L, 3rd International effectiveness: results from Nakubulwa S, Edward V, Workshop on HIV South Africa and Uganda Mirembe F and Women Toronto Poster
Improving the quality of care in South African health facilities using the National Winnie Moleko; Carol- Core Standards, with an Anne Marshall (NDOH); ISQua (Regional Oral emphasis on six priorities Bafana Msibi (NDOH) Meeting) Accra Ghana Presentation
Crook A., Rees H., Ramjee G., Kamali A., Hormonal contraception and Kapiga S., Chisembele M., risk of HIV: An analysis of Gafos M, Nunn A., Hayes Oral data from the MDP301 trial R., & McCoemack S. CROI Atlanta, Georgia Presentation Lee Fairlie, Brad Karalius, Kunjal Patel, Russell Van Characteristics and Dyke, George K Siberry, Management of HAART George R. Seage III, Failure among Perinatally Allison Agwu, Hermann HIV+ Children and Mendez, Rohan Hazra, Adolescents: US and Andrew Wiznia CROI Atlanta, Georgia Poster
Preventing New HIV Infections Among Young African Women: Session Oral Title: When Worlds Collide – Presentation Adolescents and HIV, in at a honour of Ed Handlesman Sinead Delany-Moretlwe CROI Atlanta, Georgia symposium 99
Barnabas R, Baeten JM, Acyclovir prophylaxis Lingappa JR, Thomas KT, reduces the incidence of Hughes JP, Delany- herpes zoster among HIV- Moretlwe S, Gray G, infected individuals: Results Ronald A, Wald A, Celum of a randomised clinical trial CL CROI Atlanta, Georgia
HIV prevention in young women in Sub-Saharan Africa: why is it so difficult Delany-Moretlwe S. CROI Atlanta, Georgia Poster Foreign Technologies / Local Bodies: A Story of a South African Trial. Keynote address: Social Behavioural Change towards Sustainable Jonathan Stadler Arian Prevention of HIV, STIs and van der Straten and 2nd UNISA Oral TB in Africa VOICE C Biennial Pretoria Presentation
8th International Factors Associated with Conference on HIV Adherence to oral and topical Jonathan Stadler, Arian Treatment and (vaginal gel) PrEP in van der Straten and Prevention Oral Johannesburg, South Africa VOICE C Adherence Miami Presentation
Influences on visit retention in the MTN VOICE trial: an HANC Behavioural analysis of qualitative data Jonathan Stadler, Busi Science Working Oral from VOICE C Magazi and VOICE C Group (BSWG) Miami presentation Lee Fairlie, Brad Karalius, Kunjal Patel, Russell Van Characteristics and Dyke, Miguel A Hernan, Management of Highly Active George K Siberry, George Antiretroviral Treatment R. Seage III, Allison Failure among Perinatally Agwu5, Hermann Mendez, HIV-Infected Children and Rohan Hazra, and Andrew Paediatrics Adolescents in the US Wiznia Workshop Kuala Lumpur Poster
Experiences using biometric technology in preventing co- Akpomiemie G, Reddy K, enrolment in multiple Cebekhulu B, Makgoka K, research studies in the Madi M, Ramalo P, Ncube Hillbrow Health Precinct, D, Palanee T, Delany- Health District Johannesburg Moretlwe S, Rees H Conference 2013 Johannesburg Poster 100
Zodidi Kumase, Experience of a targeted Krishnaveni Reddy, Thesla recruitment approach for the Palanee, Maria Masalesa, Microbicide Safety Noxolo Mtabane, Vinodh Biomarkers Study in Hillbrow, Edward, Helen Rees, Health District Johannesburg Sinead Delany-Moretlwe Conference 2013 Johannesburg Poster Krishnaveni Reddy, Sinead Delany-Moretlwe , Nina von Knorring, Thesla Cervical abnormalities in the Palanee, Nkoleleng screened cohort of the Mashilo, Ntombifuthi Microbicide Safety Mnyandu, Helen Rees, Biomarkers study in Hillbrow, Vinodh Edward, Vicky Health District Johannesburg Jespers Conference 2013 Johannesburg Poster
Thesla Palanee, Strategies to Optimise Godspower Akpomiemie, Retention in the Microbicide Mikey Guness, Sinead Trial Networks VOICE Trial in Delany-Moretlwe, Helen Health District Hillbrow, Johannesburg Rees Conference 2013 Johannesburg Poster Cutting the ties that bind: Participant Reactions to the Pranitha Ramchuran, Data and Safety Monitoring Nonkululeko Mashabane, Board Recommendations for Charlene Govender, Early Exit from the VOICE Thesla Palanee, Sinead trial at the Wits Reproductive Delany-Moretlwe; Helen Health District Health and HIV Institute Site Rees Conference 2013 Johannesburg Poster
Findings from the patient file review at Daveyton Main Siphamandla Gumede, Clinic, Ekurhuleni Ben Montoedi, Samanta Metropolitan Municipality Lalla-Edward SAAIDS Durban Poster
Lindiwe Farlane, Petronella Goliath- Reasons for opting out: Soyizwaphi, Mothepane Lessons from an mHealth Phatsoane, Jesse SMS intervention in Coleman & Lwazi Johannesburg’s inner city Mdlopane SAAIDS Durban Poster
Supporting clinicians in complex HIV/TB management: A short course delivering competency with a replicable assessment model A J Edge SAAIDS Durban Poster 101
Mobile Solutions for HIV Diagnosis, Treatment and Patient Support in High Prevalence Settings: L. Mdlopane, N. Naidoo, Implementation of a pilot A. Jaffer, M. Phatsoane, P. mHealth project in the inner Goliath-Soyizwaphi, S. city of Johannesburg Ncube SAAIDS Durban Poster
Setting ART initiation targets: Catherine Martin, Nicolette The importance of Naidoo, Ambereen Jaffer, addressing both steady state Francois Venter, Pierre and backlog Barker SAAIDS Durban Poster
From pilot to scale-up: Implementing an mHealth Jesse Coleman, Nicolette HIV intervention in South Naidoo, Lwazi Mdlopane, Oral Africa Ambereen Jaffer SAAIDS Durban presentation
Impact of an mHealth Nicolette Naidoo, Jesse intervention on CD4 result Coleman, Marcha collection and retention-to- Neethling, Ambereen care outcomes Jaffer SAAIDS Durban Poster
Jesse Coleman, Lindiwe Farlane, Petronella Roll-out of the MAMA South Goliath-Soyizwaphi, Africa text messaging system Ambereen Jaffer SAAIDS Durban Poster
Time to ART initiation in TB/HIV co-infected patients: Nicolette Naidoo and the impact of drug shortages Phelly Matlapeng, on ART outcomes Kerrigan McCarthy SAAIDS Durban Poster Renee Heffron, Deborah Donnell, Nelly Mugo, Connie Celum, Helen Rees, Kenneth Ngure, Edwin Were, James STI & AIDS World Kiarie, and Jared Baeten Congress (Joint Effect of pregnancy on CD4 for the Partners in meeting of the 20th count among antiretroviral- Prevention HSV/HIV ISSTDR & 14th naïve HIV-1-infected women Transmission Study Team IUSTI) Vienna Poster 102
Bacterial species in the vaginal microbiome Hardy L, Jespers V, correlated by Nugent score: Menten J, Verhelst R, cross-sectional data from the Mwaura M, Delany- Microbicide Safety Moretlwe S, Ndayisaba G, Biomarkers Study in Kenya, Vaneechoutte M, van de Rwanda, and South Africa Wijgert J, Crucitti T 20th ISSTDR Vienna Poster There is need for multipurpose prevention Mwaura M, Hardy L, technologies targeting HIV Delany-Moretlwe S, and common reproductive Ndayisaba G, Mandaliya tract infections: Data from the K, Verhelst R, Verstraelen Microbicide Safety H, van de Wijgert J, Biomarkers Study team Crucitti T, Jespers V 20th ISSTDR Vienna Poster
Mayaud P on behalf of the HARP Study group. Performance of cervical Delany S, Weiss H, Lompo cancer screening tests in O, Doutre S, Omar, T, HIV-positive women in Africa: Kelly H, Zan S, Michelow influence of CD4+ counts P, Costes V 20th ISSTDR Vienna Poster Mayaud P on behalf of the HARP study group. HPV genotype distribution in HIV- positive African women and Kelly H, Ngou J, associations with high grade Sawadogo B, Muzah B, histological lesions, by CD4 Gilham C, Nagot N, Meda count N, Delany S, Segondy M 20th ISSTDR Vienna. Poster
Acceptability of Data Collection on Mobile Phones Kaufman Z, Hershow R, using ODK software for Self- DeCelles J, Bhauti K, Administered Sexual Dringus S, Delany- Behaviour Questionnaires Moretlwe S, Ross D 20th ISSTDR Vienna Poster
Prevalence and predictors of rape perpetration among Kaufman Z, Braunschweig male secondary school E, Ross D, Delany- students in peri-urban Xhosa Moretlwe S, Weiss H, communities in South Africa Dringus S 20th ISSTDR Vienna Poster Medical Humanities Research Group at the Wits Institute There’s always hope even if I for Social and sacrifice’: Communicating the Jonathan Stadler, Sinead Economical experience of participating in Delany-Moretlwe and Research (WISER) Oral a clinical trial through song Hayley McGregor Conference Johannesburg presentation 103
Performing compliance in an Jonathan Stadler, HIV prevention clinical trial: Busisiwe Magazi, Florence explaining the Mathebula, Elizabeth inconsistencies between Montgomery, Miriam what women said and what Hartman and Ariane van ASnA 2013 they did. der Straten Conference, Johannesburg Oral
Monitoring MAMA: Gauging the Impact of MAMA South Africa Jesse Coleman ICT4Health Cape Town Oral Straten, Elizabeth Montgo mery, Miriam Hartman, Catie Participant’s Perspectives On Magee, Nicole Use Of Oral And Vaginal Laborde, Jonathan Antiretrovirals For HIV Stadler, Busi Prevention: The VOICE-C Magazi, Florence Study In Johannesburg, Mathebula, Sello AIDS Impact South Africa Seoka, Katie Schwartz Conference Barcelona Oral Elizabeth T. Montgomery, Ariane van der Straten, Miriam Hartmann, Jonathan Male partner roles and Stadler, Busisiwe Magazi, influence on women’s use of Florence Mathebula, Sello HIV pre-exposure Seoka, Katie Schwartz, prophylaxis (PrEP) in Kat Richards, Lydia Soto- AIDS Impact Johannesburg Torres Conference Barcelona Oral Mary S. Campbell, Rachel Payant, Airin Lam, Hong Zhao, Corey Williams, Hannah Huang, James I. Mullins, Anna Wald, Wendy Stevens, Glenda Genetic Characteristics of Gray, Carey Farquhar, HIV-1 Env in the Genital Helen Rees, Connie Tract of African Heterosexual Celum, Lisa M. Frenkel, Transmission Pairs Jairam R. Lingappa AIDS Vaccine 2013 Barcelona Poster
Intensified TB Case Finding in a Cohort of HIV-infected 44th Union World Children in Johannesburg, Conference on South Africa Shobna Sawry Lung Health Paris Oral Abstract 104
Helen Ndagije, James First Biennial Southern, Paul Tanui, Scientific Hennie Geldenhuys, Helen Conference on Regulation of Vaccines for Rees, Jan Chappell and Medicines Abstract Tuberculosis in Africa Michael J Brennan Regulation in Africa Johannesburg submitted
Designing HIV prevention biomedical research to address the realities of The 3rd Structural people's lives Deborah Baron Drivers Conference Cape Town Oral
High acceptability of a mHealth intervention for M Phatsoane, L Farlane, P improving maternal and child Goliath-Soyizwaphi, S health outcomes in the city of Ncube, NP Naidoo, J Abstract Johannesburg Coleman 17th ICASA Cape Town submitted
Working towards Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of mHealth Interventions for S Ncube, M Phatsoane, M HIV Diagnosis, Treatment Nengwani, L Mdlopane, J Abstract and Support Coleman, NP Naidoo 17th ICASA Cape Town submitted
17th ICASA International Conference on The epidemiology of LR-HPV AIDS and STIs in and AGW Admire Chikandiwa Africa Cape Town Oral
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop WRHI hosted Civil Society Protocol Development Consultation for the ECHO study (hormonal contraception and ARV interaction).
Publications Fidler S, Ewings F, Frater J, Medawar P, Ramjee G, Cooper D, Rees H, Fischer M, Schechter M, Kaleebu P, Tambussi G, Kinloch S, Miro JM, Kelleher A, McClure M, Kaye S, Gabriel M, Phillips R, Weber J, Babiker A. Collaborators: Breckenridge A, Clayden P, Conlon C, Conradie F, Kaldor J, Maggiolo F, Ssali F, Cooper DA, Kaleebu P, Ramjee G, Schechter M, Tambussi G, Weber J, Fidler S, Babiker A, Peto T, McLaren A, Beral V, Chene G, Hakim J, Babiker A, Porter K, Thomason M, Ewings F, Gabriel M, Johnson D, Thompson K, Cursley A, Donegan K, Fossey E, Kelleher P, Lee K, Murphy B, Nock D, Phillips R, Frater J, Laurensen LO, Robinson N, Goulder P, McClure M, Bonsall D, Erlwein O, Helander A, Kaye S, Robinson M, Cook L, Adcock G, Ahmed P, Paton N, Fidler S, Kelleher A, Moore R, Macfarlane R, Roth N, Finlayson R, Tee BK, Read T, Kelly M, Doong N, Bloch M, Workman C, Grey P, Cooper DA, Kelleher A, Law M, Schechter M, Gama P, Mercon M, de Souza MB, Yoshida CB, da Silva JR, Amaral AS, de Aguiar DF, Melomde F, Garrido RQ, Tambussi G, Nozza S, Pogliaghi M, Chiappetta S, Della Torre L, Gasparotto E, D’Offizi G, Vlassi C, Corpolongo A, Wood R, Pitt J, Orrell C, Cilliers F, Croxfod R, Middelkoop K, Bekker LG, Heiberg C, Aploon J, Killa N, Fielder E, Buhler T, Venter F, Palanee T, Stevens W, Ingram C, Majam M, Papathanasopoulos M, Ramjee G, Gappoo S, Moodley J, Premrajh A, Zako L. Grosskurth H, Kamali A, Kaleebu P, Bahemuka U, Mugisha J, Njaj HF, Miro JM, Lopez-Dieguez M, Manzardo C, 105
Arnaiz JA, Pumarola T, Plana M, Tuset M, Ligero MC, Garcia MT, Gallart T, Gatell JM, Fischer M, Hobbs K, Perry N, Pao D, Mailtand D, Heald L, Mulchay F, Courtney G, O’Dea S, Rediy D, Leen C, Scott G, Elllis L, Morris S, Simmonds P, Gazzard B, Hawkins D, Higgs C, Anderson J, Mguni S, Williams I, De Esteban N, Pellegrino P, Arenas – Pinto A, Cornforth D, Turner J, Ainsworth J, Waters A, Johnson M, Kinloch S, Carroll A, Byrne P, Cuthbertson Z, Orkin C, Hand J, De Souza C, Weber J, Fidler S, Hamlyn E, Thomson E, Fox J, Legg K, Mullaney S, Winston A, Wilson S, Ambrose P, Taylor S, Gilleran G, Keeling S, Becker A, Boocock C. Short-Course Antiretroviral Therapy in Primary HIV Infection. NEnglJMed.2013; 368(3): 207-217. Sengayi M, Dwane N, Marinda E, Sipambo N, Fairlie L, Moultrie H. Predictors of loss to follow-up among children in the first and second years of antiretroviral treatment in Johannesburg, South Africa. Global health action. 2013;6:19248. Epub 2013/02/01. Heffron R, Mugo N, Ngure K, Celum C, Donnell D, Were E, Rees H, Kiarie J, Baeten JM. Collaborators: Celum C, Wald A, Lingappa J, Campbell M, Corey L, Coombs RW, Hughes JP, Magaret A, McElrath M, Morrow R, Mullins JI, Coetzee D, Fife K, Essex M, Makhema J, Katabira E, Ronald A, Allen S, Kayitenkore K, Karita E, Bukusi E, Cohen C, Allen S, Kanweka W, Allen S, Vwalika B, Kapiga S, Manong R, Farquhar C, John-Stewart G, J K, Inambao M, Delany-Moretlwe S, H R, de Bruyn G, Gray G, McIntyre J. Hormonal contraceptive use and risk of HIV-1 disease progression. AIDS. 2013;27(2):261-7. Epub 2012/10/20. Meyer-Rath G, Brennan A, Long L, Ndibongo B, Technau K, Moultrie H, Fairlie L, Coovadia A, Rosen S. Cost and outcomes of paediatric antiretroviral treatment in South Africa. AIDS. 2013;27(2):243-50. Epub 2012/09/28. Coutsoudis A, Goga A, Desmond C, Barron P, Black V, Coovadia H. Is Option B+ the best choice? Lancet. 2013;381(9863):269-71. Epub 2013/01/29. Palmer M, Chersich M, Moultrie H, Kuhn L, Fairlie L, Meyers T. Frequency of stavudine substitution due to toxicity in children receiving antiretroviral treatment in Soweto, South Africa. AIDS. 2012. Epub 2012/11/22. MacPhail C, Adato M, Kahn K, Selin A, Twine R, Khoza S, Rosenberg M, Nguyen N, Becker E, Pettifor A. Acceptability and feasibility of cash transfers for HIV prevention among adolescent South African women. AIDS and Behaviour. 2013 February 23. DOI10.1007/S10461-013-0433-0. Rosenberg NE, Pettifor AE, De Bruyn G, Westreich D, Delany-Moretlwe S, Behets F, Maman S, Coetzee D, Kamupira M, Miller WC. HIV testing and counselling leads to immediate consistent condom use among South African stable HIV-discordant couples. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013;62(2):226-33. Epub 2012/11/03. Abaasa A, Crook A, Gafos M, Anywaine Z, Levin J, Wandiembe S, Nanoo A, Nunn A, McCormack S, Hayes R, Kamali A. Long-term consistent use of a vaginal microbicide gel among HIV-1 sero-discordant couples in a phase III clinical trial (MDP 301) in rural south-west Uganda. Trials. 2013;14:33. Epub 2013/02/05. Fabian J, Naicker S, Goetsch S, Venter WD. The clinical and histological response of HIV-associated kidney disease to antiretroviral therapy in South Africans. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation: official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association. 2013. Epub 2013/02/28. Solarin I and Black V. “They told me to come back”: Women’s Antenatal Care Booking Experience in Inner-City Johannesburg. Maternal Child Health. 2013;17(2):359-67. van den Berg W, Hendricks L , Hatcher A , Peacock D, Godana P, Dworkin S. ‘One Man Can’: shifts in fatherhood beliefs and parenting practices following a gender-transformative programme in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Gender & Development 2013 Feb 1;21(1):111-125 doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2013.769775. Hatcher A, Romitoc P, Oderod M, Bukusi, Ononoe M, Turan J. Social context and drivers of intimate partner violence in rural Kenya: implications for the health of pregnant women. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2013 .doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2012.760205. Gomez GB, Venter WDF, Lange JMA, Rees H, Hankins C. North-South Corridor Demonstration Project (NSCDP): ethical and logistical challenges in the design of a demonstration study of early antiretroviral treatment for long distance truck drivers along a transport corridor through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Advances in Preventive Medicine. 2013. Epub 2013/03/01. Moodley K, Hardie K, Selgelid MJ, Waldman RJ, Strebel P, Rees H, Durrheim DN. Ethical considerations for vaccination programmes in acute humanitarian emergencies. Bulletin World Health Organisation. 2013; 91: 290- 297. Epub 2013/02/07. Nyasulu JCY, Muchiri E, Mazwi S, Ratshefola M. NIMART rollout to primary healthcare facilities increases access to antiretrovirals in Johannesburg: An interrupted time series analysis. South African Medical Journal. 2013; 103(4): 232-236 106
Saethre E & Stadler J. Malicious Whites, Greedy Women, and Virtuous Volunteers: Negotiating Social Relations through Clinical Trial Narratives in South Africa. Medical Anthropology Quarterly. 2013; 27(1): 103-120. DOI: 10.1111/maq.1201. Turan J, Hatcher A, Odero M, Onono M, Kodero J, Romito P, Mangone E, Bukusi E. A Community-Supported Clinic-Based Program for Prevention of Violence against Pregnant Women in Rural Kenya. AIDS Res Treat. Epub 2013 Apr 29; 2013:736926. doi: 10.1155/2013/736926. Macphail C, Venables E, Rees H, Delany-Moretlwe S. Using HPV vaccination for promotion of an adolescent package of care: opportunity and perspectives. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13(1):493. Epub 2013/05/21. Bamford JTM, Ray S, Musekiwa A, van Gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E. Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013; 4. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2. Okwundu CI, Nagpal S, Musekiwa A, Sinclair D. Home- or community-based programmes for treating malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013; 5. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009527.pub2. Lawal AO, Musekiwa A, Grobler L. Interferon after surgery for women with advanced (Stage II-IV) epithelial ovarian cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013; 6. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009620.pub2 Agwu AL, Fairlie L. Antiretroviral treatment, management challenges, and outcomes in perinatally HIV-infected adolescents. Journal of the International AIDS Society. 2013; 16:18579. Venter F, Allais L, Richter M. Exposure Ethics: Does HIV Pre-exposure prophylaxis raise ethical problems for the health care provider and policy maker? Bioethics. 2013 Jun 24. DOI: 10.1111/bioe.12021. Schoonees A, Lombard M, Musekiwa A, Nel E, Volmink J. Ready-to-use therapeutic food for home-based treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013; Issue 6. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD0090000.pub2. Black, A. A new algorithm for the diagnosis of all forms of tuberculosis is required for South Africa. S Afr Med J. 2013 Apr 23;103(6):355-6. doi: 10.7196/samj.6896. Venter F, Masingi N, Stacey S, Fidler S. Clinical challenge: deteriorating liver function in TB and HIV co-treatment. Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine.2013;14(2):95-97. DOI:10.7196/SAJHIVMED.927 Eakle R, Venter WDF, Rees H. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: Ready for prime time in South Africa? South African Medical Journal. 2013 103 (8): 515-516. DOI:10.7196/samj.6937 Pillay P, Ford N, Shubber Z, Ferrand RA. Outcomes for efavirenz versus nevirapine-containing regimens for treatment of HIV-1 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE 8(7): e68995. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0068995. Stadler J, Dugmore C, Venables E, MacPhail C, Delany-Moretlwe S. Cognitive mapping: using local knowledge for planning health research. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2013 13:96. DOI:10.1186/1471-2288-13-96. Pettifor A, Bekker L, Hosek S, DiClemente R, Rosenberg M, Bull S, Allison S, Delany- Moretlwe S, Kapogiannis B, Cowan F. Preventing HIV among Young People: research priorities for the future. JAIDS. 2013;63:S155-S60. Mujugira A, Magaret AS, Celum C, Baeten JM, Lingappa JR, Morrow RA, Fife KH, Delany-Moretlwe S, de Bruyn G, Bukusi EA, Karita E, Kapiga S, Corey L and Wald A. Daily Acyclovir to Decrease HSV-2 Transmission from HSV-2/HIV-1 Co-Infected Persons: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2013/08/01. Dochez C, Bogers J, Verheist R, Rees H. HPV Vaccines to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts: an update. Vaccines (August 2013). Phaswana-Mafuya N, Peltzer K, Chirinda W, Musekiwa A, Kose Z, Hoosain E, Davids A, Ramlagan S. Self- reported prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and associated factors among older adults in South Africa. Glob Health Action. 2013 Sep 19;6:20936. doi: 10.3402. McIllerona HM, Schomakerc M, Rena Y, Sinxadia P, Nuttalld JC, Gous H, Moultrie H, Eleyd B, Merry C, Smith P, Haasi DW, Maartens G. Effects of rifampin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy on plasma efavirenz concentrations in children vary by CYP2B6 genotype. AIDS 2013, 27:1933–1940. Mwansa-Kambafwile J, McCarthy K, Gharbaharan V, Venter F, Maitshotlo B, Black A. Tuberculosis Case finding: Evaluation of a paper slip method to trace contacts. PLOS ONE 8(9): e75757. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075757. Published 20 September. Nanda K, Delany-Moretlwe S, Dube K, Lendvay AM, Kwok C, Molife L, Nakubulwa S, Edward V, Mpairwe B, Mirembe F. Nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy does not reduce oral contraceptive effectiveness. AIDS 2013, 27 (Suppl 1):S17–S25. Ngou J, Magooa M, Gilham C, Djigma F, Didelot MN, Kelly H, Yonli A, Sawadogo B, Lewis D, Delany-Moretlwe S, Mayaud P, Segondy M. Comparison of the CareHPV Assay with the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) Assay for 107
Detection of High-Risk HPV DNA in Cervical Samples from HIV-1-Infected African Women. J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.02144-13. Phaswana-Mafuya N, Peltzer K, Chirinda W, Musekiwa A, Kose K. Sociodemographic predictors of multiple non- communicable disease risk factors among older adults in South Africa. Glob Health Action. Published online 2013 September 16. doi: 10.3402/gha.v6i0.20680. Davis N, Homfray M, Venables E. Nurse and Manager Perceptions of Nurse Initiated and Managed Anti- Retroviral Therapy (NIMART) Implementation in South Africa: A Qualitative Study. BMJ Open 2013 3: e003840.doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003840. Musekiwa A, Muchiri E, Manda SO, Mwambi HG . Pregnancy Incidence and Risk Factors among Women Participating in Vaginal Microbicide Trials for HIV Prevention: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 10;8(10):e77014. doi: 10.1371. Lippman S.A, Maman S, MacPhail C, Twine R, Peacock D, Kahn K, Pettifor A. Conceptualizing Community Mobilization for HIV Prevention: Implications for HIV Prevention Programming in the African Context. PLoS ONE 8(10): e78208. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078208. Pettifor A, MacPhail C, Nguyena N, Rosenberg M, Parker, Sibeko J. Feasibility and acceptability of Project Connect: A couples-based HIV-risk reduction intervention among young couples in Johannesburg, South Africa. AIDS Care, 2013. doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2013.841827. Bost B.P, Fairlie L, Karstaedt A.S. Evaluation of Parent–Child Pairs on Antiretroviral Therapy in Separate Adult and Paediatric Clinics. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) published online 10 October 2013 DOI: 10.1177/2325957413503367. Schomaker M, Egger M, Ndirangu J, Phiri S, Moultrie H, Technau K, Cox V, Giddy J, Chimbetete C, Wood R, Gsponer T, Moore C.B, Rabie H, Eley B, Muhe L Penazzato M, Essajee S, Keiser O, Davies M, for the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS–Southern Africa (IeDEA-SA) Collaboration. PLoS Med 10(11): e1001555. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001555. Odero M, M. Hatcher A, Bryant C, Onono M, Romito P,5 Bukusi E, Turan J. Responses to and Resources for Intimate Partner Violence: Qualitative Findings From Women, Men, and Service Providers in Rural Kenya. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2013, Nov 18. DOI: 10.1177/0886260513505706. Cohen C.R, Bukusi E, Rees H, Blanchard K. Editorial: Intersection of HIV and Reproductive Health. AIDS Research and Treatment. Volume 2013, Article ID 418918, 2 pages doi.org/10.1155/2013/418918. Visitors Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand Dr Steven Smith, Health Attaché and HHS Regional Representative for Southern Africa, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Embassy of the United States of America Delegation of US Senators Prof Margi Sutherland, GIBS University Marie Louise Newell, Africa Centre Professor Tawana Kupe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance & Operations, University of the Witswatersrand Alan J. Magill, Director, Malaria, Global Health Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Connie Collingsworth, General Counsel and Secretary, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dr Trevor Mundel, President of the Global Health Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Charlene Reynolds, USAID Gary L. Darmstadt, Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Family Health Division Koki Agarwal, Director, USAID Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) Hugh Gosnell, Head of Department, Gauteng Department of Health Sarah Sandison, USAID (CHANGE study) Anita Sampson, USAID (CHANGE study) Jason Wolfe, USAID (CHANGE study) Dr Kristina Bishop, University of Arizona Dr Jared Baeten , University of Washington, Seattle, ASPIRE Protocol Chair Dr Sharon Hillier, University of Pittsburgh, MTN PI Dr Jeanna Piper, DAIDS Medical Officer Dr Lydia Soto Torres, DAID Medical Officer Prof Sharon Nachman, IMPAACT 108
Lessie Mnisi – USAID Maya Makanjee – Chief Officer: Corporate Affairs, Vodacom Group Limited Kirsten Gagnaire – Global Director – Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA) Dr Judith McFarlane, Parry Chair in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Texas Woman’s University Dr Charlie Morrison, FHI 360 Sharon Phillips, WHO Medical Officer
9.3. SCHOOL OF ORAL HEALTH SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DENTISTRY
Appointments Professor V Yengopal appointed HOD of Dept. of Community Dentistry in September 2013.
Awards/Recognition Professor Yengopal appointed President of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) – SA Division.
Substantial research grants The Ruth and Anita Wise Charitable and Educational Trust has awarded a donation in the amount of R100 000 to the University of Witwatersrand Community Oral Health Outreach Programme (COHOP) – facilitated by Professor M Rudolph, Department of Community Dentistry).
Significant local research collaborations Collaborating with Department of Health on Mother to child oral Health Project. Dr M Molete contributed to the health page of Urban Reality Magazine on behalf of Gauteng Oral Health Directorate.
Significant international research collaborations Collaboration with Chinese colleagues at University of Peking on Systematic reviews.
Staff and student participation in congresses Drs Molete, Thekiso, Ngcobo presented at the 45th Scientific Congress of the IADR – SA Division, 2013. Ms Z Joosab, Mr M Makabalo & Ms M Malebo presented at the 45th Scientific Congress of the IADR – SA Division, 2013. G Vergotine, T Ralephenya, S Hassan, T Mokale, P Phakela & Mbeje D presented papers at the 19th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa , 14 – 17 August 2013.
New research initiatives Establishment of an outreach program for oral health for special needs groups such as Downs Syndrome & Autism. Establishment od an outreach program in Diepsloot for student undergraduate and postgraduate clinical training, service delivery and research. Visitors Professor Elsbeth Kalenderian, Chair, Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology Chief of Quality, Harvard Dental Center Harvard School of Dental Medicine, USA. Professors T Ogunbedede and Owotade from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, Nigeria.
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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW INITIATIVE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED MINIMUM INTERVENTION IN DENTISTRY (SYSTEM) RESEARCH PROGRAMME – DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DENTISTRY
Directors: Professor Yengopal and Dr S Mickenautsch
Significant Local and International Collaborations
Department of Biostatistics, GSPH, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA Dr Bo Fu; National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. Center for Evidence-Based Dentistry, The Forsyth Institute, 245 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 22 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Publications Yengopal V, Mickenautsch S. Chlorhexidine for the prevention of alveolar osteitis: A systematic review. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2012; 62: 6-20. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Effect of xylitol versus sorbitol – a quantitative systematic review of clinical trials. Int Dent J 2012; 62: 175-88. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Anticariogenic effect of xylitol versus fluoride – a quantitative systematic review of clinical trials. Int Dent J 2012; 62: 6-20. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V, Banerjee A. Retention of orthodontic brackets bonded with resin-modified GIC versus composite resin adhesives – a quantitative systematic review of clinical trials. Clin Oral Investig 2012; 16: 1-14.
Mickenautsch S. Coherence of evidence from systematic reviews as a basis for evidence strength – a case study in support of an epistemological proposition. BMC Res Notes 2012; 5: 26.
Mickenautsch S. Research gaps identified during systematic reviews of clinical trials: Glass-ionomer cements. BMC Oral Health 2012; 12: 18. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Reply to commentary: Poor quality evidence suggests that failure rates for atraumatic restorative treatment and conventional amalgam are similar. Evid Based Dent 2012; 13: 93-4. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Retention loss of resin based fissure sealants - a valid predictor for clinical outcome? Open Dent J 2013; 7: 102-8. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Validity of sealant retention as surrogate for caries prevention – a systematic review. PLOS One 2013; 8: e77103. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Direct contra naïve-indirect comparison of clinical failure rates between high- viscosity GIC and conventional amalgam restorations. An empirical study. PLOS One 2013; accepted. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Failure rate of high-viscosity GIC based ART compared to that of conventional amalgam restorations - evidence from a systematic review update. S Afr Dent J 2012; 67: 329-31. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. The modified Ottawa method to establish the update need of a systematic review: Glass-ionomer versus resin sealants for caries prevention. J Applied Oral Sci 2013; accepted. Mickenautsch S, Yengopal V. Cements and composites. JADA 2013; 144: 568-70.
New research initiatives Focus of research will be on the dissemination of methodological aspects of clinical research related to disadvantages of using surrogate endpoints, naïve-indirect comparison and related to the validity tests for 2nd and 3rd order selection bias in randomised control trials. Additional focus will be given to the update of current systematic reviews.
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL PATHOLOGY
Awards/Recognition Ngwenya S P: Secretary of the (International association of dental research) IADR South African Division August 2013 – 2014. 110
Ngwenya S P: Reviewer for Head and Face Medicine. Ngwenya S P: Reviewer for the South African Dental Journal. Meer S: Guest Editor for Head and Neck Pathology [July 2011 until July 2014]. Meer S: Invited as Lead Guest Editor for Special Issue in International Journal of Dentistry [2012/2013]. Dr R Carim received best poster presentation by postgraduate student at the School of Oral Health Sciences (SOHS) Research Day.
Dr R Carim receiving best poster presentation by postgraduate student at the SOHS Research Day Substantial research grants NHLS Research Trust: R90 000: Patel K, Mahomed F, Meer S: A comparative immunohistochemical study of the “biphasic ductules” in adenoid cystic carcinoma, pleomorphic adenoma and epi-myoepithelial carcinoma. NHLS Research Trust: R90 000: Meer S, Perner Y, Willem P: Assessments of MYC re-arrangements in extra-oral plasmablastic lymphomas.
Significant local and international research collaborations University of Limpopo, South Africa: Noffke CEE, Nzima N, Ngwenya SP, Erich Raubenheimer E, Rakgwale NB. Gigantiform cementoma in a child. University of Limpopo, South Africa: Hangelbroek J, Raubenheimer EJ, Vorster RJ, Ngwenya SP. Collagen in odontogenic tumours: a histochemical- and immunohistochemical study of 19 cases. University of Pretoria, South Africa: Pathologic Conference Case 1: Lesion Presenting as a Haemorrhagic Mass of the Alveolar Ridge. Ngwenya SP, Bunn B K. University of Limpopo, University Witwatersrand, Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology. Diffuse peripheral odontogenic fibroma with concomitant plasma cell gingivitis – a case report and literature review. Wood NH, Carim R, Ngwenya SP. University of Vermont, USA: Paquette C, Meer S, Cooper K, Evans, M, Adamson, C, Rajendran V. HPV-31: a dominant genotype in black South African oropharyngeal carcinomas. University of Limpopo, South Africa: Chandran R, Meer S, Feller L. Oral leukoplakia in a South African sample: a clinicopathological study”. University of Limpopo, South Africa: Khammissa R, Meer S, Feller L. Oral squamous cell carcinoma in a South African sample: a clinicopathological study.
Staff and student participation in congresses Ngwenya S P. Oral undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A review of literature and report of a case. XXIX Congress Of The International Academy Of Pathology (IAP) Cape Town, South Africa, 2012. Ngwenya SP. Clinicopathological conference: Undifferentiated 111
Pleomorphic Sarcoma. 16th International Congress on Oral Pathology and Medicine and 20th Brazilian Congress of Oral Medicine and Pathology. Sao Pedro, Brazil 2012. Ngwenya SP. Convener and Chair: Community Based Research in Dentistry Colgate Competition. XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA DIVISION. Pretoria, South Africa, September 12, 2013. Ngwenya SP. Convener: Best poster presentation in dental materials (Charles Valcke award) XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA DIVISION). September 12, 2013. Ngwenya SP. Judge: Postgraduate Competitions. XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA DIVISION). September 12, 2013. Meer S. Case 6. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour. Head and Neck Pathology Slide Seminar. XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, October 4, 2012. Meer S. Coordinator and chair. Head and Neck Pathology Slide Seminar. XXIX International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, October 4, 2012. Meer S. HIV and salivary gland pathology. Head and Neck Pathology Symposium, HIV – AIDS and the Head and Neck Wednesday 3 October 2012. K Patel, F Mahomed, S Meer. A comparative immunohistochemical study of the “biphasic ductules” in adenoid cystic carcinoma, pleomorphic adenoma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September – 5 October 2012. Disenyane D, S Meer. p16 expression in non-keratinising squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September – 5 October 2012. Kungoane T, Meer S, Mahomed F. Ki-67 expression in salivary gland neoplasms. XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September – 5 October 2012. Perner Y, Naidoo S, Meer S, du Toit H, Suleman MC, Willem P. EBV status in extra-oral plasmablastic lymphoma XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September – 5 October 2012. K Patel, F Mahomed, S Meer. A comparative immunohistochemical study of the “biphasic ductules” in adenoid cystic carcinoma, pleomorphic adenoma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. Health Sciences Research Day & Postgraduate Expo 2012, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, September 2012. Chandran R, Meer S, Feller L. Oral leukoplakia in a South African sample: a clinicopathological study. XLIV Scientific Meeting of the South African Division of the IADR, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 30 – 31, 2012. Gani F, Mahomed F, Meer S. Ki-67 and cyclin D1 in odontogenic keratocysts and orthokeratinised jaw cysts. XLIV Scientific Meeting of the South African Division of the IADR, Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 30 – 31, 2012.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Meer S: member of the Steering Committee for the Head and Neck Sub Committee of the 2012 IAP Congress. XXIX Congress of the International Academy of Pathology, Cape Town, South Africa, 30 September – 5 October 2012 [www.iapsouthafrica.co.za].
Publications Ngwenya SP, Bunn BK. Pathologic Conference Case 1: Lesion Presenting as a Haemorrhagic Mass of the Alveolar Ridge. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2013 July;116(1): e59-e63. Wood NH, Carim R, Ngwenya SP. Diffuse odontogenic fibroma with concomitant plasma cell gingivitis – a case report and literature review. SADJ 2012 Sept 67(8) 448-451. Hangelbroek J, Raubenheimer EJ, Vorster RJ, Ngwenya SP. Collagen in odontogenic tumours: a histochemical- and immunohistochemical study of 19 cases. Medical Technology SA. 2012 Jun;26(1):28-33. Dulabh S, Meer S. Cystic lymphoid hyperplasia: an orofacial lesion strongly associated with HIV and AIDS. Histopathology (in press). Paquette C, Evans M, Meer S, Rajendran V, Adamson, CSC, Cooper K. HPV-31: a dominant genotype in black South African oropharyngeal carcinomas. Head Neck Pathol (in press). 112
Engelbrecht H, Meer S, Kourie JF. Perineural infiltration of the inferior alveolar nerve in mandibular ameloblastomas. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg (in press). Chandran R, Meer S, Feller L. Oral leukoplakia in a South African sample: a clinicopathological study. Oral Diseases 2012, doi:10.111/odi.1240. Mahomed F. Oral submucous fibrosis – a potentially malignant condition of growing concern. SADJ. 2012 Aug;67(10):562-565. Sibda A, Meer S, Altini M. Analysis of demographic data obtained from pathology records. SADJ. 2012 Aug;67(7):376-379. Gani F, Mahomed F, Meer S. Evaluation of Ki-67 and cyclin D1 expression in odontogenic keratocysts and orthokeratinised jaw cysts. SADJ. 2012 Aug;67(7):370-373. Khammissa R, Feller L, Altini M, Fatti P, Lemmer J. A comparison of chronic periodontitis in HIV-seropositive subjects and the general population in the Ga-Rankuwa area, South Africa . AIDS Res Treat 2012;2012:620962. doi: 10.1155/2012/620962. Epub 2012 Aug 29. Masipa J, Baloyi A, Khammissa R, Altini M, Lemmer J, Feller L. Noma (cancrum oris): a report of a case in a young AIDS patient with a review of the pathogenesis. Head Neck Pathol 2012 Aug 21 [Epub ahead of print].
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Awards/Recognition Dr Julitha Molepo: Reviewer for the South African Dental Journal. Dr Julitha Molepo: Chair – SOHS Research Day Committee and SOHS Assessor group meetings.
Significant local research collaborations University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus: Ms E Sekati-Oral Pathology on Candida clades project.
Significant international research collaborations Collaboration with Dr Allan Pillay, CDC, Atlanta on oral treponemes project.
Staff and student participation in congresses Ms R Ramoncha poster presentations: - Microbial contamination and decontamination of toothbrushes from patients attending the Oral Hygiene clinic of the Wits Dental Hospital, SOHS Research Day, August 22, 2013. - Microbial contamination and decontamination of toothbrushes from patients attending the Oral Hygiene clinic of the Wits Dental Hospital, XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA DIVISION). September 12, 2013. - Microbial contamination and decontamination of toothbrushes from patients attending the Oral Hygiene clinic of the Wits Dental Hospital, 5th FIDSSA conference, October, 2013. Dr J Molepo presented at the following conference: - Contribution of ERG11 gene mutations to fluconazole resistance among Candida albicans clades. SOHS Research Day, August 22, 2013. - Contribution of ERG11 gene mutations to fluconazole resistance among Candida albicans clades. XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA Division). September 12, 2013. - Experimental induction and retention of antifungal resistance among Candida albicans clades. 5th FIDSSA conference, October, 2013. M Molaudzi: Effectiveness of chlorhexidine and microwave in disinfecting pacifiers and toothbrushes. IADR conference, XLV (45TH) Scientific Meeting of the IADR (SA Division). September 12, 2013.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Dr J Molepo coordinated and organized Writing retreats for School of Oral Health Sciences also chaired SOHS Research Day committee. Ms R M Ramoncha, Ms M Molaudzi, Ms M Sibeko, Dr S Moeno and Mr O Olaleye also coordinated the SOHS Research Day.
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Publications Grundlingh A A, Grossman E S, Shrivastava S, Witcomb M J. Visual and digital comparative tooth colour assessment methods and atomic force microscopy surface roughness. SADJ October 2013, Vol 68 no 9 p412 – p421.
New research initiatives The Department is working on new research projects on Nanomaterials use in Dental Research.
Visitors Dr Sue Boynton, Senior Dento-Legal Adviser, Dental protection, UK gave a lunch hour talk to SOHS: “Keeping out of trouble – ethics and professionalism”
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL REHABILITATION
Awards/Recognition Professor C P Owen was inaugurated as President of the International College of Prosthodontists, the World body for that specialty. Adjunct Professor D G Howes is Vice-President of the International Society of Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, and also serves on the Board of the International College of Prosthodontists. Dr M M Mothopi was appointed by the Minister of Health to the South African Dental Technicians Council and is a member of the Executive committee, the Chair of the CPD committee, and a member of several task teams Dr K Bennie and Professor Owen won a Poster Award at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Dr K Bennie won the Postgraduate Award of the SA Division of the International Association for Dental Research. Dr Bennie also won Postgraduate Award at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day. The BDS 4 student group supervised by Professors Owen and Yengopal won the Undergraduate Award of the SA Division of the International Association for Dental Research. Dr M Michael won the best poster in implantology award at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day.
Significant international research collaborations Professor Owen is collaborating with Professor M MacEntee (University of British Columbia) and Professor N Creugers (University of Nijmegen, Netherlands) as joint editors of a book on dentistry for underserved communities.
Staff and student participation in congresses, workshops, etc. Professor C P Owen: Was an invited focus session speaker at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Presented a guest lecture on CAD/CAM to general dental practitioners at the invitation of Sirona, South Africa. Co-author of 6 posters presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Co-author of a poster presented at the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Invited speaker at the Limpopo branch of the SA Dental Association. Invited speaker at the Commonwealth Dental Association meeting, Johannesburg. Invited speaker at the annual scientific day of the Academy of Prosthodontics of South Africa, Johannesburg. Adj Professor D G Howes: Was Primary Guest Speaker at the Cuban Maxillofacial Prosthetics meeting, Havana, Cuba, presenting Keynote series of five lectures. Co-author for two posters presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Key Note and Invited Speaker at the Combined Meeting of the International Society for Maxillofacial Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, New Mexico. Presented a series of lectures to the Durban ITI study group. Presented five local courses at the Brånemark on Implant Dentistry. 114
Was Guest Speaker at the South African Society for Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons, International Congress, Cape Town. Guest Speaker at the Dental Technicians Association of South Africa annual congress, Durban. Co-author of a poster presented at the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Adj Professor E M Veres: Presented a paper at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day Adj Professor J L Shackleton: Co-author of two posters presented at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day Dr M M Mothopi: Principal author of a poster presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Principal author of a poster presented at the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Invited speaker at the National Oral Health Month Congress, Kimberley, SA. Dr L M Naidoo: Co-author for two posters presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Attended an International advanced course in Endodontics in Ballaigues, Switzerland Attended the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Dr V J Hoods-Moonsammy: Co-author for two posters presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Dr V Karic Presented a paper at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day. Invited lecture to the public sector dental practitioners Central Region, Johannesburg. Dr S Tootla Attended courses in CAD/CAM; Endodontic retreatment. Dr E Patel Invited lecture to the public sector dental practitioners Central Region, Johannesburg. Invited lecture to private dentist group, Northcliff. Dr B Harilal: Attended the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA, and local ITI study club meetings. Dr V Daya-Roopa:
Attended the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA, and local ITI study club meetings. Attended South African Society of Endodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry (Nomads) international meeting, Johannesburg, and the South African Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry study evenings. Dr T Qwabe: Attended South African Society of Endodontics and Aesthetic Dentistry (Nomads) international meeting, Johannesburg Dr MG Thokoane: Invited speaker at the Graduate Students Treatment Planning session at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy Principal author of a poster presented at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy Principal author of a poster presented at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day Dr K Bennie: Gave winning presentation at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day Gave winning presentation at the SA Division of the International Association for Dental Research 115
Principal author of a winning poster at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy Dr M Michael: Principal author of a winning poster at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day. Principal author of a poster and co-author of another at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Attended an Advanced Implant Dentistry Course at the P-I Brånemark Institute South Africa. Attended a Master Course in Modern Evidence Based Implant Dentistry Focusing on Surgical & Prosthetic Aspects during the 1st Emirates Education Week (Sharjah, UAE). This was the prize for the winning poster at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day. Attended the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Dr N Naidoo: Principal author of a poster and co-author of another at the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy. Attended course in Maxillary Molar Endodontics; CBCT and reporting; and presented a case at the Co-axis and Zygomatic implants course, P-I Brånemark Institute South Africa. Attended the International Team for Implantology (ITI) international meeting in Midrand, SA. Principal author of a poster presented at the School of Oral Health Science Research Day. Dr M Slabbert: Attended the 15th Biennial Conference of the International College of Prosthodontists in Turin, Italy.
Dr M Michael receiving best poster implantology award at the SOHS Research Day
Dr K Bennie receiving the Best Oral Postgraduate Award at the SOHS Research Day
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Publications Karic VV, Miller VJ, Nehete SR, Ofec R, Smidt A The temporomandibular opening index and condylar asymmetry in myogenous TMD and non-TMD patients: report of a pilot study. Quintessence Int. 2013 Jan;44(1):e141-5.
DEPARTMENT OF ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
Awards/Recognition Undergraduate: Best oral presentation on a research day was awarded to a final year student Mr N Dlamini. Staff and student participation in congresses Binta B, Thorrold C and Patel M. The prevalence of β-lactamase-producing oral anaerobic bacteria in South African patients. Poster presentation at the Cross faculty symposium and Post graduate Expo 2013 and FIDSSA 5 conference, Drakensburg Gulube Z and Patel M. Antibacterial effect of Pomegranate against periodontal pathogens and the effect on the biofilm formation by S. mutans. 2ND International conference on clinical microbiology and microbial genomics 16 – 17th September 2013, Hampton Inn -LAS VEGAS, USA. Publications Owotade F J, Patel M, Ralephenya TRMD, Vergotine G. Oral candida colonization in HIV positive women: associated factors and changes with antiretroviral therapy. Journal of Medical Microbiology 2013; 61. Patel M, Naidoo R and Owotade F. Inhibitory effect of Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia on the virulence properties of the oral pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http//dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/624089. Naicker S D and Patel M. Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia inhibits germ tube and biofilm formation by C. albicans. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.2013, no number yet.
DIVISION OF ORAL HYGIENE
Awards/Recognition Ms Ralephenya was invited to be a reviewer for the International Journal of Dental Hygiene which is an international high impact journal for Oral Hygienists. Ms Vergotine has been appointed to be the Chairperson for the Oral Hygiene Educators Forum (OHEF). Ms Mbeje has been appointed as the media liaison on the Oral Hygiene Educators Forum (OHEF).
Significant local and international research collaborations Local links: NHLS Special Olympics OHEF African links: Faculty of Dentistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Staff and student participation in congresses Tshakane Ralephenya - Oral presentation at the OHASA CPD workshop in April 2013 on the following topics: “Local Anesthetics and Ethics for Oral Hygienists.” and “Coronal polishing – an overview of the latest trends and products.” - Participated in the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene (ISDH) (August 2013). Oral Presentation: “Oral Candida colonization in HIV positive women: Associated factors and changes with antiretroviral therapy.” Co-Authors: Owotade F, Vergotine G, Patel M, - Participated and attended the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster presentation: Title: “Dental caries and oral hygiene status of Special Olympics athletes in four Provinces of South Africa”. Co-Authors: Mokhine IMN, Shangase S.L, Thokoane M M G, Thekiso M. - Attended and participated in the the XLV (45TH) SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE IADR (SA DIVISION) 2013 held in Pretoria (September 2013). Poster presentation Title: “Microbial Contamination and 117
Decontamination of Toothbrushes from Wits Dental Hospital.” Co-Authors: Molepo J, Ramoncha R, Molaudzi M, Volchansky A, Shangase S.L. - Attended and participated in the the XLV (45TH) SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE IADR (SA DIVISION) 2013 held in Pretoria (September 2013). Poster presentation. Title: Oral Health status of Special Olympics Athletes in four provinces of South Africa. Co-Authors: Mokhine I.M.N, Shangase S.L. - Organizing and coordinating the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day and member of the committee. - Oral presentation at the Gauteng Radiographers seminar in September 2013 on the following topic: “Ethics for Health Professionals”. - Oral presentation at the OHASA CPD workshop in October 2013 on the following topic: “Ethics and ICD codes for Oral Hygienists”. Glynnis Vergotine - Attended the International Public Health Symposium. Building capacity for Health – January 2013. - Participated in the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene (ISDH) (August 2013). Oral Presentation: “Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of dental professionals regarding sugar free chewing gum”. Co-Author: Dr Moolla. - Participated in the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster Presentation: “Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of dental professionals regarding sugar free chewing gum”. Co-Author: Dr Moolla. - Oral presentation at the School of Education PhD weekend for Masters by Dissertation. Title, Oral Hygiene Knowledge – data collection presentation. 19 October 2013. Patience Phakela - Participated in the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene (ISDH) (August 2013). Oral Presentation: “The effectiveness of health promotion activities undertaken by Oral Hygiene students at Wits University”. - Participated in the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster Presentation: “The effectiveness of health promotion activities undertaken by Oral Hygiene students at Wits University”. Tsholofelo Mokale - Participated in the International Symposium of Dental Hygiene (ISDH) (August 2013). Poster Presentation – Title: Oral hygiene management of a patient presenting with a history of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Co- Authors: Mrs T.R.M.D. Ralephenya and Ms KA Mothupi. - Participated in the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster Presentation – Title: Oral hygiene management of a patient presenting with a history of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Co-Authors: Mrs T.R.M.D. Ralephenya and Ms KA Mothupi. Deborah Mbeje - Participated in the 2013 19th International Symposium for Dental Hygienists (August 2013) and presented a poster – Title: The efficacy of Chlorhexidine vs. Cetylypyridinium in the treatment of Halitosis: A systematic Review of clinical trials. Co-Author: Professor Yengopal. - Participated in the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster Presentation – Title: The efficacy of Chlorhexidine vs. Cetylypyridinium in the treatment of Halitosis: A systematic Review of clinical trials. Co-Author: Professor Yengopal.
Shahrazaad Hassan - Participated in the 2013 19th International Symposium for Dental Hygienists (August 2013) and presented a poster – Title: Oral irrigators as an adjunct to tooth brushing for improved gingival health: A systematic review. Co-Authors: Vergotine G, Moolla A, Yengopal V. - Participated in the School of Oral Health Sciences Research Day (August 2013). Poster Presentation – Title: Oral irrigators as an adjunct to tooth brushing for improved gingival health: A systematic review. Co- Authors: Vergotine G, Moolla A, Yengopal V.
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Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop
Course offered by Type of course Date Venue CPD points
Colgate-Palmolive and Wits Oral Hygiene Ethics update 25/01/2013 Wits Dental Hospital 2 Dental assistants Wits Oral Hygiene seminar 26/04/2013 Wits Dental Hospital 6 Wits Oral Hygiene Special needs seminar 11/ 05/2013 Marie Curie 7 Dental practice Wits Oral Hygiene sponsored by management skills Colgate-Palmolive update 22/06/2013 Marie Curie 7 Wits Oral Hygiene Cancer lecture 19/09/2013 LT 1 2
New research initiatives Ms Phakela will conduct research for a study titled: “The oral health knowledge of nursing staff at ARV clinic in Johannesburg Metro district.” Protocol completed and ethics approval obtained. Mrs Ralephenya and Dr Ngcobo are preparing a protocol on the Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life (QoL) for children with special needs. Mrs Ralephenya, Dr Molepo, Ms Ramoncha and Ms Molaudzi are preparing a protocol for a study titled: “Evaluation of Microbial Contaminants on Bib Chains and Bib Clips at the Wits Dental Hospital”.
Visitors International guest speakers at Oral Health CPD courses – 19 and 20 August 2013. - Kimberly Benkert, Topic: Oro-facial Myology and Muscular TMD: Emerging Roles and Opportunities for the Dental Hygienist. Past president of the American Dental Hygienist Association, former IAOM Board member and OM certification Examiner, and achieved Fellowship status (FAADH) in Oro-facial Myology and TMD with the AADH. She teaches OMD/TMD seminars and offers training courses nationally and internationally. Her clinical offices are located in suburban Chicago. - Sherry Priebe: Topic: Oral Cancer and Superheroes: Understanding the Effects of Cultural Oral Habits. Received a Diploma of Dental Hygiene from the University of Alberta, Canada in 1978, her Bachelor Degree in Dental Science in Dental Hygiene in 2003 and a Masters in Science degree from the University of British Columbia in 2009. Published articles in the Vietnam Journal of Medicine at the University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the Canadian Journal of Dental Hygiene, the International Journal of Dental Hygiene and the Dental Hygiene and Therapy Journal in the UK. Presented her master’s research on cultural oral habits in Asia and the risks of oral cancer in Scotland, Brazil, Vietnam, Dubai, USA and Canada. She has been honoured and awarded for her oral cancer study in Vietnam with the prestigious ‘World Dental Hygienist Award in Research” sponsored by the SUNSTAR Foundation for Oral Health Promotion in collaboration with the IFDH and the IJDH. Sherry is an independent contractor dental hygienist in Kelowna, BC.
DEPARTMENT OF PERIODONTOLOGY
Publications Moodley A, Wood NH, Shangase SL. The relationship between periodontitis and diabetes: a brief review. South African Dental Journal, July 68(6):260-264, 2013. Shangase SL, Mohangi GU, Hassam-Essa S, Wood NH. The association between periodontitis and systemic health. Article one: an overview. South African Dental Journal, February, 68(1):8-12, 2013. Singh-Rambiritch S, Mokhine IMN, Wood NH. Oral Medicine case book 48: epidermolysis bullosa. South African Dental Journal, April 68(3):132-134, 2013. Sitholimela CS, Shangase SL. The association between periodontitis and pre-term birth and/ or low birth weight: A literature review. South African Dental Journal, May 68 (4):162-6, 2013. Volchansky A, Home gingivectomy. South African Dental Journal, June 68(5):228-230, 2013. Volchansky A, Setzer S. A ‘clinical’ comparison: Dental care in the maintenance of potholes Toothdecay vs Road decay!; At a ‘Wits end.’ South African Dental Journal, October 68(9):402, 2013. 119
Wood NH, Moodley A. Oral Medicine case book 51: actinic cheilitis in a patient with oculocutaneous albinism. South African Dental Journal, July 68(6):278-281. Moodley A, Slabbert M, Wood NH. Oral Medicine case book 53: Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. South African Dental Journal, October 68 (9): 426-430, 2013.
DEPARTMENT OF MAXILLO FACIAL AND ORAL SURGERY
Significant international research collaborations Biomet (Walter Lorenz) USA.
Staff and student participation in congresses Professor Lurie. Bisphophanate presented Induced Osteonecrosis at the annual congress of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Magaliesburg 29 August – 01 September 2013. Drs Rikhotso, Vafaei, Bobat, Premviyasa, Suleman, Lawrence, Ferretti, Boyes - Varley, van der Linden, Munsamy and Nusrat attended Microvascular Flap Course.
Publications Engelbrecht H, Meer S, Kourie JF. Perineural infiltration of the inferior alveolar nerve in mandibular ameloblastomas. British J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013. Ferretti C, Rikhotso RE, Muthray E, Reyneke J. Interim reconstruction and space maintenance of mandibular continuity defects preceding definitive osseous reconstruction. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 51:319-325, 2013.
9.4. SCHOOL OF PATHOLOGY
ANTIVIRAL GENE THERAPY RESEARCH UNIT
Director: Professor Patrick Arbuthnot
Staff and student participation in congresses Dr Kristie Bloom was invited an invited speaker at the German Gene Therapy Society Meeting, which was held in Hamburg in January of 2013. She presented her work on the use of TALENs (transcription activator-like effectors) to disable hepatitis B virus replication.
Postdoctoral Fellows Dr Samantha Nicholson Dr Buhle Moyo
Publications Bloom, K., Ely, A., Mussolino, C., Cathomen, T. and Arbuthnot, P. (2013) Inactivation of hepatitis B virus replication in cultured cells and in vivo with engineered Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases, Molecular Therapy, 21, 1889-1897. (ISI IF 7.04).
DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Head: Professor Adriano Duse
Awards/Recognition
Professor A G Duse was appointed WHO short-term consultant for the Infection Control Group for the Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreak response team in Uganda, December 2012.
Significant international research collaborations Professor Duse was selected as a Southern African Chair for the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARB). GARB is a project of the Centre for Diseases Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) which works to 120
create greater awareness among policymakers in low-middle income countries about the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and to develop country-relevant issues. Professor Duse is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief sponsored by the CDC, United States of America.
Participation in Congresses/ Workshops International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance. Dynamics of the Uganda Ebola outbreak. Vienna, Austria, 15-18 February 2013. GARB Mozambique. Surveillance Initiatives for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in South Africa. Maputo, Mozambique, 2-3 August 2012.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Professor Duse is a member of the organising committee for the International Society for Infectious Diseases meeting to be held in Cape Town in April 2014.
Publications Laxminarayan R, Duse A, Wattal C, Zaidi AK, Wertheim HF, Sumpradit N, Vlieghe E, Hara GL, Gould IM, Goossens H, Greko C, So AD, Bigdeli M, Tomson G, Woodhouse W, Ombaka E, Peralta AQ, Qamar FN, Mir F, Kariuki S, Bhutta ZA, Coates A, Bergstrom R, Wright GD, Brown ED, Cars O. Antibiotic resistance-the need for global solutions. Lancet Infect Dis 2013; 13:1057-98. Impact factor 19.97 Marais BJ, Mlambo CK, Rastogi N, Zozio T, Duse AG, Victor TC, Marais E, Warren RM. Epidemic spread of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Johannesburg, South Africa. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:1818-25. Impact factor 4.068 Grolla A, Mehedi M, Lindsay R, Bosio C, Duse A, Feldmann H. Enhanced detection of Rift Valley fever virus using molecular assays on whole blood samples. J Clin Virol 2012; 54:313-7. Impact factor 3.287 Durlach R, McIlvenny G, Newcombe RG, Reid G, Doherty L, Freuler C, Rodríguez V, Duse AG, Smyth ET. Prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections in Argentina; comparison with England, Wales, Northern Ireland and South Africa. J Hosp Infect 2012; 80:217-23. Impact factor 2.855 Lowman W, Aithma N, Coetzee JF, Dusè AG, Mer M. Comparative MIC evaluation of a generic ceftriaxone by broth microdilution on clinically relevant isolates from an academic hospital complex in South Africa. S Afr Med J 2012; 102:102-3. Impact factor 1.702
DST/NRF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR BIOMEDICAL TB RESEARCH (CBTBR)
Head of Node: Dr Bavesh Kana
Appointments In 2013, Bavesh Kana was promoted to the position of Reader.
Awards/Recognition In 2013, Professor Kana served as a judge on the Annual Discovery Health Journalism Awards. He reviewed health related journalism in different categories, including television, radio, print media and trade publications and provided feedback to journalists regarding reporting style and made recommendations to improve health reporting in these sectors. He was also invited to attend the awards function where presentations were made to the journalists with winning entries. Radio/television interviews - Professor Kana gave a 10 min radio interview for Classic FM to address the growing TB problem in the mines. - Professor Kana gave a 20 min television interview for Good Morning Africa wherein he addressed the TB problem in Africa and current efforts to control the pandemic.
Substantial research grants
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Scientist Award 1/01/2012 – 31/12/2016 Grant number: HHMI000 (Total: R 6.5 Million, 2013 – R1.1 Million) 121
Awarded by: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (USA) Title: Mycobacterial Heterogeneity in TB infection National Institutes of Health Supplementary Grant 1/05/2012 – 30/04/2013 Grant number: U01 AI 69453-05 (Total: R 4.5 Million, 2013 – R 2 Million) Awarded by: National Institutes of Health, USA, as a supplementary grant to the Perinatal HIV Research Unit Title: Determining the role of resuscitation promoting factors in TB disease DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research 1/01/2011 – 31/12/2019 Grant Number: DCOE000 (Total to date: R 4 Million, 2013 – R 2.2 Million) Awarded by: South African Department of Science and Technology – National Research Foundation This program grant supports various research activities around the identification and validation of new drug targets for TB. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Accelerator Grant 1/11/2013 – 31/07/2017 Grant Number: Not yet assigned (Total 2013 allocation – R 5 Million) Awarded by: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Title: Detection, quantification and characterization of differentially culturable tubercle bacteria in human TB disease Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships 1/10/2013 – 31/12/2015 Grant number: MIC000 (Total 2013 allocation – R 900 000) Awarded by: South African Medical Research Council Title: Development of counter-screening models for tuberculosis drug development Swiss-South Africa Joint Research Grant 1/11/2013 – 31/12/2016 Grant Number: Funding not assigned (Total 2013 – 2014 allocation R300 000) Program research grant Swizz Partner: Neeraj Dhar, EPFL. National Research Foundation Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers 1/01/2009 – 31/12/2014 Grant number: BKAN01 (Total to date: R 120 000, 2013 – R 40 000) Awarded by: National Research Foundation Title: Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers (various ongoing projects)
Significant local research collaborations The South African TB Research and Innovation Initiative (SATRII) Dr. Bhavna Gordhan from the Wits node of the CBTBR is involved in a TB drug discovery project funded by the MRC. The biological components of the research will be carried out in the CBTBR and forms part of a larger collaborative venture that involves Professor Kelly Chibale (H-3D Drug Discovery Centre,UCT) and leading TB drug discovery experts from the US National Institutes of Health, including Wits graduate, Dr Helena Boshoff. This grant represents the culmination of local and international expertise which will be brought to bear on the TB problem. In 2013, due to changes in the MRC, the SATRII project was terminated in October and the work package for the Wits note was re-scoped to form a new project under the Strategic Health Innovations Partnership (SHIP) program of the MRC. This project will be led by Professor Kana and Dr. Gordhan. Isolation of new anti-TB compounds from deep sea corals This project involves collaboration with Professor Debra Meyer from the University of Pretoria. The aim of the research program is to identify new compounds for further development as potential TB drugs. To date, novel metallo-compounds have been identified and tested in the CBTBR laboratories for activity against M. tuberculosis. Professor Kana is currently co-supervising a student (Ms. Sidhika Hariparsad) at the University of Pretoria who is working on isolating new compounds from three distinct soft-coral species.
Significant international research collaborations Dr. Neeraj Dhar – Faculte Des Sciences De La Vie, Global Health Institute. Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland 122
Dr. Dhar and his colleagues in Lausanne have developed new approaches to study bacterial growth at a single cell level, which allow for real-time visualization of bacteria (approximately 1 micron in length). The experiments can also be conducted with antibiotic treatment which then allows for a visual assessment of how bacteria will respond to treatment. The CBTBR is currently collaborating with Dr. Dhar to study the growth of tubercle bacteria and through this collaboration is in the process of importing a significant component of the technological know-how to South Africa. The main aim of this work is to assess the growth of bacteria isolated from patients to determine if the rate of growth and response to treatment can be correlated with clinical outcome of disease in the patient. Detection and quantification of differentially culturable tubercle bacteria There is recent evidence in the scientific literature that the processes that govern cell surface expansion in bacteria are also important for bacterial growth and reactivation from dormancy in TB infection. Members of the CBTBR have recently confirmed these observations in South African patients and are now studying these phenomena further to determine if one can use this knowledge to tailor patient therapy for a better treatment outcome. For this, the CBTBR has forged the following collaborations:
- Fiona Shahim/ Mara Gibsion - Contract Laboratory Services, The National Health Laboratory Services, Braamfontein, Johannesburg Contract Laboratory Services provides routine diagnostic tests for the patients recruited for studies at the CBTBR. - Neil Martinson/Glenda Gray - Peritnatal HIV Research Unit, Chris Hani Baragwananth Hospital These individual assist provide the platform to recruit patients from Soweto into CBTBR studies. They are also the clinicians who provide the best care possible to the patients and in the case of new findings from research, they ensure that the patients are informed and kept up to date. - Michael R. Barer/Galina Mukamolova - University of Leicester Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK. These are international collaborators on clinical studies and provide input into some of the methods used to detect dormant bacteria. - William R. Mac Kenzie (MD) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA Dr. Mac Kenzie serves as an international collaborator on clinical studies. GeneXpert Quality Assurance The CBTBR has also developed certain critical reagents that are currently used in the rollout of new TB diagnostics. During the course of these studies, the following collaborations have emerged - Wendy Stevens and Lesley Scott - Molecular Medicine and Heamatology, School of Pathology, Wits Medical School, Johannesburg These individuals are involved in the rollout of new molecular diagnostics and as such require the reagents that the CBTBR has developed for verification of new instruments. - David Boyle/Ralph Schneideman, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) School of Public Health, UW, Seattle, USA The CBTBR has initiated collaboration with these individuals to create a global commercialization program for the reagents that he has developed.
Participation in Congresses/ Workshops Kana B D. Developing a Scientific Career. Young Researchers Forum – South Africa Society for Human Genetics 5-9th October 2013. School of Public Health, Wits University. Invited Plenary Lecture. Kana B D. Stretching the bacterial skin: How much do we know about mycobacterial growth? Gordon Research Seminar on Tuberculosis Drug Development. 21st – 22nd July 2013, Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, Lucca (Barga), Italy. Invited opening plenary lecture Kana B D. Differential Bacterial Culturability in tuberculous sputum: Can we look at both sides of the same coin at once? Gordon Research Conference on Tuberculosis Drug Development. 22nd – 26th July 2013, Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, Lucca (Barga), Italy. Invited Speaker Kana B D. What makes a good target? Working group on new TB drugs Symposium at the Gordon Research Conference on Tuberculosis Drug Development. 22nd – 26th July 2013, Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, Lucca (Barga), Italy. Invited Speaker Kana B D. Eliminating TB. Lecture Given at the 8th Prestigious Research Lecture in the Faculty of Health Sciences. 29th May 2013. Wits School of Public Health. 123
Ealand C S, Kana B D. The Role of Mycobacterial DD-Carboxypeptidases in Peptidoglycan Remodeling and Turnover. Short Talk and Poster Presentation, Tuberculosis: Understanding the Enemy Keystone Conference. March 13 - March 18, 2013, Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, British Columbia Canada. Posters Kana B D. Resuscitation promoting factors in bacterial growth and cell wall remodelling - Extreme Makeover for the Cell wall. Poster presentation at the Annual HHMI Scholars Meeting, 14-17 February 2012, HHMI Headquarters, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA. Kana B D. A role for N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidases and DD-carboxypeptidases in mycobacterial growth and cell division. Poster presentation at the Bacterial Cell Biology Conference, 9-12th December 2013, Occidental Grand Xcaret Resort, Mexico. Invited Lectures Kana B D. Peptidoglycan Remodelling during TB Infection: Separation Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder in mycobacterial cells. Invited lecture as part of the Frontiers in Biological Sciences Seminar Series, 12 November 2013, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Kana B D. Success in Academic Careers. Invited Lecture and workshop, 11 November 2013, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Kana B D. Counter-screening models for TB drug development – Exploiting the mycobacterial cell wall, 30th October 2013, Helmholtz Institute-South Africa joint research meeting, Braunschweig, Germany. Kana B D. Peptidoglycan Remodelling: Implications for mycobacterial growth and TB disease. Invited Lecture, 16 September 2013, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Professor Bavesh Kana participated in organizing the following conferences and workshops: The inaugural National Health Laboratory Services Research Summit. 21st-22nd February 2013. Prof. Kana served on the Scientific Advisory/organizing committee and chaired the opening session of the research summit. He also assisted in drafting the summit report. Serves as the Chairman of the 4th SA-TB Conference to be held in June 2014 at the ICC in Durban. This conference is attended by close to 2000 delegates and covers all areas of TB/HIV research. Served on the Scientific Advisory and organizing committee of the Informa Africa Health Infectious Diseases conference.
Postdoctoral Fellows 2011 – current: Christopher Shawn Ealand (Project: Characterization of DD-carboxypeptidases in mycobacteria – co-funded by a CAPRISA Postdoctoral Fellowship). 2011 – current: Melissa Dalcina Chengalroyen (Project: The role of resuscitation promoting factors in bacterial growth stimulation).
Publications Gous, N., Cunningham B, Kana B D, Stevens W, Scott L. E. 2013. Performance monitoring of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Dried Culture Spots for use on the GeneXpert within a National Program in South Africa. J. Clin. Microbiol. 51:4018-4021. Impact Factor: 4.068 Small, J L., Park S W, Kana B D, Ioerger T R, Sacchettini J C, Ehrt S. 2013. Perturbation of cytochrome c maturation reveals adaptability of the respiratory chain in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MBio, 4:e00475-13. Impact Factor: 5.311 Williams M J, Mizrahi V, Kana B D*. Molybdenum cofactor: a key component of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis? Crit Rev Microbiol. 2013. In press. Impact Factor: 5.345 Moolla, N, Goosens V, Kana B D, Gordhan B G. The contribution of Nth and Nei DNA glycosylases to mutagenesis in Mycobacterium smegmatis. DNA Repair. Accepted for publication. Impact Factor: 4.021 Kana, B D, Churchyard G. 2013. Tuberculosis: The global killer. South African Journal of Science, 109:9-10. Impact Factor: 0.835
New research initiatives In 2013, the CBTBR initiated two new studies, these are detailed below. 124
Development of new counter-screening models for TB drug development M. tuberculosis is unique amongst bacterial pathogens from the perspective that it can grow and survive in multiples niches in the human body which ultimately leads to complex clinical outcomes. Moreover, in the lung, tubercle bacteria are postulated to exist in various sub-populations with differential inherent growth rates – a property that directly determines the inherent susceptibility of these organisms to standard TB therapy and contributes to the phenomenon of bacterial persistence. Consequently, TB treatment is protracted, taking a minimum of six months, in an attempt to eradicate all persisting organisms. In light of this, there has been significant effort from drug development programs in establishing models for screening potential new compounds under laboratory conditions that induce bacterial persistence. Moreover, it is generally well-accepted that in vitro screening models provide an inadequate reflection of the conditions encountered by tubercle bacteria during human infection. Hence, developing assays that mimic some of the prevailing conditions that characterize pulmonary TB disease such as hypoxia, low pH, nutrient starvation and survival in the presence of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species is imperative. The Wits node of the CBTBR has now undertaken the development of specialist screening models with the ultimate aim of establishing and validating new screening modalities for South African TB drug development consortia. These screening models will serve as counter screens for compounds that display potency in killing Mtb under standard conditions. Detection and quantification of differentially culturable tubercle bacteria during TB treatment This new project aims to detect, quantify and characterize differentially-culturable bacterial subpopulations in tuberculous sputum through supplementation of sputum cultures with culture filtrate (with or without resuscitation promoting factors - Rpfs) from M. tuberculosis grown in axenic culture. These experiments will be conducted on sputa isolated from patients infected with drug sensitive strains, before and during the course of standard combinatorial TB treatment, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the composition of bacterial populations over time. The research is funded by an Accelerator Grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Visitors Dr David Boyle: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) School of Public Health, UW, Seattle, USA. Dr Robert Wallis: Specialty Care, Pfi zer, Groton, CT, USA.
HUMAN GENOMIC DIVERSITY AND DISEASE UNIT
Director: Professor Himla Soodyall
Awards/Recognition Professor Soodyall’s contributions to science have been featured both locally and internationally on: - eNCA’s Movers and Shakers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjWcT-lWdho) - CNN’s Inside Africa (http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/world/africa/african-roots-dna/) - City Press’s 100 World-Class South Africans (http://www.citypress.co.za/features/100-world-class-south- africans-himla-soodyall/) Ms Jacqueline Frost, a PhD candidate, was awarded a 6-month scientist exchange training program with the Centre for Genome Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain, to work on gene expression profiling and signalling pathways in systemic sclerosis. Professors Mohammed Tikly and Michele Ramsay are supervising the research locally and Professor Xavier Estivill is acting as Ms Frost’s host at the CRG.
Substantial research grants Name of Grant Project Awarded By Period Holder
Professor National Department of 2011 – Southern African Human Genome Programme (SAHGP) Michele Ramsay Science and Technology Pres
Professor Millenium Promise Awards: Non-Communicable Disease NIH Fogarty International 2010- Michele Ramsay Research Leadership Program Center Grant 2015 125
H3Africa Initiative. Collaborative Centre: Genomic and Professor National Institutes of 2012 – environmental risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases in Michele Ramsay Health 2017 Africans
Ms Fahmida Investigation of FKRP-related Muscular Dystrophy Mutations 2013 – NHLS Research Trust Essop in the South African white population 2015
Ms Tasha Molecular Aetiology of PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome 2013- NHLS Research Trust Wainstein (PHTS) in a black South African Cohort 2015
Ms Fahmida Screening patients with MR for deletions, duplication and 2013 - NHLS Research Trust Essop CVV's using the Affymetrix Cytoscan TM HD array 2015
Professor Genotype/Phenotype Correlation in South African black and 2010 - Medical Research Council Amanda Krause Afrikaans Individuals with Fanconi anaemia 2013
Significant international collaborations Local International Collaborator/s Project Description Collaborator
Colin Pillai (Global Head: D & I and Scientific Student Internships in Basel, Switzerland and Professor Michele Capability Development, Diversity and Inclusion Collaborations with Centre for Genomic Ramsay Office in Pharma Development Regulation in Barcelona, Spain
Navrongo (Ghana), Nanoro (Burkina Faso) and International Network for the Demographic Professor Michele Nairobi (Kenya) – H3Africa Consortium Project Evaluation of Populations and their Health in Ramsay (AWI-Gen) Developing Countries (INDEPTH)
Professor Himla Professor M Jakobsson and Dr C Schlebusch, Genomic Studies on African Populations Soodyall Uppsala University, Sweden
Professor Professor Timothy Rebbeck, University of BRCA1/2 International Diversity by Geography Amanda Krause Pennsylvania and Ethnicity
Professor Michael R Hayden (Centre for Molecular Exploration of the pathogenesis of Huntington’s Professor Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Disease (in conjunction with researchers at Amanda Krause Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) UCT)
Professor Arnold Professor Irmgard Nippert (Westfaelische Genetic Testing in Emerging Economies Christianson Wilhelms-Universitaet, Muenster, Germany) (GenTEE)
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Participation in Congresses/ Workshops Presenter Congress Date Venue Presentation
Professor 4 – 7 Genomic studies in African 22nd IUBMB and 37th Michele September, Seville, Spain populations: Approaches and FEBS Congress Ramsay 2012 Applications (Invited Talk)
62nd Annual Meeting of the 6-9 San Francisco, Family history and risk assessment in Ms Tasha American Society of Human November, United States of black South African women with Wainstein Genetics 2012 America breast cancer.
Professor Science and Medicine in Massachusetts, 28 February, Personalised medicine for a global Michele Africa, Global Health Equity United States of 2013 population (invited talk) Ramsay Symposium America
IAMP Conference on Professor Challenges to performing genomic Changing Patterns of Non- 13-16 Johannesburg, Michele studies on NCDs in African Communicable Diseases & August, 2013 South Africa Ramsay Populations (invited talk) 4th General Assembly
Professor Migration history of the African people: African society of Human 19-21 May, Himla Accra, Ghana genomic perspectives (oral Genetics 2013 Soodyall presentation)
11th Interdisciplinary “So the doctors saw you…”: How Dr Tina- Communication, Medicine 11-13 July, context shapes genetic counselling Marié Sydney, Australia and Ethics (COMET) 2013 interactions in Johannesburg, South Wessels Conference Africa (oral presentation)
FC Gamma receptor iib rs1050501 Ms polymorphism is a possible risk factor South African Rheumatoid 3-6 April, Durban, South Jacqueline for systemic lupus erythematosus in Arthritis Association 2013 Africa Frost black South African patients (awarded 1st prize poster presentation)
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Presenter Congress Date Venue Presentation
15th Biennial Congress Dr Tina- 6-9 Risk communication in advanced maternal of the Southern African Johannesburg, Marié October, age genetic counselling sessions (oral Society of Human South Africa Wessels 2013 presentation) Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Ms Habiba 6-9 Investigating the Genetic Aetiology of PTEN of the Southern African Johannesburg, Abdool- October, Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) in a Society of Human South Africa Khader 2013 Black South African Cohort Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Smith Magenis syndrome and its reciprocal Dr Elaine of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, duplication syndrome: Case report on two Beckh-Arnold Society of Human South Africa 2013 South African patients. Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Review of Paediatric Patients with Classic Dr Louisa of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, Galactosaemia in the Metabolic Clinic, Bhengu Society of Human South Africa 2013 Johannesburg, South Africa 2001-2012 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Genetic profiling of CYP2D6 variants known Mr Nicholas of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, to alter enzyme activity in a black South Branfield Society of Human South Africa 2013 African population Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Mr Wenlong of the Southern African Johannesburg, The molecular aetiology of inherited breast October, Chen Society of Human South Africa cancer in the South African black population 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Diagnostic, Carrier and Prenatal Genetic 6-9 Ms Fahmida of the Southern African Johannesburg, Testing for Fragile X syndrome and other October, Essop Society of Human South Africa FMR-1 related disorders in Johannesburg, 2013 Genetics South Africa. A 20 year review
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Phenotypic Consequences of FANCA Dr Candice of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, Founder Mutations in Afrikaans Individuals Feben Society of Human South Africa 2013 With Fanconi Anaemia Genetics
15th Biennial Congress FC Gamma receptor iib rs1050501 Ms 6-9 of the Southern African Johannesburg, polymorphism is a possible risk factor for Jacqueline October, Society of Human South Africa systemic lupus erythematosus in black South Frost 2013 Genetics African patients
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Presenter Congress Date Venue Presentation
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 Mr Quintin the Southern African Johannesburg, MLPA analysis in patients with suspected October, Goodyear Society of Human South Africa Beta-Thalassaemia 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 Patient’s perceptions of their cancer risk Ms Tabitha the Southern African Johannesburg, October, prior to genetic counselling for inherited Haw Society of Human South Africa 2013 breast/ovarian cancer Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of Polymorphisms in the TNFA region 6-9 Ms Liesl the Southern African Johannesburg, associate with HIV-associated sensory October, Hendry Society of Human South Africa neuropathy susceptibility in black Southern 2013 Genetics Africans
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 The effect of preconception paternal Ms Ayesha the Southern African Johannesburg, October, alcohol intake on candidate gene Ismail Society of Human South Africa 2013 expression in mouse embryos Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 An additional BRCA founder mutation in Dr Robyn the Southern African Johannesburg, October, the South African Ashkenazi Jewish Kerr Society of Human South Africa 2013 population? Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia Ms Karen the Southern African Johannesburg, October, syndrome (FXTAS) in patients with a Kuhn Society of Human South Africa 2013 spinocerebelar ataxia (SCA) phenotype Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 Dr Lindsay the Southern African Johannesburg, SLC16A2 mutation identified as the cause October, Lambie Society of Human South Africa for XLID in a South African Family 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress of 6-9 Genetic Factors Influencing Inhibitor Dr Anneline the Southern African Johannesburg, October, Development In A Cohort of South African Lochan Society of Human South Africa 2013 Haemophilia A Patients Genetics
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Presenter Congress Date Venue Presentation
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Ms Kershia of the Southern African Johannesburg, Genetic variation in the CHRNA5-A3-B4 gene October, Perumal Society of Human South Africa cluster in some southern African populations 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Identification of genetic markers for obesity Ms Venesa of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, risk and body composition in a South African Pillay Society of Human South Africa 2013 black population Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Testing: Utilization Mrs Kara of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, of Services, Genetic Knowledge and Stoler Society of Human South Africa 2013 Perceptions of Stigma Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Mrs Elana of the Southern African Johannesburg, The mutation spectrum of Rett syndrome in October, Vorster Society of Human South Africa South Africa 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Inadequacies of Genetic Risk Assessment Ms Tasha of the Southern African Johannesburg, October, Tools in Black South African Women with Wainstein Society of Human South Africa 2013 Breast Cancer Genetics
15th Biennial Congress 6-9 Dr Susan of the Southern African Johannesburg, MYOC Variants in Primary Open-Angle October, Williams Society of Human South Africa Glaucoma in Black South Africans 2013 Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Mrs 6-9 Inherited breast and ovarian cancer: a review of the Southern African Johannesburg, Marianne October, of the available genetic counselling and testing Society of Human South Africa Gomes 2013 services in Johannesburg (oral presentation) Genetics
Genetic testing for haemoglobinopathies in 15th Biennial Congress Prof 6-9 Johannesburg, South Africa: a thirty-year of the Southern African Johannesburg, Amanda October, review (oral presentation) Society of Human South Africa Krause 2013 Genetics
130
Presenter Congress Date Venue Presentation
15th Biennial Congress Common population-specific SNPs Dr Ananyo of the Southern African 6-9 October, Johannesburg, identified by mining 1000 Genomes Choudhury Society of Human 2013 South Africa sequence data (oral presentation) Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Professor of the Southern African 6-9 October, Johannesburg, Genetic Services and Genetic Testing Jennifer Society of Human 2013 South Africa in South Africa (oral presentation) Kromberg Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Prof Arnold of the Southern African 6-9 October, Johannesburg, Attaining human dignity for people with Christianson Society of Human 2013 South Africa birth defects (plenary presentation) Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Professor of the Southern African 6-9 October, Johannesburg, The importance of understanding Himla Soodyall Society of Human 2013 South Africa population history (oral presentation) Genetics
15th Biennial Congress Identification of BANK1 polymorphisms Mr Sibusiso of the Southern African 6-9 October, Johannesburg, by High Resolution Melting and their Malindisa Society of Human 2013 South Africa association with Systemic Lupus Genetics Erythematosus in Black South Africans
63rd Annual Meeting of 22-26 Mr Andrew Boston, United Genetic diversity in black South the American Society of October, May States of America Africans from Soweto Human Genetics 2013
6th International 10-13 Prof Arnold Conference on Birth Attaining human dignity for people with November, Cebu, Philippines Christianson Defects and Disability in birth defects (plenary presentation) 2013 the Developing World
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Professor Himla Soodyall hosted an NHLS Research Summit Workshop in February 2013. An ethics, data management and GWAS workshop was hosted by AWI-Gen in July 2013. The Division of Human Genetics hosted the 15th Biennial Congress of the Southern African Society of Human Genetics (www.sashg2013.co.za), which took place in Sandton, Johannesburg from 6-9 October 2013. 131
Some highlights from SASHG 2013 Congress entitled, “Genetworking: Bases Building Bridges”, which took place at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg from 6-9 October, 2013.
Postdoctoral Fellows Dr Nadia Carstens - 2012 – 2014 Dr Ananyo Choudhury - 2010 – 2013 Dr Sudheer Menon - 2012 - 2013 Dr Daniel Achinko - 2013 – 2015
Publications May A, Hazelhurst S, Li Y, Norris SA, Govind N, Tikly M, Hon C, Johnson JK, Hartmann N, Staedtler F, Ramsay M. (2013). Genetic Diversity in black South Africans from Soweto. BMC Genomics, 23;14:644 Ungerer M, Knezovich J, Ramsay M. (2013). In utero alcohol exposure, epigenetic changes, and their consequences. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, pp36-46 Dandara C, Greenberg J, Lambie L, Lombard Z, Naicker T, Ramesar R, Ramsay M, Roberts L, Naicker T, Venter P, Bardien S. (2013). Direct-to-consumer genetic testing: to test or not to test, that is the question. S. Afr. Med. J., 103;8:510-512 May A, Pettifor JM, Norris SA, Ramsay M, Lombard Z. (2013). Genetic factors influencing bone mineral content in a black South African population. J Bone Miner Metab, 31;16:708-716 Ramsay M. (2012). Africa Continent of genome contrasts with implications for biomedical researchand health. FEBS Lett., 586;18:2813-2819. Lombard Z, Crowther NJ, van der Merwe L, Pitamber P, Norris SA, Ramsay M. (2012). Appetite regulation genes are associated with body mass index in black South African adolescents: a genetic association study. BMJ Open, 2;3 Pitamber PN, Lombard Z, Ramsay M. (2012). No evidence for a parent-of-origin specific differentially methylated region linked to RASGRF1. Front Genet, 3:41 Knezovich JG, Ramsay M. (2012). The effect of preconception paternal alcohol exposure on epigenetic remodelling of the H19 and RASGRF1 imprinting control regions in mouse offspring. Front Genet, 3:10 132
Frost J, Ramsay M, Mia R, Moosa L, Musenge E, Tikly M. (2012). Differential gene expression of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and HGF in clinically involved and uninvolved skin in South Africans with SSc. Rheumatology, 51;6:1049-1052. Kromberg JGR, Sizer EB, Christianson A. (2013). Genetic services and testing in South Africa. Journal of Community Genetics, 4;3:413-423. Christianson AL, Zimmern R, Kristofferson U, Schmidtke J, Kent A, Raouf R, Barreiro C, Nippert I. (2013). Health needs assessment for medical genetic services for congenital disorders in middle- and low-income nations. Journal of Community Genetics, 4;3:297-308. Baine F, Kay C, Ketelaar M, Collins J, Semaka A, Doty C, Krause A, Greenberg J, Hayden M. (2013). Huntington disease in the South African population occurs in diverse and ethnically distinct genetic haplotypes. European Journal of Human Genetics, 21;10:1120-1127. Krause A, Kromberg J, Wessels TM. (2013). Roles of genetic counsellors in South Africa. Journal of Genetic Counselling, 14;1:1-9. Krause A, Stevens E, Carss K, Cirak S, Foley R, Torelli S, Willer T, Tambunan D, Yao S, Brodd L, Sewry C, Feng L, Haliloglu G, Orhan D, Manzini C, Stemple D, Lin Y, Muntoni F. (2013). Mutations in B3GALNT2 cause congenital muscular dystrophy and hypoglycosylation of a-dystroglycan. American Journal of Human Genetics, 92;3:354-365. Gregerson N, Lampret J, Lane AB, Christianson A. (2013). The greater Sekhukhune-CAPABILITY outreach project. Journal of Community Genetics, 4;3:335-341. Wadley A, Lombard Z, Cherry C, Price P, Kamerman PR. (2013). Letter to the editor. Polymorphisms in uncoupling protein genes UCP2 and UCP3 are not associated with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy in African Individuals. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 18:94-96. Badro D, Douaihy B, Haber M, Youhanna S, Salloum A, Soodyall H, et al. (2013). Y-chromosome and mtDNA genetics reveal significant contrasts in affinitiesof modern middle Eastern populations with European and African populations. PLoS One, 8;1:1-11. Boattini A, Martinez-Cruz B, Sarno S, Harmant C, Useli A, Soodyall H, et al. (2013) Uniparental Markers in Italy reveal a sex-biased genetic structure and different historical strata. PLoS One, 8;5:1-12. Rebala K, Martinez-Cruz B, Tonjes A, Stumvoll M, Lindner I, Soodyall H, et al. (2013) Contemporary paternal genetic landscape of Polish and German populations: from early medieval Slavic expansion to post-World War II resettlements. European Journal of Human Genetics, 21;4:415-422. Schlebusch C, Lombard M, Soodyall H. (2013). mtDNA control region variation affirms diversity and deep sub- structure in populations from southern Africa. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 13-56. Nippert I, Christianson AL, Gribaldo L, Harris H, Horovitz D, Kamal Abdel-Raouf R, Kent A, Kristoffersson U, Padilla C, Penchasdeh V, Rajab A, Verma IC, Zhong N, Schmidtke J. (2013). Genetic testing in emerging economies (GenTEE): Summary Report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Der Sarkissian C, Soodyall H, Balanovsky O, Brandt G, Buzhilova A, Koshel S, et al. (2013). Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric gene-flow from Siberia in the complex human population history of North East Europe. PLoS One, 9;2:1-17. Hendry L, Lombard Z, Wadley A, Kamerman P. (2013). KCNS1, but not GCH1, is associated with pain intensity in a black Southern African population with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: a genetic association study. J Acquired Defic Syndr, 63;1:27-30. Feben C, Kromberg J, Wainwright R, Stones D, Sutton C, Poole J, Haw T, Krause A. (2013). Phenotypic consequences in black South African Fanconi anaemia patients homozygous for a founder mutation. Genetics in Medicine, published online, 17 October. Gaieski JB, Owings AC, Vilar MG, Dulik MC, Gaieski DF, Gittelman RM, Lindo J, Gau L, Schurr TG, Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Badro DA, Balanovsky O, Balaganskaya O, Balanovska E, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Fabra P, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Dibirova K, Frolova S, Ganesh Prasad A, Haak W, Haber M, Hobbs A, Javed A, Jin L, Kaplan ME, Kuznetsova M, Li S, Fabra P, Matisoo-Smith EA, Melé M, Fabra P, Merchant NC, Mitchell RJ, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Quintana-Murci L, Lacerda DR, Platt D, Radzhabov M, Renfrew C, Romanov A, Royyuru AK, Ruhlen M, Santos FR, Soodyall H, Soria Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, John KV, Santhakumari AV, Paulo Vieira P, Wells RS, Zalloua P, Zakharova T, Ziegle JS. Genetic ancestry and indigenous heritage in a Native American descendant community in Bermuda. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2011 Nov;146(3):392- 405. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.21588. Epub 2011 Aug 24. Erratum in: Am J Phys Anthropol. 2012 Jul; 148(3):486. PubMed PMID: 21994016. 133
Kang L, Lu Y, Wang C, Hu K, Chen F, Liu K, Li S, Jin L, Li H, Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Balanovska E, Balanovsky O, Behar DM, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Dulik MC, Erasmus CJ, Gaieski JB, Ganesh Prasad AK, Haak W, Hobbs A, Asif Javed A, Kaplan ME, Martínez-Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Mel M, Merchant NC, Mitchell RJ, Owings AC, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, Royyuru AK, Santos FR, Schurr TG, Soodyall H, Soria Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, Valampuri John K, Varatharajan Santhakumari A, Vieira P, Ziegle JS, Wells RS. Y-chromosome O3 haplogroup diversity in Sino-Tibetan populations reveals two migration routes into the eastern Himalayas. Ann Hum Genet. 2012 Jan; 76(1):92-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2011.00690.x. Epub 2011 Nov 23. PubMed PMID: 22111786. Lu Y, Wang C, Qin Z, Wen B, Farina SE, Jin L, Li H, Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Balanovska E, Balanovsky O, Behar DM, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Dulik MC, Erasmus CJ, Gaieski JB, Ganesh- Prasad A, Haak W, Hobbs A, Javed A, Kaplan ME, Li S, Martínez-Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Mele M, Merchant NC, Mitchell R, Owings AC, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, Royyuru AK, Santos FR, Schurr TG, Soodyall H, Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, John KV, Santhakumari AV, Vieira PP, Wells RS, Ziegle JS. Mitochondrial origin of the matrilocal Mosuo people in China. Mitochondrial DNA. 2012 Feb; 23(1):13-9. PubMed PMID: 22295860. Schurr TG, Dulik MC, Owings AC, Zhadanov SI, Gaieski JB, Vilar MG, Ramos J, Moss MB, Natkong F, Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Balanovskaya E, Balanovsky O, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, GaneshPrasad A, Hobbs A, Javed A, Jin L, Kaplan ME, Lacerda DR, Li S, Martínez-Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Melé M, Merchant NC, John Mitchell R, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, Royyuru AK, Santos FR, Soodyall H, Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, Santhakumari AV, Vieira PP, Wells RS, Zalloua PA, Ziegle JS. Clan, language, and migration historyhas shaped genetic diversity in Haida and Tlingit populations from Southeast Alaska. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2012 Jul; 148(3):422-35. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22068. Epub 2012 May 1. PubMed PMID: 22549307. Dulik MC, Owings AC, Gaieski JB, Vilar MG, Andre A, Lennie C, Mackenzie MA, Kritsch I, Snowshoe S, Wright R, Martin J, Gibson N, Andrews TD, Schurr TG, Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Balanovska E, Balanovsky O, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Kumar A, Prasad G, Haak W, Haber M, Hobbs A, Javed A, Jin L, Kaplan ME, Li S, Martínez-Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Melé M, Merchant NC, Mitchell RJ, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, Royyuru AK, Santos FR, Soodyall H, Soria Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, Varatharajan Santhakumari A, Vieira PP, Wells RS, Zalloua PA, Ziegle JS. Y-chromosome analysis reveals genetic divergence and new founding native lineages in Athapaskan- and Eskimoan-speaking populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 29; 109(22):8471-6. Epub 2012 May 14. PubMed PMID: 22586127; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3365193. Javed A, Melé M, Pybus M, Zalloua P, Haber M, Comas D, Netea MG, Balanovsky O, Balanovska E, Jin L, Yang Y, Arunkumar G, Pitchappan R, Bertranpetit J, Calafell F, Parida L; Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Badro DA, Clarke AC, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Dulik MC, Erasmus CJ, Gaieski JB, Haak W, Hobbs A, Kaplan ME, Li S, Martínez- Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Merchant NC, Mitchell RJ, Owings AC, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, K Royyuru A, Santos FR, Schurr TG, Soodyall H, Soria Hernanz DF, Tyler-Smith C, Valampuri John K, Varatharajan Santhakumari A, Vieira PP, Wells RS, Ziegle JS. Recombination networks as genetic markers in a human variation study of the Old World. Hum Genet. 2012 Apr; 131(4):601-13. doi: 10.1007/s00439-011-1104-8. Epub 2011 Oct 18. PubMed PMID: 22006219. Haber M, Platt DE, Ashrafian Bonab M, Youhanna SC, Soria-Hernanz DF, Martínez-Cruz B, Douaihy B, Ghassibe- Sabbagh M, Rafatpanah H, Ghanbari M, Whale J, Balanovsky O, Wells RS, Comas D, Tyler-Smith C, Zalloua PA; Ziegle JS, Jin L, Li S, Swamikrishnan P, Javed A, Parida L, Royyuru AK, Quintana-Murci L, Mitchell RJ, Adhikarla S, GaneshPrasad A, Pitchappan R, Santhakumari AV, Hobbs A, Soodyall H, Balanovska E, Lacerda DR, Santos FR, Vieira PP, Bertranpetit J, Melé M, Adler CJ, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Haak W, Kaplan ME, Merchant NC, Renfrew C, Clarke AC, Matisoo-Smith EA, Dulik MC, Gaieski JB, Owings AC, Schurr TG, Vilar MG. Afghanistan's ethnic groups share a Y-chromosomal heritage structured by historical events. PLoS One. 2012; 7(3):e34288. Epub 2012 Mar 28. PubMed PMID: 22470552; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3314501. Moodley Y, Linz B, Bond RP, Nieuwoudt M, Soodyall H, Schlebusch CM, Bernhöft S, Hale J, Suerbaum S, Mugisha L, van der Merwe SW, Achtman M. Age of the association between Helicobacter pylori and man. PLoS Pathog. 2012 May; 8(5):e1002693. Epub 2012 May 10. PubMed PMID: 22589724; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3349757. Martinez-Cruz B, Ioana M, Calafell F, Arauna LR, Sanz P, Ionescu R, Boengiu S, Kalaydjieva L, Pamjav H, Makukh H, Plantinga T, van der Meer JW, Comas D, Netea MG; Adhikarla S, Adler CJ, Badro DA, Balanovska E, 134
Balanovsky O, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Dulik MC, Erasmus CJ, Gaieski JB, GaneshPrasad A, Haak W, Haber M, Hobbs A, Javed A, Jin L, Kaplan ME, Li S, Matisoo-Smith EA, Melé M, Merchant NC, Mitchell R, Owings AC, Parida L, Pitchappan R, Platt DE, Quintana-Murci L, Renfrew C, Lacerda DR, Royyuru AK, Santos FR, Schurr TG, Soodyall H, Soria Hernanz DF, Swamikrishnan P, Tyler-Smith C, Valampuri John K, Varatharajan Santhakumari A, Vieira PP, Zalloua PA, Wells R. Y-chromosome analysis in individuals bearing the Basarab name of the first dynasty of Wallachian kings. PLoS One. 2012; 7(7):e41803. Epub 2012 Jul 25. PubMed PMID: 22848614; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3404992. Schlebusch CM, Skoglund P, Sjödin P, Gattepaille LM, Hernandez D, Jay F, Li S, De Jongh M, Singleton A, Blum MG, Soodyall H, Jakobsson M. Genomic Variation in Seven Khoe-San Groups Reveals Adaptation and Complex African History. Science. 2012 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 22997136. Schlebusch CM, Lombard M, Soodyall H. MtDNA control region variation affirms diversity and deep sub-structure in populations from southern Africa. BMC Evol Biol. 2013 Feb 27;13:56. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-56. PubMed PMID: 23445172; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3607893. Badro DA, Douaihy B, Haber M, Youhanna SC, Salloum A, Ghassibe-Sabbagh M, Johnsrud B, Khazen G, Matisoo-Smith E, Soria-Hernanz DF, Wells RS, Tyler-Smith C, Platt DE, Zalloua PA, Ziegle JS, Jin L, Li S, Swamikrishnan P, Javed A, Parida L, Royyuru AK, Quintana-Murci L, Mitchell RJ, Adhikarla S, GaneshPrasad A, Pitchappan R, Santhakumari AV, Hobbs A, Soodyall H, Balanovska E, Balanovsky O, Lacerda DR, Santos FR, Vieira PP, Bertranpetit J, Comas D, Martínez-Cruz B, Melé M, Adler CJ, Cooper A, Der Sarkissian CS, Haak W, Kaplan ME, Merchant NC, Renfrew C, Clarke AC, Matisoo-Smith EA, Dulik MC, Gaieski JB, Owings AC, Schurr TG, Vilar MG. Y-chromosome and mtDNA genetics reveal significant contrasts in affinities of modern Middle Eastern populations with European and African populations. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54616. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054616. Epub 2013 Jan 30. PubMed PMID: 23382925; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3559847. Arunkumar G, Soria-Hernanz DF, Kavitha VJ, Arun VS, Syama A, Ashokan KS, Gandhirajan KT, Vijayakumar K, Narayanan M, Jayalakshmi M, Ziegle JS, Royyuru AK, Parida L, Wells RS, Renfrew C, Schurr TG, Smith CT, Platt DE, Pitchappan R Adler CJ, Balanovska E, Balanovsky O, Bertranpetit J, Clarke AC, Comas D, Cooper A, Sarkissian CS, Dulik MC, Gaieski JB, Haak W, Haber M, Hobbs A, Javed A, Jin L, Kaplan ME, Li S, Martınez-Cruz B, Matisoo-Smith EA, Mele M, Merchant NC, Mitchell RJ, Owings AC, Quintana-Murci L, Lacerda DR, Santos FR, Soodyall H, Swamikrishnan P, Vieira PP, Vilar M, Zalloua PA. Population differentiation of southern Indian male lineages correlates with agricultural expansions predating the caste system. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050269. Epub 2012 Nov 28. PubMed PMID: 23209694; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3508930. Visitors Dr David Landsman - NCBI, NIH, USA Dr Matt McQueen - University of Boulder, Colorado, USA Professor Anne Bowcock - Imperial College, London, UK Professor Chris Mathew King’s College, London, UK Professor Mattias Jakobsson - Uppsala University, Sweden Dr Anneke Lucassen - University of Southampton, UK Dr Christine Patch - Guy’s Hospital, London, UK Dr Connie van Ravenswaaij-Arts - University of Groningen, Netherlands
RESPIRATORY AND MENINGEAL PATHOGENS RESEARCH UNIT
Director: Professor Shabir Madhi
Awards/Recognition Professor Shabir Madhi received the MRC Lifetime Achievement Award (Platinum Medal) in recognition of the excellence of his research in the field of vaccinology and respiratory and meningeal pathogens and its impact on improving child health in South Africa and other developing countries. Professor Shabir Madhi was also listed among the “Top 100 World Class South Africans”, which included among others former Presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and many other luminaries in the inaugural edition of this listing by City Press. 135
Professor Keith Klugman received the Albert E. Levy Scientific Research Award for Senior Faculty at Emory University. Established to recognize the contributions of Emory faculty members to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Each year, one senior faculty member is selected by the University Research Committee to recognize outstanding research publications. Professor Keith Klugman also received the APUA 2013 Leadership Award of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics. Professors Keith Klugman and Shabir Madhi are NRF A-rated researchers and were awarded a medal at the Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Research Celebration on 20 November 2013. Michelle Groome received an award for best poster presentation at the 8th World Congress on Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, South Africa 19-22 November 2013 for the poster entitled: “Effect Of Breast- Feeding On Immunogenicity Of Oral Live-Attenuated Human Rotavirus Vaccine”.
Substantial research grants
2013 INCOME Syndicate Name Funder Funds Received Gates Maternal Flu Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 45 403 573.46 JHSPH AVI Time Series John Hopkins University 446 633.68 PERCH John Hopkins University 6 815 976.00 Respiratory Diseases Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation via & Meningitis Emory University 527 628.53 RMPRU BARA GlaxoSmithKline (111634) 274 809.80 RMPRU BARA GlaxoSmithKline (PCV-10) 2 313 960.00 RMPRU BARA Medical Research Council 220 833.72 RMPRU BARA NICD - MRC Allocation 416 666.67 NICD - SARI/ROTA RMPRU BARA SURVEILLANCE 931 951.22 RMPRU BARA Novartis 111634 534 966.71 RMPRU BARA Novartis V98_08 3 971 805.42 RMPRU BARA Novartis V98_150B 1 643 006.30 Pfizer Laboratories - Educational RMPRU BARA Grant Prof Madhi 150 000.00 RMPRU BARA PPD (MedImmune MI-CP178) 439 795.00 RMPRU BARA University of Cape Town 80 741.60 RMPRU BARA University of Michigan (GAPPS) 677 608.99 Wits University - Dept of Paediatric RMPRU BARA Oncology 15 676.88 Wits University - Wits Physiological RMPRU BARA Department 3 068.85 RMPRU BARA Wits University - FRC 233 264.09 RMPRU BARA Wits University - NRF 952 343.00 RMPRU Microbiome JC Craig Venter Institute 1 729 936.56 ROTA PATH 2 897 602.76 70 681 849.24
Significant local research collaborations Collaboration on the South African intussusception surveillance study in the South African paediatric surgery departments with multiple surgeons: Laboratory testing for South African intussusception surveillance study – Nicola Page, Centre for Enteric Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases: Division of NHLS, Johannesburg. 136
Significant international research collaborations Margaret Cortese, Umesh Parashar: Viral Gastroenteritis Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. Epidemiological support for the rotavirus effectiveness case control study. Baoming Jiang: Viral Gastroenteritis Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. Laboratory support for study to investigate the effect of breast-feeding on immune response to rotavirus vaccine in infants; Laboratory support for intussusception surveillance study. Alexander Mentzer: University of Oxford, UK ‘The Genetics of Response to Childhood Vaccination in Infants from Sub-Saharan Africa’. Kathleen Neuzil, Justin Ortiz- PATH, Seattle; Eric Simoes, Adriana Weinberg- University of Colorado, Avye Violari- PHRU, Marietjie Venter- NICD- Collaborators, Maternal Influenza vaccine trials. Gregory Hussey- UCT, Wolfgang Preizer- University of Stellenbosch, Hanna Noyhnek- Finland, Adam Cohen- CDC, SA; Elizabeth Zell- USA; James Mcintyre- ANOVA, Angela Gentile- Argentina: DSMB members, Maternal Influenza vaccine trials.
Participation in congresses Professor Keith Klugman - Feb 2013 Invited Opening Lecture, 2nd Conference on Controversies in Vaccination in Adults (CoVAC), Munich, Germany. - Feb 2013 Invited Lecture, International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance (IMED 2013), Vienna, Austria. - Feb 2013 Visiting Lecture, Laboratory of Prof Didier Raoult, Rickettsia Unit, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France. - Mar 2013 Invited Plenary Lectures, 5th Sabin Vaccine Institute Regional Pneumococcal Symposium, Sao Paulo, Brazil - Mar 2013 Invited Lecture, XV International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections, Rotterdam, Holland - Apr 2013 Invited Chair of Plenary Session and Invited Lecture, 23rd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Berlin, Germany - May 2013 Invited Speaker, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - Impact Evaluation in India – Workshop, Delhi, India. - Jun 2013 Invited Plenary Lecture and Chair of Session, International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) 2013, Geneva, Switzerland. - Jul 2013 Invited Lecture, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) XXI Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Vaccine Preventable Diseases, PAHO, Quito , Ecuador - Aug 2013 Invited Lecture, 27th Congress of the International Pediatric Association, International Congress of Pediatrics 2013 (ICP), Melbourne, Australia. - Sep 2013 Invited Participant, Workshop on Impact Evaluation of PCV Vaccines and an X-Ray Pneumonia, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland. - Sep 2013 Options VIII, Options for the Control of Influenza, Cape Town, South Africa. - Sep 2013 53rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), Denver CO - Oct 2013 ID Week 2013, San Francisco, CA Anne von Gottberg attended: - an International Pneumococcal Disease Expert Panel held in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, February 11, 2013, convened by Pfizer International Corporation, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. - the Meningitis Expert Forum: A focus on MenACWY-CRM, convened by Novartis in Milan, Italy, 28 May. - the Global meeting on Implementing New and Under-utilized Vaccines. Meeting convened by WHO in the Dominican Republic, 4-6th June. Dr von Gottberg presented on the South African experience with pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae serotype b vaccine introduction. Anne von Gottberg and Nicole Wolter attended the Pfizer Pneumococcal Expert Summit in Cape Town from 16- 17th March. Cheryl Cohen and Anne von Gottberg presented at the “Impact of routine introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and rotavirus vaccine on pneumococcal and rotavirus disease” meeting held at the NHLS with the National Department of Health on the 23rd July 2013. Cheryl Cohen and Anne von Gottberg gave a presentation at the National Advisory Group on Immunisation meeting on 19 April entitled “Impact of PCV vaccine introduction into the EPI - update 137
Linda de Gouveia attended a Lab Technical Working Group for the WHO Invasive Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Network in Bangkok from 12th-14th November. Linda de Gouveia attended a New and Under-utilised Vaccines Implementation (NUVI) Working Group meeting for the WHO Invasive Bacterial Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Network, Geneva Switzerland, 16-20 September. Mignon du Plessis attended the 2nd Global Meningococcal Initiative Summit meeting at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town, 17-18th November 2013 Mignon du Plessis presented a poster at the European Monitoring Group for Meningococci meeting in Bad Loipersdorf, Austria: 17-19 September 2013. Maimuna Carrim presented a poster at the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of South Africa meeting in the Drakensberg, 10-12 October 2013. Nicole Wolter, Fahima Moosa, Michelle Groome, Susan Nzenze, Ziyaad Dangor, Marta Nunes and Zanele Ditse presented posters at the World Societies of Pediatric Infectious Diseases meeting in Cape Town, November 2013. Courtney Olwagen, Natasha Stander, Mariette Middel, Nadia van Niekerk, Razia Hassan-Moosa, Lillian Chinyanganya, Lisa Jose, Andrea Hugo, Niresha Govender, Stephanie Jones, Vicky Baillie, Zena Kimaro, Sabelle Jallow and Clare Cutland attended the World Societies of Pediatric Infectious Diseases meeting in Cape Town, November 2013. David Moore attended: - The Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of South Africa Conference, Drakensburg, October 2013. - World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, November 2013. - PERCH meeting, Windsor (UK), December 2013. Alane Izu presented a talk at WNAR, June 2013: Bayesian Estimation of Mixture Models with Prespecified Elements to Compare Drug Resistance in Treatment-Naive and Experienced Tuberculosis Cases. Susan Nzenze attended: - NP Microbiome, 2nd annual meeting, 7 to 9 May, Manila, Philippines - Annual School of Public Health Writing Retreat, 12 to 14 September 2013, Shumba Lodge, Lanseria - 9th Annual Vaccinology Course, 25 to 29 November, Cape Town, South Africa Michelle Groome attended: - International Advanced Vaccinology (ADVAC) course 6-17 May 2013 in Annecy, France. - Attended 10th Vaccinology Scientific Congress 2013, Hermanus 14-15 October 2013. Gave a presentation entitled: “Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on pneumonia hospitalisation in South Africa”. - Vaccines for Enteric Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand 6-8 November 2013. - 8th World Congress on Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, South Africa 19-22 November 2013. - Poster presentation entitled “Effect Of Breast-Feeding On Immunogenicity Of Oral Live-Attenuated Human Rotavirus Vaccine”. - Oral presentation entitled “Case-Control Study Of The Effectiveness Of Rotavirus Vaccination Against Hospitalisation For Acute Rotavirus Diarrhoea In South African Children”. Clare Cutland attended: - 10th Vaccinology Scientific Congress 2013, Hermanus 14-15 October 2013. Gave a presentation entitled: “Clinical evaluation of a new hexavalent vaccine”. - 8th World Congress on Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cape Town, South Africa 19-22 November 2013. Presented 2 oral presentations: o Impact of maternal HIV infection on measles antibody transfer o Invasive Group B Streptococcus sepsis in young South African infants in era of high maternal HIV infection rates (2004-2008). - Invited speaker of ‘9th Annual African Vaccinology course: Developing Vaccinology expertise for Africa (25-29 Nov 2013). Oral presentation ‘Influenza’
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop Hosted the Gates 1st Investigators’ Meeting at the NICD on 22nd and 23rd April 2013 to discuss the progress, sampling and data analysis for the Gates Pneumococcal Whole Genome Sequencing Project. David Moore hosted the Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health (PERCH) Data Day, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, February 2013.
138
Publications The multidrug-resistant PMEN1 pneumococcus is a paradigm for genetic success.Wyres KL, Lambertsen LM, Croucher NJ, McGee L, von Gottberg A, Liñares J, Jacobs MR, Kristinsson KG, Beall BW, Klugman KP, Parkhill J, Hakenbeck R, Bentley SD, Brueggemann AB (2013). Genome Biol; 13: R103. Sequential triplex real-time PCR assay for detecting 21 pneumococcal capsular serotypes that account for a high global disease burden. Fabiana C Pimenta, Alexis Roundtree, Ahmet Soysal, MustafaBakir, Mignon du Plessis, Nicole Wolter, Anne von Gottberg, Lesley McGee, Maria da Gloria Carvalho and Bernard Beall. J. Clin Microbiol. 2013, 51 (2):647-652. Impact Factor: 4.068, Journal Rank: 27, Quartile Q1. Pneumococcal capsular switching: A historical perspective. Kelly L Wyres, Lotte M Lambertsen, Nicolas J. Croucher, Lesley McGee, Anne von Gottberg, Josefina Linares, Michael R Jacobs, Karl G Kristinsson, Bernard W Beall, Keith Klugman, Julian Parkhill, Regine Hakenbeck, Stephen D Bentley and Angela B Brueggemann. JID 2013:207 (1 February) 439-449. Impact Factor: 5.848, Ranking 20 in Immunology, 5 in Infectious Diseases, 13 in Microbiology. All Q1. Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in the pre-conjugate vaccine era: South Africa, 2003-2008. Anne von Gottberg, Cheryl Cohen, Linda de Gouveia, Susan Meiring, Vanessa Quan, Andrew Whitelaw, Penny Crowther-Gibson, Shabir A Madhi, Cynthia G Whitney, Keith P Klugman. Vaccine 31 (2013) 4200-4208. Impact Factor: 3.492, Ranking: Immunology 48, Q2; Medicine, Research & Experimental 33, Q2. Acquisition of Streptococcus pneumonia in Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-naïve Ssouth African children and their mothers. Marta C Nunes, Tinevimbo Shiri, Nadia van Niekerk, Clare L Cutland, Michelle J Groome, Anthonet Koen, Anne von Gottberg, Linda de Gouveia, Keith P Klugman, Peter V Adrian, Shabir A Madhi. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal: 32.(5), May 2013:e192-e205. Impact Factor: 3.569. Q2 Ranking: Immunology 45, Infectious Disease 18, Paediatrics 6, Q1. Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected South African children, 2010-2011. Jocelyn Moyes, Cheryl cohen, Marthi Pretoriius, Michelle Groome, Anne von Gottberg, Nicole Wolter, Sibongile Walaza, SumayyaHaffejee, Meera Chhagan, FathimaNaby, Adam L Cohen, Stefano Tempia, Kathleen Kahn, Halima Dawood, Marietjie Venter and Shabir Madhi for the South African Severe Acute Respiratory Illness Surveillance Group. JID 2013:208 (Suppl 3) S217-26. Impact Factor: 5.848, Ranking 20 in Immunology, 5 in Infectious Diseases, 13 in Microbiology. All Q1. Dynamics of pneumococcal transmission in vaccine-naïvechildren and their HIV-infected or HIV-uninfected mothers during the first two years of life. Shiri T, Auranen K, Nunes MC, Adrian PV, van Niekerk N, de Gouveia L, von Gottberg A, Klugman KP, Madhi SA(2013). Amer J Epidemiol, Oct 3 epub ahead of print. Impact Factor: 4.780, Q1, Ranking 9 of 161. HIV and influenza infection are associated with increased blood pneumococcal load, South Africa, 2009-2011. Wolter N, Cohen C, Tempia S, Madhi SA, Venter M, Moyes J, Walaza S, Kgotong BM, Groome M, du Plessis M, Pretorius M, Dawood H, Kahn K, Variava E, Klugman KP, von Gottberg A (2013) J Infect Dis, Aug 6 epub ahead of print. . Impact Factor: 5.848, Ranking 20 in Immunology, 5 in Infectious Diseases, 13 in Microbiology. All Q1. Temporal changes in pneumococcal colonization in a rural- African community with high HIV- prevalence following routine infant pneumococcal immunization. Nzenze SA, Shiri T, Nunes MC, Klugman KP, Kahn K, Twine R, de Gouveia L, von Gottberg A, Madhi SA (2013). Pediatr Infect Dis J; 32: 1270 – 1278. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal: 32.(5), May 2013:e192-e205. Impact Factor: 3.569. Q2 Ranking: Immunology 45, Infectious Disease 18, Paediatrics 6, Q1. Interrelationship of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus colonization within and between pneumococcal-vaccine naive mother-child dyads. Shiri T, Nunes MC, Adrian PV, Van Niekerk N, Klugman KP, Madhi SA (2013) BMC Infect Dis; 13: 483 epub ahead of print. Impact Factor: 3.025, Q2, Ranking 24 of 70. Association of serum anti-rotavirus immunoglobulin A antibody seropositivity and protection against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis: Analysis of clinical trials of human rotavirus vaccine. Cheuvart B, Neuzil KM, Steele AD, Cunliffe N, Madhi SA, Karkada N, Htay Han H,Vinals C. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013 Nov 13;10(2). [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24240068. Early time-limited antiretroviral therapy versus deferred therapy in South African infants infected with HIV: results from the children with HIV early antiretroviral (CHER) randomised trial. Cotton MF, Violari A, Otwombe K, Panchia R, Dobbels E, Rabie H, Josipovic D, Liberty A, Lazarus E, Innes S, van Rensburg AJ, Pelser W, Truter H, Madhi 139
SA, Handelsman E, Jean-Philippe P, McIntyre JA, Gibb DM, Babiker AG; CHER Study Team. Lancet. 2013 Nov 9;382(9904):1555-63. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61409-9. PubMed PMID: 24209829. Severe Influenza-associated Respiratory Infection in High HIV Prevalence Setting, South Africa, 2009-2011. Cohen C, Moyes J, Tempia S, Groom M, Walaza S, Pretorius M, Dawood H, Chhagan M, Haffejee S, Variava E, Kahn K, Tshangela A, von Gottberg A, Wolter N, Cohen AL, Kgokong B, Venter M, Madhi SA. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;19(11). doi: 10.3201/eid1911.130546. PubMed PMID: 24209781; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3837669. Review of guidelines for evidence-based management for childhood community-acquired pneumonia in under-5 years from developed and developing countries. Nascimento-Carvalho CM, Madhi SA, O'Brien KL. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Nov;32(11):1281-2. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3182a4dcfa. PubMed PMID: 24141800. Effect of in-utero HIV exposure and antiretroviral treatment strategies on measles susceptibility and immunogenicity of measles vaccine. Simani OE, Adrian PV, Violari A, Kuwanda L, Otwombe K, Nunes MC, Cotton MF, Madhi SA. AIDS. 2013 Jun 19;27(10):1583-91. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32835fae26. PubMed PMID: 24047763. Immunogenicity of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administered at 6, 14 and 40 weeks of age in South African infants. Jones SA, Groome M, Koen A, Van Niekerk N, Sewraj P, Kuwanda L, Izu A, Adrian PV, Madhi SA. PLoS One.2013 Aug 28;8(8):e72794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072794. PubMed PMID: 24015277; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3755982. Considerations for a phase-III trial to evaluate a group B Streptococcus polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine in pregnant women for the prevention of early- and late-onset invasive disease in young-infants. Madhi SA, Dangor Z, Heath PT, Schrag S, Izu A, Sobanjo-Ter Meulen A, Dull PM. Vaccine. 2013 Aug 28;31 Suppl 4:D52-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.029. PubMed PMID: 23973347. Pneumonia in low and middle income countries: progress and challenges. Zar HJ, Madhi SA, Aston SJ, Gordon SB. Thorax. 2013 Nov;68(11):1052-6. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204247. Epub 2013 Aug 16. PubMed PMID: 23956020. Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine on Childhood Diarrheal Hospitalization Following Introduction into the South African Public Immunization Program. Msimang VM, Page N, Groome MJ, Moyes J, Cortese M, Seheri M, Kahn K, Chagan M, Madhi SA, Cohen C. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23934208. Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Seasonal and H1N1(2009)-Pandemic Influenza Virus Illnesses in HIV- Infected Children During 2009. Madhi SA, Kuwanda L, Venter M, Violari A. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Jul 31. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23907261. Association of Streptococcus pneumoniae common protein antigen (CPA) antibodies and pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected African children. Ditse Z, Adrian PV, Kuwanda L, Madhi SA. Vaccine. 2013 Sep 13;31(40):4421-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.06.097. Epub 2013 Jul 8. PubMed PMID: 23845819. Evaluation of Trans-Vag broth, colistin-nalidixic agar, and CHROMagar StrepB for detection of group B Streptococcus in vaginal and rectal swabs from pregnant women in South Africa. Kwatra G, Madhi SA, Cutland CL, Buchmann EJ, Adrian PV. J Clin Microbiol. 2013 Aug;51(8):2515-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00251-13. Epub 2013 May 22. PubMed PMID: 23698527; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3719654. Antibody persistence and booster vaccination of a fully liquid hexavalent vaccine coadministered with measles/mumps/rubella and varicella vaccines at 15-18 months of age in healthy South African infants. Madhi SA, Koen A, Cutland C, Groome M, Santos-Lima E. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Aug;32(8):889-97. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e318292f7b1. PubMed PMID: 23538523. Impact of the antiretroviral treatment program on the burden of hospitalization for culture-confirmed tuberculosis in South African children: a time-series analysis. Dangor Z, Izu A, Hillier K, Solomon F, Beylis N, Moore DP, Nunes MC, Madhi SA. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Sep;32(9):972-7. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31828d9aa4. PubMed PMID: 23503163. Review of a new fully liquid, hexavalent vaccine: Hexaxim. Nunes MC, Madhi SA. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2013 Apr;13(4):575-93. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2013.774368. Epub 2013 Feb 27. PubMed PMID: 23441818. Severe Acute Lower Respiratory Infections Working Group. Global and regional burden of hospital admissions for severe acute lower respiratory infections in young children in 2010: a systematic analysis. Nair H, Simões EA, Rudan I, Gessner BD, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Zhang JS, Feikin DR, Mackenzie GA, Moïsi JC, Roca A, Baggett HC, Zaman SM, Singleton RJ, Lucero MG, Chandran A, Gentile A, Cohen C, Krishnan A, Bhutta ZA, Arguedas A, 140
Clara AW, Andrade AL, Ope M, Ruvinsky RO, Hortal M, McCracken JP, Madhi SA, Bruce N, Qazi SA, Morris SS, El Arifeen S, Weber MW, Scott JA, Brooks WA, Breiman RF, Campbell H. Lancet. 2013 Apr 20;381(9875):1380- 90. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61901-1. Epub 2013 Jan 29. Review. PubMed PMID: 23369797. Immunogenicity following the first and second doses of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-infected and -uninfected infants. Madhi SA, Izu A, Violari A, Cotton MF, Panchia R, Dobbels E, Sewraj P, van Niekerk N, Jean-Philippe P, Adrian PV; CIPRA-4 team. Vaccine. 2013 Jan 21;31(5):777-83. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.11.076. Epub 2012 Dec 8. PubMed PMID: 23228814; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3646262. The burden of childhood pneumonia in the developed world: a review of the literature. Madhi SA, De Wals P, Grijalva CG, Grimwood K, Grossman R, Ishiwada N, Lee PI, Nascimento-Carvalho C, Nohynek H, O'Brien KL, Vergison A, Wolter J. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Mar;32(3):e119-27. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3182784b26. Review. PubMed PMID: 23099423. Distribution of pilus islands of group B streptococcus associated with maternal colonization and invasive disease in South Africa. Madzivhandila M, Adrian PV, Cutland CL, Kuwanda L, Madhi SA; PoPS Trial Team. J Med Microbiol. 2013 Feb;62(Pt 2):249-53. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.052951-0. Epub 2012 Oct 11. PubMed PMID: 23065545. Efficacy and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in HIV-infected children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Madhi SA, Dittmer S, Kuwanda L, Venter M, Cassim H, Lazarus E, Thomas T, Liberty A, Treurnich F, Cutland CL, Weinberg A, Violari A. AIDS. 2013 Jan 28;27(3):369-79. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32835ab5b2. PubMed PMID: 23032417. Visitors Professor Martin Maiden and Dr Keith Jolley from the University of Oxford in the UK on 24 May to discuss utilization of the Bacterial Isolate Genome Database (developed by Prof. Maiden’s group) in assembling and analysing whole genome sequence data for bacterial pathogens. Mr Feyruz Yelcin from the Sanger Institute in the UK visited from 20-24 May to assist with whole genome data analysis for the Pneumococcal African Genome project. Andries van Tonder, a Bioinformatician from Oxford University who is currently investigating the evolution of the pneumococcus through whole genome analysis. Drs’ Jonas Winchell and Maureen Diaz from the CDC spent a week conducting training related to implementation of a new technology (Taqman Array PCR) used for detecting the aetiology of neonatal sepsis in infants at CH Baragwanath hospital. Dr Carla Talarico (Streptococcus Laboratory, CDC) and Dr Jason Mwenda (Regional coordinator, New Vaccine Disease Surveillance, WHO AFRO) conducted an audit of all processes involved in the PCR testing of suspected meningitis samples received from various southern African countries as part of the Invasive Bacterial Disease Paediatric Meningitis Surveillance Network.
WITS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR MALARIA (WRIM)
Co-Directors: Professors Maureen Coetzee and Theresa Coetzer
Appointments Dr Lizette L. Koekemoer was appointed to the full-time University staff as Associate Professor and Reader.
Substantial research grants Entomology: Sterile Insect Technique – International Anatomic Energy Agency (€43, 075), NTeMBI, R1,230,000 (2010-2013). International Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research – NIH, US$250,000 (2010-2015). Novel vector control methods – CDC/GDD, R1,240,000 (2013-2014). Malaria vector mosquitoes biology and insecticide resistance – DST/NRF SARChI, R2,300,000 (2013-2017). Metabolic enzyme analysis in malaria vector mosquitoes - NHLS-RT, R90,000 (2014-2015). MRC, R165,000 (2012-2014). NRF Incentive Funding (R160,000). Parasitology: MRC SHIP, Gametocyte Consortium, R1,714,000 (2013 – 2014). 141
NRF incentive funding, R480,000 (2009-2014). NHLS Research Trust, Plasmodium falciparum glycerol kinase, R90,000 (2014-2015). Faculty of Health Sciences Research Committee, Plasmodium falciparum projects, R46 000 (2013). Pharmacology: FRC, Plasmodium falciparum kinase (PfcGAK) and its possible use as a drug target in malaria therapy, R40,000 (2013).
Significant local research collaborations Entomology: Collaboration on the Sterile Insect Technique project included the research group in the Kruger National Park, the Medical Research Council and NTeMBI labs. Field trials of new insecticides were carried out for Bayer Cropsciences in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Malaria Control Programme. The Akirin project involves collaboration with the University of Pretoria. Parasitology: Collaboration with University of Pretoria and CSIR on a gametocyte consortium, to screen and evaluate compounds active against Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Pharmacology: Collaborations were initiated with various groups around South Africa to evaluate the antimalarial activity of several synthetic or naturally derived compounds: University of the Free State, Rhodes University, Tswane University of Technology, Medical University of Lublin and SANBI.
Significant international research collaborations Entomology: The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (USA) on the ICEMR project, together with Zambian and Zimbabwean colleagues. WHO/AFRO Ethiopia on alternative vector control methods. CDC, Atlanta (USA) on alternative vector control methods. Akirin project: Spainish Centre for Veterinary Health Science. International Atomic Energy Agency collaboration on the Sterile Insect Technique project. Parasitology: Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France and Keele University, UK, on parasite – host protein interactions. Tufts University, Boston, USA, on parasite phage display projects. Marburg University, Germany, on parasite protein trafficking pathways. Pharmacology: Collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India and Jamia Millia Islamia, India to investigate four new groups of novel synthetic compounds.
Participation in Congresses/ Workshops Entomology: Brooke, BD. 2013. Updated WHO guidelines for monitoring of insecticide resistance. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Brooke, BD. 2013. Malaria vector control in South Africa. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Adeogun, A., Popoola, K., Koekemoer, L., Choi, K., Olakiigbe, A., Awolola, T. Evidence of genetic differentiation between populations of Anopheles coluzzii within the forest ecological zone in Nigeria. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Braack, L., Coetzee, M., Gericke, A., Hunt, R., Koekemoer, L.L., Munhenga, G., Okia, M., Chirebvu, E., Focke, W., Haddow, A. Addressing and important shortfall in global malaria control strategy. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Munhenga, G., Brooke, B., Spillings, B., Essop, L., Hunt, R., Midzi, S., Govender, D., Koekemoer, L. Sterile Insect Technique: field feasibility study site selection, species abundance and monthly distribution of Anopheline mosquitoes in northern Kruger National Park, South Africa. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Essop, L. Brooke, B.D., Koekemoer, L.L. Life history characteristics and the effect of fipronil on an Anopheles arabiensis Genetic Sexing Strain. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. 142
Osae, M., Kwawukumey, A., Wilson, D.,Wilson, M., Knols, B., Koekemoer, L. Indoor resting behaviour of anopheline vectors: implications for targeted application of entomopathogenic fungi in southern Ghana. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Nardini, L., Coetzee, M., Hunt, R.H., Brooke, B.D., Koekemoer L.L. Insecticide resistance in malaria vectors at a mining site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Dahan, Y., Koekemoer, L. Analysis of the genitalia rotation in the male Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae). 6th MIM Pa n-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Kaiser, M., Duncan, F., Brooke, B. 2013. Embryonic development and rates of metabolic activity in early and late hatching eggs of the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Wood, O., Hunt, R., Choi, K., Brooke, B., Koekemoer, L., Coetzee, M. 2013. Multiple insecticide resistance detected in Anopheles funestus in Zimbabwe and Zambia. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Oliver, S., Brooke, B. The effect of multiple blood meals on the life history and expression of insecticide resistance in the major Malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae). 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Lyons, C., Coetzee, M., Terblanche, J., Chown, S. Potential for climate change to increase the distribution range of malaria mosquitoes in southern Africa. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Coetzee, M. The African Network for Vector Resistance. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Parasitology: Thérèsa Louise Coetzer and Dewaldt Engelbrecht. To Each His Own: Fever Induces Different Suicide Mechanisms in Early and Late Stage Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Parasites in vitro. American Society of Hematology annual meeting, New Orleans, USA, December 2013 Alisje Steyn and Thérèsa L. Coetzer. Transgenic Plasmodium falciparum parasites expressing chimaeric ama-1 and sub2 invasion proteins. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Hean A, Coetzer TL. Characterisation of a putative ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene in Plasmodium falciparum. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Belinda C. Bezuidenhout and Thérèsa L. Coetzer. Plasmodium falciparum AP1 localizes to the cis-Golgi and is implicated in the transport of parasite proteins. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Dale Liebenberg and Theresa L. Coetzer. Identification of Binding Partners for a Putative P. falciparum Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) Protein. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Dewaldt Engelbrecht and Thérèsa Louise Coetzer. Turning up the heat: heat stress induces markers of programmed cell death in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Kubendran Naidoo and Theresa L. Coetzer. Impaired phospholipid synthesis contributes to the reduced intra- erythrocytic growth of glycerol kinase knockout Plasmodium falciparum parasites. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Melanie Wepener and Theresa L Coetzer. Creation of transgenic Plasmodium falciparum parasites expressing chimaeric invasion proteins. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013
Warren A. Vieira, Pierre M. Durand and Thérèsa L Coetzer. Binding partners of putative SWIB domain proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013 Theresa L Coetzer. Plasmodium falciparum: Past, present and future. World Malaria Day, NICD/NHLS, April 2013. Pharmacology: Van Zyl, R.L., Cangi, B. & Conradie, L. The antimalarial properties of citronellol- and geraniol-containing insect repellants. 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference, Durban, South Africa, October 2013. Chiwakata, M.T., Munedzimwe, T.C., Edkins, A., Van Zyl, R.L. & Beukes, D.R. Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activities of semi-synthetic derivatives of sargahydroquinoic acid isolated from Sargassum heterophyllum. XIV International Symposium on Marine Natural products, Spain, September 2013. 143
Ngarivhume, T., Van der Westhuizen, J.H., Marston, A. & Van Zyl, R.L. Bioactivities of Some Herbal Medicines from Zimbabwe. 61th International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) for Ethnopharmacology, Münster, Germany, September 2013. Van Zyl, R.L., Cangi, B. & Conradie, L. The antimalarial properties of citronellol- and geraniol-containing insect repellants. Research Forum Day, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Parktown, September 2013. Harmse, L., Doerig C. & Coetzer, T.L. Plasmodium falciparum cyclin G associated kinase (PfcGAK) as a potential drug target. Research Forum Day, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Parktown, September 2013. Van Zyl, R.L. Antimalarial opportunities: past and present. World Malaria Day, NICD/NHLS, Modderfontein, April 2013.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop An ad hoc entomology training workshop was held for malaria control programme personnel from Mozambique.
Postdoctoral Fellows Entomology: Dr Annette Bennett Dr Candice Lyons Dr Givemore Munhenga Dr Kwang Shik Choi Dr Luisa Nardini Dr Yael Dahan Parasitology: Dr Sonja Lauterbach Dr Belinda Bezuidenhout
Publications Entomology: Coetzee, M. & Koekemoer, L.L. 2013. Molecular systematics and insecticide resistance in the major African malaria vector, Anopheles funestus. Annual Review of Entomology 58: 393-412. (IF = 13.589). Lyons, C.L., Coetzee, M. & Chown, S.L. 2013. Stable and fluctuating temperature effects on the development rate and survival of two malaria vectors, Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus. Parasites & Vectors 6: 104. (IF = 3.246). Haji, K.A, Khatib, B.O., Smith, S., Ali, A.S., Devine, G.J., Coetzee, M. & Majambere, S. 2013. Challenges for malaria elimination in Zanzibar: pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors and poor performance of long-lasting insecticide nets. Parasites & Vectors 6: 82. (IF = 3.246). Choi, K.S., Coetzee, M. & Koekemoer, L.L. 2013. Detection of clade types (clades I and II) within Anopheles funestus sensu stricto by the hydrolysis probe analysis (Taqman assay). Parasites & Vectors 6: 173. (IF = 3.246). Lo, T.M. & Coetzee, M. 2013. Marked biological differences between insecticide resistant and susceptible strains of Anopheles funestus infected with the murine parasite, Plasmodium berghei. Parasites & Vectors 6: 184. (IF = 3.246). Oliver, S.V. & Brooke, B.D. 2013. The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis. Malaria Journal 12: 44. (IF = 3.400). Koekemoer, Ll, Waniwa, K. Brooke, Bd, Nkosi, G; Mabuza, A. 2013. Larval salinity tolerance of two members of the Anopheles funestus group. Medical and Veterinary Entomology (doi: 10.1111/mve.12027). (IF = 2.208). Dahan, Y.L. & Koekemoer, L.L. 2013. Analysis of the genitalia rotation in the male Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae). Acta Tropica (pii: S0001-706X(13)00203-9. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.07.023). (IF = 2.787). Nardini, L., Christian, R.N., Coetzer, N., Koekemoer, L.L. 2013. DDT and permethrin resistance in Anopheles arabiensis from South Africa. Parasites and Vectors 6: 229. (IF = 3.246). Parasitology: Menard, R., Tavares, J., Cockburn, I., Markus, M., Zavala, F. & Amino, R. 2013. Looking under the skin: the first steps in malarial infection and immunity. Nature Reviews Microbiology 11: 701-712. (IF = 22.49). Dewaldt Engelbrecht and Thérèsa L Coetzer. 2013. Turning up the heat: heat stress induces markers of programmed cell death in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Cell Death and Disease, in press. (IF = 6.044). Kubendran Naidoo and Thérèsa L Coetzer. 2013. Reduced glycerol incorporation into phospholipids contributes to impaired intra-erythrocytic growth of glycerol kinase knockout Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Biochim et Biophys Acta, General subjects, 1830(11):5326-5334. (IF = 4.204). 144
Dewaldt Engelbrecht and Thérèsa Louise Coetzer. 2012. The walking dead: Is hydroethidine a suitable viability dye for intra-erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum?. Parasitol Internat, 61:731-734. (IF = 2.259). Xuerong Li, Marina Marinkovic , Crystal Russo, C. James McKnight, Theresa L. Coetzer, Athar H. Chishti. 2012. Identification of a specific region of Plasmodium falciparum EBL-1 that binds to host receptor glycophorin B and inhibits merozoite invasion in human red blood cells. Mol Biochem Parasitol 183:23-31. (IF 2.875). Dewaldt Engelbrecht, Pierre Marcel Durand and Thérèsa Louise Coetzer. 2012. On programmed cell death in Plasmodium falciparum: status quo. J Trop Med, Article ID 646534, 15 pages.
New research initiatives Entomology: A targeted IRS project with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, funded by a DFID/MRC/Wellcome Trust grant, 2014-2016. Multi-country project on alternative vector control methods with WHO/AFRO, LSHTM and ICIPE, funded by UNEP/GEF, 2014-2016. Comparative insecticide resistance in vector mosquitoes with the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, funded by a South African/Tanzania intiative, 2014-2015. Parasitology: A proposal on “Establishment of a Mosquito-parasite Infection Resource Centre (MIRC)” in collaboration with the Entomology unit has been submitted to MRC SHIP. Pharmacology: In collaboration with Professor Dr JB Baruah (Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India), a new series of 8- hydroxyquinolines were designed, synthesised and characterised before being evaluated for antimalarial activity. Investigations into a further set three sets of novel compounds were undertaken in collaboration with Prof A Azam (Jamia Millia Islamia, India) were synthesised and the antimalarial and cytotoxic activity and haemozoin inhibitory mechanism of action investigated. Collaboration set up with Prof JH Van der Westhuizen and Dr S Bonnet (University of Bloemfontein) to evaluate the antimalarial activity of traditionally used herbal medicines from Zimbabwe. To continue with initial work undertaken in 2012, in collaboration with Dr D Beukes and G Watkins (Rhodes University) we undertook to assess the antimalarial activity of marine compounds and chemically synthesised derivatives. A multidisciplinary research group was established with Prof S Combrink, AM Viljoen, NS Mokgalaka, Dr TJ Regnier, Mr Jacques Van Rooyen (TUT), Assoc Prof S van Vuuren (WITS), Dr A Ludwiczuk (Medical University of Lublin), Dr J van Rooyen (SANBI) to characterise the chemistry and pharmacological properties of Southern African liverworts, including the antimalarial activity. Plasmodium falciparum kinase (PfcGAK) and its possible use as a drug target in malaria therapy is being investigated.
Visitors Entomology: Discussions were held with Professor Roy Zent from Vanderbilt University, USA, during his visit to the Faculty. Dr Fred Tripet from Keele University, UK, visited the unit to hold discussions on possibly research collaboration.
DIVISION OF FORENSIC MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGY
Appointments A toxicologist (Ms. Ildiko Fenyvesi) and an entomologist (Mr Lawrence Hill) and an osteology laboratory technician (Ms Roxanne Thornton) were appointed to the staff ensuring the development of skills within the Division. In addition, Honorary Professor/ Brigadier Gerard Labuschagne from the Investigative Psychology Unit of the South African Police Service to the Division was appointed. Professor Labuschagne assists with the teaching in the Honours programme as well as supervision of Masters and PhD students.
Local collaborations Research collaborations are currently being undertaken with the School of Anatomical Sciences in Forensic Anthropological research with Ms. Erin Hutchinson. Collaboration between the Division of Forensic Medicine and 145
Pathology and the Division of Chemical Pathology has also been strengthened. New collaborations have been initiated with the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Laboratory of the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa, as well as with Professor Sandra Combrinck and Professor Rob McCrindle at the Tswane University of Technology.
Research grants . Dr Guinevere Gordon received NRF Thuthuka Postdoctoral grant (3rd year).
Staff and student participation in congresses . Dr Guinevere Gordon gave an oral presentation at the 15th Meeting of the International Association of Craniofacial Identification (Faces 2013) from 3 to 7 August, 2013 at the Kruger National Park (South Africa), at the Mopani Rest Camp.
Initiatives
Three new laboratories were set up in 2013. The postgraduate students assisted staff in an “extreme Lab makeover” whereby rooms were assigned to the Wits staff and students at the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Service Medico-legal Mortuary for laboratory space. The Division now has an Entomology/ Anthropology dry laboratory and two Toxicology/ Genetics laboratories (see photos below).
Before………………and
………after!
9.5. SCHOOL OF PHYSIOLOGY
CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND GENOMICS RESEACRH UNIT
Director: Professor Gavin Norton
Appointments Reappointment of Professor Sareli as honorary research professor for 3 years. Appointment of Professor Dessein as honorary research professor for 3 years. Awards/Recognition Professor Gavin Norton was invited onto the editorial board of the high impact factor international journal ‘Journal of Hypertension’. 146
Ms Vernice Peterson (PhD student and Associate Lecturer) was awarded an NRF/DAAD scholarship. Mr Mhlengi Magubane (MSc student) was awarded an NRF innovation scholarship. Mr Moekanyi Sibiya (PhD student) was awarded a TATA Africa scholarship.
Substantial research grants Significant funding was obtained from the MRC by Professors Gavin Norton and Angela Woodiwiss. Significant funding was obtained from the NRF by Professors Gavin Norton, Angela Woodiwiss and Patrick Dessein and Dr Frederic Michel. Significant funding was obtained from the URC and FRC by Dr Aletta Millen.
Significant local research collaborations Collaboration with Dr Martin Brand (Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine) to investigate vascular hemodynamic and histological changes in patients with peripheral vascular disease and the impacts of HIV. Collaboration with Professor Geoffrey Candy (Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine) to investigate the role of nitric oxide and its precursors in hypertension. Collaboration with Professor Elena Libhaber (Faculty of Health Sciences) to investigate the effects of different classes of antihypertensive agents on central aortic blood pressures and their contributing waveforms. Collaboration with Professor Carlos Libhaber (Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine) to investigate the impacts of central aortic pressures and their waveforms and the impact of obesity on cardiac geometry and function.
Significant international research collaborations Professor Patrick Dessein invited onto international board to establish international guidelines for assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Professors Gavin Norton and Angela Woodiwiss established collaboration with two internationally recognized clinician scientists from Israel with a large outcomes database. Professor Patrick Dessein continued and strengthened collaboration with Spanish researchers investigating cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Staff and student participation in congresses American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Council Congress, New Orleans, USA, September 2013 Gavin Norton (Professor) – In-treatment change in 24-hour imputed aortic-to-brachial pulse pressure amplification predicts regression of left ventricular mass better than 24-hour brachial pressures. Angela Woodiwiss (Professor) – 24-hour imputed aortic-to-brachial pulse pressure amplification is associated with left ventricular mass independent of 24-hour brachial pressures in a community sample. 41st Conference of the Physiology Society of Southern Africa, Pretoria, September 2013 Mhlengi Magubane (MSc student) - Impact of ovariectomy on β-adrenergic induced left ventricular adverse remodelling in female spontaneously hypertensive rats. Moekanyi Sibiya (PhD student)- 24-Hour Imputed Aortic-to-Brachial Pulse Pressure Amplification is Associated with Left Ventricular Mass Independent of 24-Hour Brachial Pressures in a Community Sample. Frederic Michel (Lecturer) - Sex-specific inheritance of plasma angiotensinogen (AGT) concentrations. Vernice Peterson (PhD student and Associate Lecturer) - Inheritance of Left Ventricular Mass and Geometry Independent of Central Aortic Pressures. Muzi Joseph Maseko (PhD student and Lecturer) – Relations between white coat effects and left ventricular mass index or arterial stiffness: Role of nocturnal pressure dipping. Aletta Millen (PhD student and Lecturer) - Effects of Short-term Exercise-Training on Tissue Doppler Indices of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Overweight and Obese Individuals. The 18th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Barcelona, Spain, June 2013 Aletta Millen (PhD student and Lecturer) - Effects of Short-term Exercise-Training on Tissue Doppler Indices of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function in Overweight and Obese Individuals.
Hosting of congress/research day/research workshop Professor Angela Woodiwiss hosted and ran SAS statistical workshops for postgraduate students to enable them to independently run statistical analyses using the SAS program. 147
Postdoctoral fellows Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Arnaud T Djami-Tchatchou joined the CPGRU.
Publications
Dessein PH, Norton GR, Woodiwiss AJ, Solomon A. Independent relationship between circulating resistin concentrations and endothelial activation in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013; 72:1586-1588. (impact factor=9.1, rank=1/139). Raymond AR, Norton GR, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ, Brooksbank RL. Relationship between average leucocyte telomere length and the presence or severity of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in black Africans. Eur J Heart Fail. 2013 Jan;15(1):54-60. (impact factor=5.3, rank=20/117). Dessein PH, Woodiwiss AJ, Norton GR, Solomon A. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with reduced adiposity but not with unfavorable major cardiovascular risk factor profiles and enhanced carotid atherosclerosis in black Africans from a developing population: a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013 Aug 22;15(4):R96. (impact factor=4.3, rank=5/29). Dessein PH, Woodiwiss AJ, Norton GR, Tsang L, Solomon A. Independent associations of total and high molecular weight adiponectin with cardiometabolic risk and surrogate markers of enhanced early atherogenesis in black and white patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2013 Sep 20;15(5):R128. (impact factor=4.3, rank=5/29). Maunganidze F, Norton GR, Maseko MJ, Libhaber CD, Majane OHI, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ. Relationship between glomerular dysfunction and left ventricular mass independent of haemodynamic factors in a community sample. J Hypertens. 2013; 31:568-575. (impact factor=4.2, rank=10/68). Booysen HL, Norton GR, Maseko MJ, Libhaber CD, Majane OHI, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ. Aortic, but not brachial blood pressure category enhances the ability to identify target organ changes in normotensives. J Hypertens. 2013; 31:1124-1130. (impact factor=4.2, rank=10/68). Maunganidze F, Woodiwiss AJ, Libhaber CD, Maseko MJ, Majane OH, Norton GR. Obesity markedly attenuates the validity and performance of all electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy detection in a group of black African ancestry. J Hypertens. 2013 Feb;31(2):377-383. (impact factor=4.2, rank=10/68) (This paper generated an editorial review). Libhaber CD, Norton GR, Maseko MJ, Majane OH, Millen AM, Maunganidze F, Michel FS, Brooksbank R, Libhaber E, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ. Relationship between inappropriate left ventricular hypertrophy and ejection fraction independent of absolute or indexed mass in a community sample of black African ancestry. J Hypertens. 2013 Jan;31(1):169-176. (impact factor=4.2, rank=10/68). Maseko MJ, Woodiwiss AJ, Majane OH, Libhaber CD, Brooksbank R, Norton GR. Isolated increases in in-office pressure account for a significant proportion of nurse-derived blood pressure-target organ relations. J Hypertens. 2013 Jul;31(7):1379-1386. (impact factor=4.2, rank=10/68). Dessein P, Norton GR, Badenhorst M, Woodiwiss AJ, Solomon A. Rheumatoid arthritis impacts on the independent relationships between circulating adiponectin concentrations and cardiovascular metabolic risk. Mediators Inflamm. 2013 (in press) (impact factor=3.9, rank=39/139). Millen AME, Norton GR, Majane OHI, Maseko MJ, Brooksbank R, Michel FS, Snyman T, Sareli P, Woodiwiss AJ. Insulin resistance and the relationship between urinary Na+/K+ and ambulatory blood pressure in a community of African ancestry. Am J Hypertens. 2013;26:708-716. (impact factor=3.7, rank=13/68). Maseko MJ, Woodiwiss AJ, Libhaber CD, Brooksbank R, Majane OH, Norton GR. Relations Between White Coat Effects and Left Ventricular Mass Index or Arterial Stiffness: Role of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping. Am J Hypertens. 2013 Aug 7. [Epub ahead of print] (impact factor=3.7, rank=13/68). Brand M, Woodiwiss AJ, Michel F, Booysen HL, Veller MG, Norton GR. A mismatch between aortic pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity predicts advanced peripheral arterial disease. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2013 Sep;46(3):338-46. (impact factor=2.8, rank=16/68).
New research initiatives An intervention study to assess the impact of weight loss on cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and/or metabolic syndrome. 148
An intervention study to assess the impact of different classes of antihypertensive medication on central aortic blood pressure and its pressure waveforms, on cardiac geometry and function, and on the vasculature. The impact of central aortic blood pressure imputed from blood pressures measured throughout the day on various target organ changes including the heart, renal function, and the vasculature. The role of haplotypes of various gene markers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in determining central aortic blood pressure and its pressure waveforms.
BRAIN FUNCTION RESEARCH GROUP
Director: Professor Andrea Fuller
Appointments Peter Kamerman was awarded a C2 rating by the NRF. Leith Meyer was awarded a Y2 rating by the NRF. Duncan Mitchell was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, at the University of Western Australia. Tanusha Dukhan was appointed as an associate lecturer. Anna Haw was appointed as a part-time associate research officer. Antonia Wadley was awarded a prestigious Hillel Friedland Trust postdoctoral fellowship.
Awards/Recognition
Member Achievement
The BFRG Recognized for its high research outputs in 2012 at the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Awards.
Peter Kamerman, Individual awards for their achievements in 2012, at the Faculty of Health Duncan Mitchell, Robyn Sciences Research Awards. Hetem
Antonia Wadley Hillel Friedland postdoctoral fellowship
Ian Murray Claude Leon postdoctoral fellowship
Prinisha Pillay MRC PhD scholarship; TATA Africa PhD scholarship
Kirsten Redman BTC Master’s Fellowship
Tamzyn Baartman, NRF innovation scholarships
Melinda Boyers
Peter Kamerman C2 NRF rating
Leith Meyer Y2 NRF rating
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Substantial research grants
Recipient Name of grant Amount Period
Richard McFarland Association for the Study of Animal 44,405.47 2013 Behaviour Research grant
Robyn Hetem FRC & WHC dividend minor equipment 107,000.00 2013 grant
Robyn Hetem Friedel Sellschop Award 120,000.00 2013-2015
Lois Harden Friedel Sellschop Award 119,500.00 2012-2014
Robyn Hetem START sub-award for Global 200,000.00 2013 Environmental Change Research in Africa
Helen Laburn MRC Individual Grant 140,000.00 2010-2013
Peter Kamerman MRC Individual Grant 172,998.00 2013-2015
Duncan Mitchell NRF Competitive Programme for Rated 100,000.00 2013 Researchers
Andrea Fuller NRF Incentive Funding Programme 40,000.00 2013 Rated Researchers
Robyn Hetem NRF Thuthuka 220,000.00 2012-2014
Andrea Fuller SPARC: Research Excellence 147,000.00 2013
Peter Kamerman Tempus consulting fund (IASP) 78,715.50 2013-2014
Robyn Hetem URC minor equipment grant 107,000.00 2013
Andrea Fuller URC minor equipment grant 186,000.00 2013
Significant local collaborations
Collaborator Institution
Dr P Adrian Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Prof S Madhi
Dr E Archer van Garderen Natural Resources and the Environment division (NRE) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Applied Behavioural Ecology & Ecosystem Research (ABEERU), Prof L Brown UNISA
Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, University of Dr K de Wet the Free State 150
Prof B Erasmus School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand Prof N Owen-Smith
Dr F Parrini
Dr M Hofmeyr Veterinary Wildlife Services, SANParks Dr P Buss
Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital/ School of Clinical Medicine, Dr A Karstaedt University of the Witwatersrand
Dr Z Lombard Wits Bioinformatics, University of the Witwatersrand
Dr G Marx Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, University of the Free State Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for South Africa Clinical Trials Prof FO Muller (Pty) Ltd. Pharmacology, University of the Free State
Department of Haematology and Molecular Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Dr M Suchard Johannesburg General Hospital/ National Health Laboratory Services
Conservation Ecology Research Unit, Zoology, University of Pretoria, Prof R van Aarde South Africa
Prof A Venter Department of Paediatrics, University of the Free State
Significant International collaborations
Collaborator Institution
Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, Psychology Department, Prof P Henzi University of Lethbridge, Canada
Laboratoire du Sommeil et de la Vigilance, Hôtel Dieu de Paris, Paris, Dr D Leger France
Dr M Miller Conservation Medicine, Palm Beach Zoo, USA
Prof J Roth Institüt fur Veterinär-Physiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Dr C Rummel, Giessen, Germany Prof R Gerstberger
Centre de Diagnostic et de Thérapeutique, Hôtel Dieu de Paris, Paris, Dr J-P Viard France
Prof A Rice Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
Dr Edward Snelling School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia
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Staff and student participation in congresses
Conference Date Delegates and Prizes
S Iacovides came first out of all the speakers in the Faculty of Science, while A Haw came th 5 Wits Cross-Faculty second in the Faculty of Health Sciences. In Postgraduate Symposium, 1-2 August the finals, with the winners of each Faculty Johannesburg competing for the overall prize, S Iacovides came third with the Health Science candidate winning.
Faculty of Veterinary Science L Meyer Faculty Day, University of 5 September Pretoria
st L Harden 41 Conference of the T Swanepoel Physiology Society of Southern nd 15-18 T Baartman: 2 in the Johnny Van Der Walt Africa (PSSA), Roodevallei student poster competition. September rd Country Lodge, hosted by the T Dukhan: 3 in the Johnny Van Der Walt University of Limpopo student poster competition.
A Fuller
R Hetem 11th Annual Savanna Science Networking Meeting, Kruger 3-8 March A Haw National Park M Strauss
H Lease
The South African Veterinary A Haw Association (SAVA) Wildlife 16-18 March Group Minicongress, L Meyer Serengeti-Gauteng
Southern African Wildlife M Strauss Management Association 15-19 (SAWMA) symposium, Kruger September I Murray National Park
H Lease Wits postdoc symposium, 27 Johannesburg September I Murray
Physiotherapy Pain D Mitchell 31 Management Group, Port September Elizabeth
Pain SA, Durban 7-9 June P Kamerman, A Wadley
15th Biennial Congress of the L Hendry Southern African Society for 6-9 October Human Genetics (SASHG), the Maslow, Sandton
14-17 July A Botha The Zoological Society of 152
Southern Africa (ZSSA) N Weyer biennial symposium, Tshipise Resort just north of the Both were awarded bursaries to cover the cost Soutpansberg of conference registration and membership
1st German-South African N Weyer 9 October Science Slam
A Fuller
R Hetem 4th Annual Diamond Route 29-30 Research Conference October D Mitchell
N Weyer
28th Annual meeting of the V Duxbury Associated Professional Sleep 1-5 June K Redman Societies (APSS), Baltimore, MA, USA K Scheuermaier
P Kamerman 4th International Congress on D Pillay Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG), 22-26 May Toronto, Canada P Pillay: was awarded a Trainee/Fellow Bursary
A Fuller The 39th Congress of the D Mitchell International Union of 21-26 July Physiological Sciences (IUPS), S Maloney Birmingham, UK H Laburn
Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists I Murray and Herpetologists (JMIH), 10-15 July New Mexico, USA
A Bentley 6th World Association of Sleep 28 Spt - 2 Medicine conference, Valencia, S Kerr: was awarded the Wayne Hening October Spain Young Investigator Award for Restless Legs Syndrome
30th Annual conference of the D Mitchell Australia and New Zealand 26-29 Society for Comparative M Strauss November Physiology and Biochemistry, Melbourne, Australia
7th Canadian IBRO-School D Pillay Neuroscience, Montreal, QC & 13-21 May Toronto
th 7 Annual Canadian 22-24 May D Pillay Neuroscience Meeting 2013, 153
Toronto
Postdoctoral Fellows
Name Previous Institution Funding
Dr H Lease University of New Mexico NRF
Dr R McFarland University of Lincoln Claude Leon
Dr I Murray University of New Mexico URC
Dr B Rey University of Lyon Claude Leon
Dr A Wadley University of the Hillel Friedland Trust Witwatersrand
Publications Baker F, Scheuermaier K. Circadian Rhythm Disorders: Does Sex Matter? In: Kushida C, editor. Encyclopedia of Sleep. Waltham MA, USA: Academic Press, 2013: 102-106. Chew CSN, Wadley AL, Lombard Z, Kamerman PR, Price P. TNF haplotypes in a Southern African population resemble those seen in Caucasians and Asians Genes and Immunity14: 268-270, 2013. Impact factor: 3.68 Damm J, Harden L, Gerstberger R, Roth J, Rummel C. The putative JAK-STAT inhibitor AG490 exacerbates LPS- fever, reduces sickness behavior, and alters the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes in the rat brain Neuropharmacology 71: 98-111, 2013. Impact factor: 4.11 De Zambotti M, Colrain IM, Sassoon SA, Nicholas CL, Trinder J, Baker FC Vagal withdrawal during hot flashes occurring in undisturbed sleep.Menopause 20: 1147/1153. Impact factor: 3.16 Dezambotti M, Nicholas CL, Colrain IM, Trinder JA, Baker FC. Autonomic regulation across phases of the menstrual cycle and sleep stages in women with premenstrual syndrome and healthy controls Psychoneuroendocrinology, in press Impact factor: 5.14 Gray DA, Marais M, Maloney SK. A review of the physiology of fever in birds. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 183: 297-312, 2013. Impact factor: 1.97 Harden LM, Rummel C, Luheshi G, Poole S, Gertsberger R, Roth J. Interleukin-10 modulates the synthesis of inflammatory mediators in the sensory circumventricular organs: Implications for the regulation of fever and sickness behaviors. Journal of Neuroinflammation 10: 1-4, 2013. Impact factor: 3.83 Hatzelmann T, Harden LM, Roth J, Gertsberger R. Antipyretic effect of central [Pyr1]apelin13 on LPS-induced fever in the rat Regulatory Peptides 184: 6-13, 2013. Impact factor: 2.11 Hendry LM, Lombard Z, Wadley AL, Kamerman PR. KCNS1, but not GCH1, is associated with pain intensity in a black Southern African population with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: a genetic association study. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 63: 27-30, 2013. Impact factor: 4.43 Hetem RS, Mitchell D, De Witt BA, Fick LG, Meyer LCR, Maloney SK, FULLER A. Cheetah do not abandon hunts because they overheat. Biology Letters 9: 20130472, 2013. Impact factor: 3.35 Iacovides S, Baker FC, Avidon I, Bentley A. Women with dysmenorrhea are hypersensitive to experimental deep muscle pain across the menstrual cycle. Journal of Pain 14: 1066-1076, 2013. Impact factor: 3.24 Majolo B, Mcfarland R, Young C, Qarro M. The effect of climatic factors on the activity budgets of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). International Journal of Primatology 34: 500-514, 2013. Impact factor: 1.54 Maloney SK, Meyer LCR, Blache D, Fuller A. Energy intake and the circadian rhythm of core body temperature in sheep. Physiological Reports 1: e00118, 2013. Marais M, Maloney SK, Gray DA. Sickness behaviours in ducks include anorexia but not lethargy. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 145: 102-108, 2013. Impact factor: 1.92 154
Martin J, Rey B, Pons J-B, Natoli E, Pontier D. Movements and space use of feral cats in Kerguelen archipelago: a pilot study with GPS data. Polar Biology 36:1531–1536, 2013. Impact factor: 2.01 Mcfarland R, Majolo B. The importance of considering the behavioural form of reconciliation in studies of conflict resolution. International Journal of Primatology 34: 15-29, 2013. Impact factor: 1.54 Mcfarland R, Roebuck H, Yan Y, LI W, Majolo B, Guo K. Social interactions through the eyes of macaques and humans. PLoS ONE 8: e56437, 2013. Impact factor: 4.09 Mcfarland R, Hetem RS, Fuller A, Mitchell D, Henzi SP, Barrett L. Assessing the reliability of biologger techniques to measure activity in a free-ranging primate. Animal Behaviour 85: 861-866, 2013. Impact factor: 3.49 Mcfarland, R, Majolo, B. Coping in the cold: Predictors of survival in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) Biology Letters 9: 20130428, 2013. Impact factor: 3.35 Mcfarland R, Maclarnon A, Heistermann M, Semple S. Physiological stress hormone levels and mating behaviour are negatively correlated in male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Animal Biology 63: 331-341, 2013. Impact factor: 0.77 Murray IW, Wolf BO. Diet and growth influence carbon incorporation rates and discrimination factors (Δ13C) in Desert Box Turtles,Terrapene ornata luteola. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8:149-162, 2013. Impact factor: 0.62 Murray IW, Wolf BO. Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) dietary specialization decreases across a precipitation gradient. PLoS One 8: e66505, 2013. Impact factor: 4.09 Murray IW, Lease HM. Natural History Notes. Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-horned Lizard) Predation. Herpetological Review 44: 327, 2013. Murray IW. Natural History Notes. Terrapene ornate luteola (Desert Box Turtle). Nesting/hatchling overwintering/ hatchling diet. Herpetological Review 44: 134-135, 2013
Pasternak G, Brown LR, Kienzle S, Fuller A, Barrett L, Henzi SP. Population ecology of vervet monkeys in a high latitude, semi-arid riparian woodland Koedoe 55: 1078, 2013
Rey B, Roussel D, Rouanet J-L, Duchamp C. Differential effects of thyroid status on regional H2O2 production in slow- and fast-twitch muscle of ducklings. Journal of Comparative Physiology B 183: 135–143, 2013. Impact factor: 1.97 Shaikh A, Bentley A, Kamerman P. Symptomatology of peripheral neuropathy in an African language. PLoS ONE 8: e63986, 2013. Impact factor: 4.09 Teulier L, Tornos J, Rouanet J-L, Rey B, Roussel D. Metabolic response to lipid infusion in fasting winter- acclimatized king penguin chicks (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 165: 1- 6, 2013. Impact factor: 2.24 Wadley A, Lombard Z, Cherry CL, Price P, Kamerman PR. Polymorphisms in uncoupling protein genes UCP2 and UCP3 are not associated with HIV-associated sensory neuropathy in African individuals. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System 18: 94-96, 2013. Impact factor: 2.8 Wadley A, Kamerman PR, Chew CSN, Lombard Z, Cherry CL, Price P. A polymorphism in IL4 may associate with sensory neuropathy in African HIV patients. Molecular Immunology 55: 197-199, 2013. Impact factor: 2.89
New research initiatives Post-doctoral fellow, Ian Murray, gave a talk on mammalian thermal biology and desert environments to an audience of students, staff and researchers at the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre, Walvis Bay, Namibia. Anna Haw’s rhino anaesthesia project was featured on SABC’s 50/50 program where Anna, Leith Meyer and Markus Hofmeyr (head of Veterinary Wildlife Services, SANParks) gave some insight into the project and their findings. The Sleep Lab had some TV coverage with Karine Scheuermaier, Kirsten Redman and Vania Duxbury featuring on TOMZ (Teenagers on a Mission), a youth-orientated science and technology show on SABC 1. The show is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, supported by SABC Education and with a viewership of about 4 million people. Tanya Swanepoel described her PhD research during an excellent, well presented School seminar. Duncan Mitchell shared his expert knowledge on climate change with two talks, namely “Livestock farming and climate change” and “Climate change and the fate of long-lived mammals”, which he delivered to the Rand Barbets Bird Club and the University of the Third Age, respectively. Honorary Research Professor Kate Cherry gave an excellent plenary talk at the Neuropathic Pain congress in Toronto and she was congratulated via Twitter on Nature Reviews in Neurology. 155
Arista van Staden and Nora Weyer were awarded prestigious student bursaries to attend and give oral presentations at the Zoological Society of South Africa congress. An article entitled “Coping with the cold: predictors of survival in wild Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus” by Richard McFarland and Bonaventura Majola (published in Biology Letters) was featured in Nature News and Scientific American. An article entitled “Cheetah do not abandon hunts because they overheat” by Robyn Hetem, Duncan Mitchell, Brenda de Witt, Linda Fick, Leith Meyer, Shane Maloney and Andrea Fuller (published in Biology Letters),was featured in Science Mag, National Geographic, an array of Australian newspapers, the Wits Health Science Research News, the Wits Leader edition 3 (2013) and Africat Newsletter. A PhD student, Nora Weyer’s popular article “Aardvark research project” was featured in the August edition of the Diamond Route Newsletter. Karine Scheuermaier was on Ciiradio (Islamic radio) to talk about sleep disorders. She was interviewed on Talk Radio 702 on the Midday Report with Stephen Grootes, to discuss how singing improves snoring, and Bruce Whitfield interviewed her on the Money Show to discuss the death of an intern who pulled three all-nighters in a row while working at Merrill Lynch in London. Karine also had an interview with Tracy Essers for Oprah Magazine where she gave advice on ways to combat daytime sleepiness. Your Family Magazine interviewed Karine about sleep and metabolic disorders as well as children’s sleep.
Visitors Professor Stephen P. Kent from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia acted as an external reviewer for the BFRG quenquennial report. Honorary Research Professor, Patricia Price from the University of Western Australia delivered the Paul Levy Memorial Lecture, entitled “The footprint of cytomegalovirus (CMV) persists in HIV patients”. Prof Price also gave a tutorial to members of the BFRG on research writing skills. Professor Shane Maloney (University of Western Australia) and Dr Edward Snelling (University of Adelaide) visited the BFRG for collaborative research. During a visit from the Exploration and Research Committee of National Geographic, Anna Haw, Robyn Hetem and Andrea Fuller gave a presentation outlining some of the highlights and research activities carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Physiology lab in the BFRG. Associate Professor Jeanne Duffy from Harvard Medical School visited Karine Scheuermaier and gave a seminar to the School of Physiology entitled “Circadian rhythms, sleep and human health”.
BONE RESEARCH LABORATORY
Director: Professor Ugo Ripamonti
Participation in Congresses Invited Speaker: Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology: Regenerative Tissue Engineering and Transplantation, Breckenridge, Colorado USA, April 1-6, 2012. Ripamonti U, Ferretti C. Grand challenges for
craniomandibulofacial reconstruction by human recombinant transforming growth factor-β3. Invited Speaker and Chairman: 9th International Conference on Bone Morphogenetic Proteins 2012. Lake Tahoe, California USA, June 19-23, 2012. Ripamonti U. BMPs/TGF-β superfamily: Challenges for clinical translation. Invited Keynote Speaker: 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu, China June 2012. Ripamonti U. Osteoclastic priming of calcium phosphate-based macroporous surfaces initiates the spontaneous induction of bone formation.
Publications
Ripamonti U, Roden LC, Renton LF. Osteoinductive hydroxyapatite-coated titanium implants. Biomaterials 2012; 33: 3813-3823. Ripamonti U, Teare J, Ferretti C. A macroporous bioreactor super activated by the recombinnat human
transforming growth factor-β3. Frontiers in Physiology www.frontiersin.org 2012; 3: 18. Magan A, Ripamonti U. Biological aspects of periodontal tissue regeneration: Cementogenesis and the induction of Sharpey’s fibres. Journal of the Dental Association of South Africa 2013; 68: 306-318. 156
Klar M R, Duarte R, Dix-Peek T, Dickens C, Ferretti C, Ripamonti U. Calcium ions and osteoclastogenesis initiate the induction of bone formation by coral-derived macroporous constructs. Journal of Cellular Molecular Medicine; 2013 doi:10.1111/jcmm.12125.
9.6. SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Appointments
School of Public Health recruited 3 A-rated or equivalent researchers during 2013: Professor John Eyles (the new SARCHI chair in health policy and systems research); Professor Kandala, a biostatistician, and Professor Lenore Manderson a medical anthropologist. Gill Nelson: Associate Professor (1 Oct 2013).
Awards/Recognition
Dr Charles Chasela- received a C rating from the National Research Foundation at end of 2013. Dr Mark Collinson-Emerging Researcher award from the University Research Office to host a postdoctoral research fellow. The Fellow will research the relationship of migration to mortality and socio-economic status in rural Mpumalanga in the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System. Dr Gill Nelson - received the 2012 Faculty of Health Sciences Prestigious Post Graduate Degree Award for her PhD. Her thesis, “Living in the shadow of a dust cloud: Occupational respiratory diseases in the South African mining industry, 1975 to 2009”, was supervised by Professors Jill Murray (School of Public Health) and Geoffrey Candy (Department of Surgery). Drs Gill Nelson and Andrew Swanepoel: elected as the editors of the only occupational journal in southern Africa: Occupational Health Southern Africa. Professor Laetitia Rispel received a recognition award in the allied health professional category from the Gauteng branch of South African Medical Association for outstanding health leadership and contribution to health systems transformation. Rhian Twine- one of the recipients of the Joe Veriava Bioethics Medal. Rhian has led the LINC Office for community engagement of the MRC/Wits-Agincourt Unit since February 2004. Rhian established a dedicated LINC office (Learning, Information dissemination and Networking with Community) and built its activities and profile. Over 9 years Rhian has built a strong and sustainable community engagement programme extending across (and beyond) the rural Agincourt sub-district, focus for much of the work of the MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit. Rhian has deep insight into the ethical and human rights issues integral to longitudinal community- based research, and is a strong and vocal advocate of trust and respect between researchers and study participants. Dr Andrew Swanepoel served on the 23rd Conference on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH) Scientific committee for the conference in the Netherlands. Andrew has been elected as a new member of the EPICOH board representing South Africa. Andrew Swanepoel was also appointed Chairman of the Certification Board of the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH). Professor Stephen Tollman, Director of the Rural Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) research entity status was renewed for a further cycle of five years by the University Research Committee. The Rural Health and Health Transitions Research Unit has also been renewed for a further 5 years by the MRC. Dr Alisha Wade- received Y rating from the National Research Foundation at the end of 2012.
Substantial research grants
Dr Charles Chasela received a grant of about 400 000 SWISS francs (around R3.2 million) over 3 years from the SWISS Tropical Public Health Institute. In December 2012, Professor Laetitia Rispel received a R10 million grant over a three year period (2012-2015) from the board of the Atlantic Philanthropies. The grant will focus on enhancing research and teaching in School of Public Health in support of health systems transformation in South Africa. The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has awarded a grant of R1 million to the Centre for Health Policy to complete a book entitled “Igniting dreams, confronting realities: the history of nursing in South Africa, 1960 – 2010”. The book will be co-authored by Professor Laetitia Rispel, Head of the School of Public Health and 157
Ms Makhosazana Xaba, a research writing fellow in the Centre for Health Policy within the School of Public Health. The research for the book draws on unique archival material over a 50-year period, from 1960 until 2010. The book will trace nursing developments during the years, with a particular focus on the period since democracy. It also incorporates in-depth interviews with nurses still in practice, those recently retired and those who have left the profession. The historical perspective taken in this research will allow the authors to answer several questions, including: What does the history of nursing reflect about health sector and health professional developments in South Africa, and vice versa? Is there currently a crisis in nursing, and what is the nature of this crisis? How realistic are expectations of the caring nurse who provides excellent services in a seemingly dysfunctional and constantly changing health system. The Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health, in partnership with Wits Commercial Enterprise, signed two capacity building contracts amounting to US$600,066.43 (around R6 million) with Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat. Under the contract, the school will train health personnel and support 11 SADC member states to implement two approved frameworks: (a) Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI) and (b) Disease Surveillance for TB, Malaria, and HIV and AIDS to ensure domestication of the policies within SADC. The project will end in December of 2014.
Significant local research collaborations
The School is in the process of renewing a collaboration agreement with the Africa Centre based at the University of KwaZulu Natal on two tracks of the MSc (epidemiology) degree: field-based epidemiology and research data management.
Significant international research collaborations
Prof Gill Nelson: University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Washington University, St Louis, USA. Dr Charles Chasela: The SWISS Tropical Public Health Institute.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop
Building opening symposium The Wits School of Public Health has moved to a magnificent new building across the road from the Wits Health Sciences Faculty in Parktown, Johannesburg. To celebrate the event, the School hosted an international public health symposium on 24 January 2013, entitled ‘Building Capacity 4 Health’. This theme acknowledged the importance of public health in achieving good health for all. It also embraced the purpose of the School’s new home: a place for teaching and promotion of learning, knowledge generation and dissemination, and public health leadership and advocacy. Close to 400 delegates, including public and private health practitioners, policy experts from government, non-governmental organisations, universities, the media and international visitors from delegates from across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America attended this inaugural event. Launch of a special journal issue of Global Health Action The international peer-reviewed journal, Global Health Action, launched a special edition to commemorate the School and its new building. At the gala dinner attended by over 200 dignitaries and guests to celebrate the launch and the opening of the new building, the journal’s Deputy Editor, Professor Peter Byass of Umeå University in Sweden, said: “We are proud to highlight the key role the Wits School of Public Health plays in South African public health, as well as South Africa’s leading role in the African continent. Taking action in global health needs new generations of researchers and policy makers to work together on making differences in people’s lives.” The special edition features 23 articles by staff and students, of which 15 (63%) were authored by postgraduate students or junior academics. Six papers are by first-time authors, all of whom are black and five are women. This highlights the supplement’s theme ‘Building new knowledge’ to nurture and develop the next generation of African scholars, a critical human resource challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. The special issue showcases a series of papers exploring trends, developments and new directions for scientific enquiry on public health in South Africa and the region to an international public health audience. Global Health Action is an open access publication, allowing for the widest possible dissemination of research in over 110 countries.
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Student-supervisor boot camp On 29-30 April 2013, a two day Boot Camp was held in with recent WSPH graduates. Twenty post-graduate students attended the Boot Camp, and a few mentors and/or supervisors. The target was 10 papers submitted to accredited journals. At the time of writing, 5 papers have been submitted to accredited journals, with four submitted to ISI journals.
On 11-12 July 2013, the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand in conjunction with the University of Warwick (UK) and Monash University (Australia) held a two day round table discussion. The gathering brought together leading academic researchers, policy makers and practitioners from across a range of disciplines and organisations. Twenty five delegates attended from South Africa, Australia, UK, Botswana, DRC and Cameroon. The gathering comprised of four sessions over the two days, covering topics on the overview of evidence and current research priorities, what research is needed to address the key determinants of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD - cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), adapting health systems to the CMD burden, the policy context and local challenges, and opportunities for proposed research. The aim of the round table was to develop a research agenda to address CDM in Sub-Saharan Africa and to develop a strategy that would be taken forward by the institutions represented at the gathering.
Wits trained UNICEF programme officers In August 2013, the Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) division linked up with Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication to train 57 UNICEF staff for two weeks in the practical application of Communication for Development. This followed a four month online course and was the first time this course was held outside Ohio. Communication for Development is an approach which stresses dialogue, allowing communities to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. It uses behaviour change communication, social mobilization, advocacy and strengthened media capacity to stimulate positive and measurable behaviour and social change. “Our SBCC course is the only one of its kind in Africa, while Ohio University’s program (CommDev) is one of only a handful in the world to focus on the role of communication in development and social change,” said Dr Nicola Christofides, head of the Wits SBCC programme. The UNICEF programme officers interacted with seven non- governmental organisations in Gauteng to develop communication strategies based on developmental issues such as supporting orphans and vulnerable children, poverty reduction, early childhood development and eradication of gangsterism.
On the 28-31 October 2013, the School of Public Health co-hosted the 12th INDEPTH International Scientific Conference with Statistics South Africa in collaboration with INDEPTH members of Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) in South Africa (i.e. Africa Centre, Agincourt and Dikgale). The theme of the 2013 ISC conference was “Fitting together the health data puzzle: the contribution of INDEPTH (HDSSs) to the strengthening of national health information systems (NHIS)”, and brought together close to 300 leading health, population, medical and social scientists from across Asia, Africa and Oceania to share cutting-edge research. Sessions featured presentations using longitudinal data in conjunction with censuses, national surveys and/or national health information systems.
Participation in congresses
Nine students from the School of Public Health presented papers at the 9th Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) conference which was held in Cape Town from the 24-27 September 2013. Ntombizodwa Ndlovu – Awarded the second prize in the Faculty of Health Sciences Poster Presentation at the 5th Cross-Faculty Graduate Symposium which was held on the 1-2 August 2013. Dr Gill Nelson: Runner up prize for student poster at 30th International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH) Conference, Cancun, Mexico (PhD paper), 2012
Postdoctoral Fellows
In partnership with SWISS Tropical Public Health Institute – we have one post-doctoral fellow from e University of Basel working on our Research Project on 50% effort.
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Visitors
As part of the Alumni Diaspora Programme, alumnus Professor Duncan Saunders from the School of Public Health, University of Alberta, spent a week in the Faculty of Health Sciences, between 21-26 January. Professor Duncan Saunders qualified from the University of the Witwatersrand with an MBBCh in 1975. He is a generalist epidemiologist with interest in global health. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Society for International Health and on the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Public Health. Professor Saunders gave a lecture in the Faculty entitled ‘The MDGs and beyond: Better the second time round?’ which evoked a healthy discussion from the audience. Professor Saunders was also one of the guest speakers in the School of Public Health’s ‘International Public Health Symposium’, which took place during the week of his visit.
CENTRE FOR HEALTH POLICY Director: Dr Jane Goudge
Appointments The Centre for Health Policy has appointed Professor John Eyles, an eminent international research scientist, as the new Chair for Health Policy and Systems Research. This is one of 60 new chairs allocated within the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF), and one of three new chairs awarded to Wits. The purpose of the SARChI programme is to bring international experts to South Africa for an initial five-year term to conduct research in areas deemed important for the challenges facing the country. The research portfolio associated with this chair will focus on universal access (also referred to as universal coverage) to quality care for all South Africans. This is necessary to strengthen the public health system’s ability to use resources effectively and efficiently, while increasing the production of skilled health workers. Professor Eyles is world-renowned in the field of health systems and policy research, and will strengthen the field in South Africa as the Department of Health embarks on a major health systems reform program to boost the country’s health outcomes which fall below international targets in some areas. Prof. Lenore Manderson, Professor of Medical Anthropology in the School of Psychology and Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University in Australia, will be joining CHP from March 2014 on a part-time basis. Prof. Freddie Ssengooba from Makerere University in Uganda will join the Centre in early 2013. Prof. Ssengooba is a senior research fellow and he will boost CHP’s senior research and teaching capacity. All three are senior appointments who will assist with mentoring young researchers, supporting research, writing, teaching and supervision.
Awards/Recognition
CHP submitted five articles to a special edition of Global Health Action which was launched to commemorate the opening of the new Wits School of Public Health building. A press statement on this was prepared and sent to key general and medical press. Shakira Choonara presented a poster at the 5th Cross Faculty Graduate Symposium at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her poster was entitled “Socioeconomic Factors Affecting the User of Two Vital Malaria Prevention Methods among Pregnant Women in Kenya”. She won First Prize for a Poster Presentation in the Faculty of Humanities. Dr Jane Goudge received an award on behalf of the Centre for Health Policy at the Annual Health Sciences Research Awards dinner to honour outstanding achievements by researchers and research entities within the Faculty over the past year. Prudence Ditlopo was invited to serve on the board of Health-e News Service which supplies health news to the mainstream media. 160
CHP’s resident writer, Makhosazana (Khosi) Xaba, launched her first fiction book entitled ‘Running and Other Stories’ published by Modjadji Books in September. At CHP, Xaba is currently researching and writing a book outlining a history of nursing in South Africa. Co-authored by the head of the Wits School of Public Health, Professor Laetitia Rispel, the book’s working title is Igniting dreams, confronting realities: A history of nursing in South Africa (1960-2010). It focuses on nursing and the politics of health, nursing and the country, and is a part sequel to the Shula Marks’s Divided Sisterhood.
Substantial research grants
Funder Period Title of project Budget
Incentives and employment AHPSR 2010 - 2013 $9,541 preferences in an under-served area of Peru DFID 2011 - 2015 Responsive and resilient health R1,207 218 systems consortium (RESYST): Health workers’ preferences and policy interventions to improve retention in rural areas in Kenya, South Africa and Thailand
DFID 2012 - 2013 Responsive and resilient health £ 68,006 systems consortium (RESYST): Investigating the impact of different reimbursement mechanisms on the decision-making of individual health professionals Responsive and resilient health DFID 2013 - 2016 £123,203 systems consortium (RESYST): A district learning site to better understand and support local decision-making practices Responsive and resilient health DFID 2012 - 2016 £117,699 systems consortium (RESYST): A longitudinal, cohort study of the job choices of South African nurses to inform human resource policy interventions European Commission 2010 - 2016 Universal coverage in Tanzania and € 315,205 & South Africa (UNITAS): monitoring
and evaluating progress Dept of Science & R577,175 Technology
European Commission 2011 – 2013 Diagonal interventions to fast forward € 105,000 enhanced reproductive health (DIFFER)
European Commission 2011 - 2014 Multilateral Association for Studying € 211,432 Health Inequalities and Enhancing North-South and South-South Cooperation (MASCOT) 161
Netherlands 2012 - 2015 MHSAR: Maternal Health South € 785,807 Organisation for Africa Rwanda: Mainstreaming a Scientific Research / health systems approach to delivery WOTRO Science for of maternal services Global Development
OTRA 2013 A rapid assessment of provincial R71,310 and district implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) outreach teams in South Africa. Research on the State of Nursing The Atlantic 2010-2013 R 9 million (RESON): To develop and strengthen Philanthropies the research evidence for improved nursing policy development and practice in South Africa
UK Medical Research 2013 - 2015 NKATEKO: Treating hypertension in £ 812,623 Council rural South Africa: A clinic-based lay health worker to strengthen community-based outreach services for integrated chronic care
UNICO 2012 - 2014 Comparative study of household $ 13,000 needs, utilisation and access to health care services in rural Ghana and Vietnam
USAID 2013 - 2014 Health finance and governance $ 75,000 project
WITS SPARC 2012 - 2013 Academic excellence through R400,000 increasing publications and building a resilient international collaboration between Wits and Monash University
Significant local research collaborations We continue to strengthen our local partnerships, particularly at district health level (City of Johannesburg, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni, Kenneth Kaunda, Bushbuckridge, OR Tambo, and uMgungundlovu), while engaging with national and provincial departments of health, notably the Gauteng Department of Health. These long term collaborations ensure our research is grounded in the changing realities of South African service provision. National academic partnerships continue to grow from strength to strength. These include partnerships with the Health Economics Unit (UCT), School of Public Health (UWC), the University of the Free State, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Human Sciences Research Council. Such collaborations enable more substantial programmes to be carried out, than would otherwise be possible, and as senior capacity is scarce in all units, a collective development of new knowledge. Other important collaborators have included non-governmental and professional associations such as the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP), Human Rights Watch, Section 27 and the Budget Expenditure Monitoring Forum. The advocacy and professional roles of these organisations provide important insights that strengthen our research activities. These organisations also provide a forum to disseminate our research findings. 162
Dr Liz Thomas from the MRC has been based at CHP for a number of years and is a long-standing research colleague. As a senior member of staff she has played an important role in jointly supervising PhDs and supporting the PhD programme within the Wits School of Public Health.
Significant international research collaborations
Our international networks and collaborations are both maturing and expanding. We currently collaborate with institutions in 24 countries. We have important bi-lateral collaborations where researchers are co-principal investigators with researchers at: the Institute for International Health and Development at Queen Margaret University College in Edinburgh; the Centre for Health Economics and Policy at McMaster University in Canada; University of Warwick; University of Ghent; Radboud University Netherlands; and the Health Policy and Management Department at Trinity College in Dublin. A collaboration (2011-2015) with Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania as part of the Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa (CHEPSAA) is part of efforts to build African HPSR capacity, drawing together researchers to develop teaching curricula, networks and institutional capacity collectively. Three European countries, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, are part of this collaboration. Under the MASCOT (Project 22, Table 9) project we led a systematic review that has drawn together researchers from 10 countries (Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, Tanzania, Ghana, Tunisia, Switzerland, France, Portugal, UK). Through the use of specifically designed software, researchers are able to screen and review papers, and resolve differing reviewer decisions while located in different continents. CHP has continued to collaborate with the LSTHM, with whom, over the last 17 years, we have been linked through three DFID funded research consortia, and two research programmes. The current DFID-consortia RESYST, has 8 partners located in 6 countries both in Africa (Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania) and Asia (India, Thailand, and Vietnam). As there has been much continuity of institutions and researchers over more than 15 years, these partnerships are a very firm foundation for very effective research collaborations. Our collaboration with other high income countries includes Monash University, Australia, where Prof Lenore Manderson has provided on-going support over the last 8 years to PhD students in CHP and the WSPH.
We have just begun a new collaboration with Abt Associates in the United States on a USAID funded project on health care financing and governance.
Staff and student participation in congresses In February, Nonhlanhla Nxumalo participated in a data analysis workshop organised by the University of the Western Cape for a project that is conducting a rapid assessment of provincial and district implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) outreach teams, commissioned by the National Department of Health. The analysis of the data from some provinces will form part of what will be feedback to the department regarding the implementation status of PHC outreach teams. Dr Jane Goudge and Prudence Ditlopo attended a national consultative forum in March run by the National DoH and attended by the minister, deputy minister, and Director-General and Chief directors who reported on progress on current reforms, and invited comment from delegates. Issues covered current life expectancy (which is up), infant mortality rates, TB, health systems strengthening, non-communicable diseases, prevention and promotion, HRH, Office for Health Standards Compliance, key health programmes, and the District Health Authority. Dr Duane Blaauw and Bronwyn Harris participated in a seminar on 30 April in Johannesburg organised by the Director-General of the National Department of Health on development and implementation of District Health Authorities (DHAs) in the National Health Insurance in South Africa. The seminar aimed to promote discussion on the purpose and functions of DHAs with regard to their structure and relationship with other district, provincial and national structures; the capacities required to assemble DHAs and avoidance of duplication; legislative amendments required to ensure optimal functioning of DHAs; and next steps. In May, Dr Jane Goudge and Bronwyn Harris attended the annual partner workshop in Cape Town of UNITAS (Universal Health Care Coverage in Tanzania and South Africa). This project is monitoring and evaluating policy processes surrounding changes in health financing such as the National Health Insurance. 163
Dr Goudge and Prudence Ditlopo attended a curriculum workshop in Cape Town for the CHEPSAA (Consortium for Health Policy and Systems Analysis in Africa) project. CHEPSAA aims to extend sustainable African capacity to produce and use high quality health policy and systems research. CHP research fellow Felix Limbani and researcher Siphiwe Thwala attended the Multilateral Association for Studying Health Inequalities and Enhancing North-South and South-South Cooperation (MASCOT) meeting in Mexico City on 25-26 September 2013. This meeting aimed to provide a platform for participants to learn from the experience of other countries from North and South and exchange strategies aimed at reducing mother and child health inequalities.
Hosting of a congress, research day, research workshop CHP was instrumental in helping to organise an international one day symposium entitled Building Capacity 4 Health to commemorate the opening of the new School of Public Health building in January 2013. CHP Director, Dr Jane Goudge, presented at the Building Capacity 4 Health international public health symposium held at the School of Public Health, Wits University, 24 January 2013. The title of her presentation was “Health Systems Research and Policy: Building the field”. Prudence Ditlopo chaired a session on Research, Policy Advocacy and Implementation. The audience of over 400 people was varied and included government stakeholders, private sector, researchers, district health managers (civil society) and interest-based stakeholders. During lunchtime, stakeholders were invited to view the building through structured tours of each floor. Key stakeholders were exposed to CHP’s research including the RESYST project through posters, papers and general information on health policy and systems research. Twenty-three visitors to CHP signed up to receive news and notification of future events. An article was also placed on CHP’s website (Click here). In July, CHP closed the Research on the State of Nursing (RESON) Project with a workshop to feed back results to key stakeholders. This was a four-year project funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies that aimed to develop and strengthen the evidence for improved nursing policy development and practice in South Africa through three main research areas: i. Policy analysis – scope of practice, qualifications framework, occupational specific dispensation, and the country’s nursing strategy; ii. Casualisation: Nursing agencies and moonlighting iii. Nursing management and quality of care Over 40 stakeholders from the private and public sector, national and provincial health departments, academics and NGOs including DENOSA and the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) attended the last meeting of the RESON Advisory Committee to hear the findings of these three core research projects, and to propose strategies for getting this research into policy and practice. The research has enhanced nursing policy discourse, and led to improved design of human resource plans and support systems for nurses. Importantly, the work has improved understanding of casualisation and moonlighting practices, and nursing supervision and management. It has contributed to substantial capacity development, providing support for four Masters students, two PhDs and three National Research Foundation interns. Through the RESON Advisory Committee, the project has created a forum for broader engagement on the nursing crisis and established a network of key nursing stakeholders to advocate for critical policy issues. Internally, CHP has hosted a series of capacity building health system seminars in 2013. The intention is to strengthen knowledge and rigour in health policy and systems research, particularly for early career researchers in health policy and systems. These seminars, coordinated by Nonhlanhla Nxumalo and Duane Blaauw, are held monthly and are open to all WSPH staff to grow capacity beyond CHP. Each seminar is paired with a local or international issue, often taken from a newspaper report, which is relevant to HPSR. To date topics have included the Health Minister’s budget speech, the integrated school health programme, and the Competition Commission’s enquiry into healthcare. The seminars help to build capacity in HPSR knowledge and to keep staff abreast of current affairs which affect or relate to health systems.
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Publications
Blaauw D, Ditlopo P, Maseko, F, Chirwa, M, Mwisongo, A., Bidwell,P, Thomas, S, Normand, C. (2013) Comparing the job satisfaction and intention to leave of different categories of health workers in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19287 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19287 [Impact factor: 2.062] Chersich MF, Luchters S, Ntaganira I, Gerbase A, Lo YR, Scorgie F, Steen R. (2013). Priority interventions to reduce HIV transmission in sex work settings in sub-Saharan Africa and delivery of these services. J Int AIDS Soc;16 (1):17980. [Impact factor: 3.93] Ditlopo P, Blaauw D, Rispel, LC, Thomas S, Bidwell P. (2013) Policy implementation and financial incentives for nurses in South Africa: a case study on the occupation specific dispensation. Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19289 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19289 [Impact factor: 2.062] Govender V, Chersich MF, Harris B, Alaba O, Ataguba JE, Nxumalo N, Goudge J. (2013) Moving towards universal coverage in South Africa? Lessons from a voluntary government insurance scheme. Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19253 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19253 [Impact factor: 2.062] Kawonga M, Fonn S, Blaauw D. (2013) Administrative integration of vertical HIV monitoring and evaluation into health systems: a case study from South Africa. Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19252 http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19252 [Impact factor: 2.062] Lagarde M, Pagaiya N, Tangcharoensathian V, Blaauw D. (2013) One size does not fit all: investigating doctors’ state preference heterogeneity for job incentives to inform policy in Thailand. Health Economics 2013. DOI: 10.1002/hec.2897 [Impact factor: 3.02] Luchters S, Richter ML, Bosire W, Nelson G, Kingola N, Zhang XD, Temmerman M, Chersich MF. (2013) The Contribution of Emotional Partners to Sexual Risk Taking and Violence among Female Sex Workers in Mombasa, Kenya: A Cohort Study. PLoS One;8 (8):e68855. [Impact factor: 4.09) Mbindyo P, Blaauw D, English M. (2013) The role of Clinical Officers in the Kenyan health system: a question of perspective. Hum Resour Health;11 (1):32. [Impact factor: 2.05] Mirzoev T, Le G, Green A, Orgill M, Komba A, Esena RK, Nyapada L, Uzochukwu B, Amde WK, Nxumalo N, Gilson L. (2013) Assessment of capacity for Health Policy and Systems Research and Analysis in seven African universities: results from the CHEPSAA project. Health Policy Plan, doi:10.1093/heapol/czt065. [Impact factor: 3.056] Nxumalo N, Goudge J, Thomas L. (2013) Outreach services to improve access to health care in South Africa: lessons from three community health worker programmes. Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19283 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19283 [Impact factor: 2.062] Ndou T, Van Zyl G, Hlahane S, Goudge J. (2013). A rapid assessment of a community health worker pilot programme to improve the management of hypertension and diabetes in Emfuleni sub-district of Gauteng Province, South Africa. Glob Health Action 2013, 6: 19228 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.19228 [Impact factor: 2.062] Olivier L, Urban M, Chersich M, Temmerman M, Viljoen D. Burden of fetal alcohol syndrome in a rural West Coast area of South Africa. SAMJ; 103 (6) 402-405. [Impact factor: 1.702] Palmer M, Chersich M, Moultrie H, Kuhn L, Fairlie L, Meyers T. (2013) Frequency of stavudine substitution due to toxicity in children receiving antiretroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. Aids; 27 (5):781-5. [Impact factor: 6.245] Rispel LC, Fonn S. (2013) Building new knowledge: Celebrating the Wits School of Public Health (WSPH). Glob Health Action;6:1-5. [Impact factor: 2.062] Richter ML, Chersich M, Temmerman M, Luchters S. (2013) Characteristics, sexual behaviour and risk factors of female, male and transgender sex workers in South Africa. S Afr Med J;103 (4):246-51. [Impact factor: 1.702] Sarna A, Luchters S, Musenge E, Okal J, Chersich M, Tun W, Mall S, Kingola N, Kalibala S. (2013) Effectiveness of a community-based positive prevention intervention for people living with HIV who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment: a prospective cohort study. Global Health: Science and Practice;1 (1):52-67. [Impact factor: could not be established] Scorgie F, Nakato D, Harper E, Richter M, Maseko S, Nare P, Smit J, Chersich M. (2013) ‘We are despised in the hospitals’: sex workers’ experiences of accessing health care in four African countries. Culture, Health & Sexuality 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2012.763187 [Impact Factor: 1.494] 165
Scorgie F, Vasey K, Harper E, Richter M, Nare P, Maseko S, Chersich MF. (2013) Human rights abuses and collective resilience among sex workers in four African countries: a qualitative study. Global Health; 9 (1):33. [Impact factor: could not be established] Smith R, Lagarde M, Blaauw D, Goodman C, English M, Mullei K, Pagaiya N, Tangcharoensathien V, Erasmus E, Hanson K. (2013) Appealing to altruism: an alternative strategy to address the health workforce crisis in developing countries? J Public Health (Oxf);35 (1):164-70. [Impact factor: 1.605] Wabiri N, Chersich M, Zuma K, Blaauw D, Goudge J, Dwane N. (2013) Equity in maternal health in South Africa: analysis of health service access and health status in a national household survey. PLoS One; 8 (9):e73864. [Impact factor: 4.09] Orgill M, Nxumalo N, Made W, Erasmus E, Lehmann U, Goudge J, Gilson L. Health Policy and Systems Research: Needs, challenges and opportunities in South Africa – a University Perspective. South African Health Review 2013, Chapter 12; 2012/13 151-160. Rispel L, Nieuwoudt S. Mainstreaming the Social Determinants of Health in South Africa: Rhetoric or reality. South African Health Review 2013, Chapter 7; 89-101 Rispel L, Moorman J. Health sector reforms and policy implementation in South Africa: A paradox?. In: Daniel J; Naidoo P, Pillay D & Southall R (editors) New South African Review 3: The second phase-tragedy or farce. Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2013. Chapter 12; 239-260 Rispel L, Hunter J. The Millennium Development Goals and healthcare reforms in South Africa; Progress and Challenges. Pillay U, Hagg G, Nyamnjoh F & Jansen J (editors). State of the Nation South Africa 2013. Cape Town: HSRC Press. Chapter 18; 536-566
New research initiatives “Nkateko” – a randomised controlled trial on treating hypertension in rural South Africa: A clinic-based lay health worker to enhance integrated chronic care South Africa has a high and rising prevalence of hypertension. Previous research in the rural Agincourt sub- district, covered by a high-functioning health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) has found a prevalence of 61% in adults, many affected individuals not using any medication and very few of them (9%) with controlled blood pressure. Until recently, primary care clinics focused on management of acute conditions, but recent government initiatives are shifting the focus to the integrated management of chronic disease including HIV, TB, diabetes and hypertension. This cluster randomised controlled trial will test the effectiveness of a new clinic- based lay health worker to supplement government initiatives and support care of chronic disease. Pregnancy can exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities in certain populations by lowering education and employment opportunities, increasing needs and heightening dependency. CHP contributed research to offer maternity and early child support grants as a mechanism for giving children the best possible start in life, for reducing inequities stemming from pregnancy and for alleviating family poverty. In 2012, Associate Professor Matthew Chersich won a tender from the national Department of Social Development to conduct a systematic review of global experience with grants during pregnancy (identified 40 programmes in 30 countries), analysis of the General Household Survey to examine evidence of the vulnerability of pregnant women, and focus group discussions and key informant interviews on state-supported pregnancy programmes. This work was finalised in 2013, and demonstrated that initiating state support during pregnancy would complement the Child Support Grant and far extend its benefits for maternal health and wellbeing, and for newborns (such as increased birth weight). This research provides a unique opportunity for interventions over a brief period which could have massive impacts and synergies beyond compare. CHP is embarking on new work in human resources for health, since recruitment and retention of health workers is a major concern. Policy initiatives emphasize financial incentives, despite mixed evidence of their effectiveness. Qualitative studies suggest that nurses especially may be more driven by altruistic motivations, but quantitative research has overlooked such values. An innovative cross-country quantitative study conducted with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used experimental economics to characterise the nature and determinants of nurses’ altruism. An experimental ‘dictator game’ was undertaken with 1064 final year nursing students in Kenya, South Africa and Thailand. The dictator game presents participants with a real financial endowment to split between themselves and another student, a patient or a poor person. 166
Giving a greater share of this financial endowment to the other person is interpreted as reflecting greater altruism. Nursing students gave over 30% of their initial endowment to others which is significantly higher than the 10% observed in similar experiments undertaken with other groups. Respondents in all three countries showed greater generosity to patients and the poor than to fellow students. However, nursing students from South Africa were significantly less altruistic than those from the other two countries. The study suggests that consideration needs to be given on appealing to altruistic values as an alternative strategy to encourage nurses to enter the profession and remain there. To make its work more accessible, CHP updated its website and issued its first electronic newsletter in October 2013. The newsletter featured three policy briefs which translate research findings into short, digestible documents for easy reading and action by policy makers and key stakeholders. Nonhlanhla Nxumalo’s PhD work featured in the Wits Health Sciences Newsletter. The article was entitled “Outreach services to improve access to health care in South Africa: lessons from three community health worker programmes”. It reached key internal stakeholders at Wits. Greer van Zyl wrote a feature article for the annual Bulletin of the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) on National Health Insurance (pages 8-13). The HPCSA, one of CHP’s RESYST regulatory authority stakeholders, and the Bulletin was distributed to all 160 000 healthcare professionals in South Africa.
MRC/WITS RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH TRANSITIONS RESEARCH UNIT (AGINCOURT)
Director: Professor Stephen Tollman
Awards/Recognition
Mrs Rhian Twine (who heads the LINC office – Learning, Information Dissemination and Networking with the Community) was awarded the Joe Veriava Bioethics Medal jointly with Prof Lukhele from Clinical Medicine. Professor Steve Tollman will be receiving an award from the Faculty on 4 Dec.(This will be updated later). Dr Soteh Ameh, PhD student at Agincourt was awarded an African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship (ADDRF). Dr Mark Collinson received an Emerging Researcher award from Wits URC which makes it possible to host a post doc fellow to assist him in his research on migration. Board members:
Steve Tollman Chair, Public Health and Tropical Medicine Interview Committee, the Wellcome Trust, UK Chair, External Advisory Board – Research Capacity, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi. Chair, Scientific Organising Committee, 12th INDEPTH International Scientific Conference, School of Public Health, Wits, Johannesburg. Member, MRC UK Global Health Strategy Group. Member, MRC UK African Research Leader selection panel. Member, International Advisory Board, Centre for Global Health Research, Cambridge University, UK. Member, DCP3 / Disease Control Priorities, Advisory Committee to the Editors, Seattle USA.
Kathy Kahn
Member, INDEPTH Board of Trustees, Accra Ghana Deputy Chair, Soul City Board Member, Ministerial Health Data Advisory Coordinating Committee, SA Member, Steering Committee, Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA)
Clifford Odimegwu
Chief Editor and Chair, Editorial Board, Journal of African Population Studies
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Karen Hofman
Member Soul City Board
Xavier Gomez-Olive
Member, Research and Ethics Committee, Mpumalanga Province
Rhian Twine
Member, Research and Ethics Committee, Mpumalanga Province
Substantial Research Grants 2013 – 16 USD 1.1M National Institute on Ageing, NIH, USA: Health and Ageing in Africa: Longitudinal Studies in INDEPTH Settings (with PI L Berkman). Wellcome Trust- 2 year award -R9,181,972.
Significant local research collaborations
Cheryl Cohen Researcher, Epidemiology National Institute for Severe acute respiratory and Surveillance Unit Communicable Diseases infection and rotavirus surveillance and research
Marianne Alberts Emeritus Professor Medical University of Limpopo Dikgale HDSS and non- Sciences communicable disease
Till Barnighausen Assistant Professor Harvard School of Public HIV studies and adult health Health and Africa and aging Centre, KZN
Martin Wittenberg Senior researcher, University of Cape Town Migration and health Economics
Debbie Bradshaw Head Burden of Disease Medical Research Mortality, vital registration Unit Council
Significant international research collaborations
Peter Byass Professor, Centre for University of Umeå, Verbal autopsy: evaluating Global Health Research Sweden computer-based analyses; migration and health
Samuel Clark Assistant Professor, University of Washington, Demographic methods, Department of Sociology Seattle, USA mathematical modeling of population processes, theory & practice of temporal databases
Ed Fottrell Researcher Univ College London, UK Assessment of verbal autopsies
Michel Garenne Directeur de Recherche, Pasteur Institut, France Demography – fertility & Epidémiologie des mortality Maladies émergentes 168
Jill Williams Assistant Director, African University of Colorado at Migration, gender, capacity Population Research and Boulder, USA development in longitudinal Training Program Institute data management and of Behavioral Science analysis
David Dunger Professor, Department of University of Cambridge, Adolescent and infant Paediatrics UK growth and risk for metabolic disease
Kerstin Edin Fellow; Epidemiology and University of Umeå, Gender, Project Ntshembo Public Health Sciences Sweden
Anneli Ivarsson Senior lecturer, University of Umeå, Paediatrician, Project Epidemiology and Public Sweden Ntshembo Health Sciences
John Kinsman Lecturer, Epidemiology and University of Umeå, Anthropologist, Project Public Health Sciences Sweden Ntshembo
Sheri Lipman Researchers Univ of California, San Community mobilization Francisco intervention, Swa Koteka
Audrey Pettifor Senior researcher University of North Cash Transfer intervention Carolina, Chapel Hill, (Swa Koteka) (PI) USA
Alan Stein Professor, Child and University of Oxford, UK School-based intervention Adolescent Psychiatry on child resilience and (co-PI) coping
Lisa Berkman Professor and Director Harvard Centre for Social epidemiology, adult Population and health and aging, public Development Studies policy
David Canning Professor; Deputy Director Harvard Centre for Economic aspects of aging Population and Development Studies
Somnath Chatterjee Evidence and Information World Health INDEPTH-WHO study on (co-PI) for Policy Organization, Geneva, physical and cognitive function
Myles Connor Honorary (Clinical) Senior University of Edinburgh, Cardiovascular disease and Lecturer, Dept Clinical UK epilepsy Neurosciences
Jane Menken Professor and Director, University of Colorado at Social impacts ART; Population Aging Centre Boulder, USA INDEPTH multi-site Adult (co-PI) health and aging; joint training grants
Charles Newton Professor, Adolescent and Oxford University Tropical neurology, Child Psychiatry particularly epilepsy, CNS infections
Nawi Ng Senior Lecturer, University of Umeå, INDEPTH-WHO multi-site Epidemiology & Global Sweden adult health and aging 169
Health research
Josh Salomon Associate Professor, Harvard University, USA INDEPTH multisite study on Institute for Global Health self-reported health (co-PI)
Margaret Professor of Epidemiology University of Warwick, UK Non-communicable disease, adult health and aging; Thorogood (PI)
Kerstin Klipstein- Associate Professor o Wits Public Non-communicable disease Grobusch Health (PT) epidemiology o Utrecht Univ, Netherlands Enid Schatz Faculty member University of Missouri, Older women’s experiences USA of HIV/AIDS (PI)
Philippe Bocquier Associate Professor Universite Catholique Migration and Health Louvain, Belgium
Lori Hunter Associate Professor, University of Colorado at Population health and Population Aging Centre Boulder, USA natural resource use (co-PI)
Mark Lurie Assistant Professor, Dept Brown University, USA Migration and health of Community Health
Sangeetha Sociologist/demographer University of Maryland, Social connections and child Madhavan (PI) USA wellbeing
Michael White Director, Population Brown University, USA Migration and urbanisation Studies and Training Centre
Participation in congresses
Mark Collinson presented a poster titled “Ubiquitous burden: estimating the contribution of return migration to AIDS/TB mortality in rural South Africa using a population surveillance approach.” XXVII International Population Conference of the IUSSP, 26-31 Aug 2013, Busan, Republic of Korea.(Collinson MA, Bocquier P, Clark S, Kahn K, Tollman S) Mike White presented a poster entitled “ Migration, loss to follow-up and population health surveillance in South Africa.” Population Association of America, 11-13 April, New Orleans. ( White M, Collinson MA, Antobam K, McGarvey ST, Lurie M) Soter Ameh, PhD student, gave an oral presentation at the 9th Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) conference held in Cape Town from 24-27 September. His presentation was titled ‘Predictors of health care utilization by older adults in rural South Africa.’ This conference was in collaboration with the African Federation of Public Health Associations (AFPHA), and it was the inaugural conference of the AFPHA. Sulaiman Afolabi, PhD student, gave an oral presentation at the XXVII International Population Conference of the IUSSP, 26-31 Aug 2013, Busan, Republic of Korea. His presentation was titled ’The Relationship between AIDS/TB Mortality and Migration in the Context of Other Causes of Death in Rural South Africa.’(Afolabi SA, Bocquier P, Kahn K, Collinson MA). Stephen Tollman attended the Population Association of America conference held in New Orleans, USA, 11-13 April 2013. 170
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop
Agincourt, in collaboration with the INDEPTH Network, organized the INDEPTH SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE- ISC 2013- which took place in the new building of the School of Public Health. The theme for the conference was ‘Fitting together the health data puzzle.’ 28-31 Oct 2013.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Carren Ginsberg Nicole Angotti Kojo Antobam Brain Houle
Publications
Schatz E, Gilbert L, McDonald C. If the doctors see that they don't know how to cure the disease, they say it's AIDS': how older women in rural South Africa make sense of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. African Journal of AIDS Research 2013; 12(2):95-104 Arthur S, Bangha M, Sankoh O. Review of contributions from HDSSs to research in sexual and reproductive health in low- and middle-income countries. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2013; 1812):1463-1487 Gaydosh L, Reniers G, Helleringer S. Partnership concurrency and coital frequency. AIDS Behaviour 2013; 17(7):2376-85 doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0525 Krishnan A, Dwivedi P, Gupta V, Byass P, Pandav CV, Ng N. Socioeconomic development and girl child survival in rural North India: solution or problem. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2013; 67:419-426 doi: 10.1136/jech-2012-201846 Khan T, Bertram MY, Jina R, Mash B, Levitt N, Hofman K. Preventing diabetes blindness: cost effectiveness of a screening programme using digital non-mydriatic fundus photography for diabetic retinopathy in a primary health care setting in South Africa. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 2013; doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2013.05.006 Lippman S, Maman S, MacPhail C, Twine R, Peacock D, Kahn K, Pettifor A. Conceptualizing mobilization for HIV prevention: implications for HIV prevention programming in the African context. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(10): e78208 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078208 Sartorius K, Sartorius B, Tollman S, Schatz E, Kirsten J, Collinson M. Rural Poverty dynamics and refugee communities in South Africa: a spatial-temporal model. Population, Space and Place 2013; 19(1):103-23 Sartorius K, Sartorius B. A spatial model to quantify the mortality impact of service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa: an ecological design utilizing data from South Africa. International Journal of Health Geographics 2013; 12(8) DOI: 10.1186/1476-072X0-12-8 Nzenze SA, Shiri T, Nunes MC, Klugman KP, Kahn K, Twine R, de Gouveia L, von Gottberg A, Madhi SA. Temporal changes in pneumococcal colonization in a rural-African community with high HIV-prevalence following routine infant pneumococcal immunization. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2013; in press Kariuki SM, Matuja W, Akpalu A, Chabi M, Wagner RG, Connor M, Chengo , Ngugi AK, Odhiambo R, Bottomley C, White S, Josemir W, Sander BGR, Neville CR, Newton JC, (and on behalf of the SEEDS group ). Clinical features, proximate causes, and consequences of active convulsive epilepsy in Africa. Epilepsia 2013; DOI: 10.1111/epi.12392 Houle B, Stein A, Kahn K, Madhavan S, Collinson M, Tollman SM, Clark SJ. Household context and child mortality in rural South Africa: the effects of birth spacing, shared mortality, household composition and socio-economic status. International Journal of Epidemiology 2013; 1-11 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyt149 Wolter N, Cohen C, Tempia S, Madhi SA, Venter M, Moyes J, Walaza S, Kgokong BM, Groome M, du Plessis M, Pretorius M, Dawood H, Kahn K, Variava E, Klugman KP, von Gottberg A. HIV and influenza infection are associated with increased blood pneumococcal load, South Africa, 2009-2011. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2013; DOI:1093/infdis/jit427 Garenne M, Kahn K, Collinson MA, Gómez-Olivé FX,Tollman S. Maternal mortality in rural South Africa: the impact of case definition on levels and trends. Int Jnr of Women's Health 2013; 5:457-463 Verguet S, Jassat W, Bertram MY, Tollman SM, Murray CJL, Jamison DT, Hofman KJ. Impact of supplemental immunization activity (SIA) campaigns on health systems: finding from South Africa. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2013; DOI: 10.1136/jech-2012-202216 171
Cortina M, Fazel M, Hlungwani TM, Kahn K, Tollman S, Cortina-Borja MC, Stein A. Childhood psychological problems in school settings in rural Southern Africa. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(6):e65041. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065041 Bhatt S, Gething PW, Brady OJ, Messina JP, Farlow AW, Moyes CL, Drake JM, Brownstein JS, Hoen AG, Sankoh O, Myers MF, George DB, Jaenisch T, Wint GRW, Simmons CP, Scott TW, Farrar JJ, Hay SI. The global distribution and burden of dengue. Nature 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nature12060 Madhavan S, Harrison A, Sennott C. The management of non marital fertility in two South African communities. Journal of Culture, Health and Sexuality 2013; 15(5):614-628 DOI: 10.1080/13691058-2013.777475 Byass P, de Courten M, Graham WJ, Laflemme L, McCaw-Binns A, Sankoh OA, Tollman SM, Zaba B. Reflections on the Global Burden of Disease 2010 estimates. PLoS Med 10(7):31001477 Hirve S, Oud JHL, Sambhudas S, Juvekar S, Blomstedt Y, Tollman S, Wall S,Ng N. Unpacking self-rated health and quality of life in older adults and elderly in India: a structural equation modelling approach. Social Indicators Research 2013; DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0334-7 van Heerden AC, Norris S, Tollman S, Richter L, Rotheram-Borus MJ. Collecting maternal health information from HIV-positive pregnant women using mobile phone-assisted face-to-face interviews in Southern Africa. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2013;15(6):e116 doi:102196/jmir.2207 Adair LS, Fall CH, Osmond C, Stein AD, Matorell R, Ramirez-Zea M, Sachdev HS, Dahly DL,Bas I, Norris SA, Micklesfield L, Hallah P, Victoria CG for the Cohorts group. Associations of linear growth and relative weight gain during early life with adult health and human capital in countries of low and middle income: findings from five birth cohort studies. Lancet 2013; 6736(13):1-9 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60103-8 Zaba B, Calvert C, Martson M, Isingo R, Nakiyingi-Miiro J, Tom Lutalo, Crampin A, Robertson L, Herbst K, Newell M-L, Todd J, Byass P, Boerman T, Ronsmans C. .Effect of HIV infection on pregnancy-related mortality in sub- Saharan Africa: secondary analyses of pooled community-based data from the network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA). Lancet 2013; 381:1763-1771 Garenne M, Kahn K, Collinson M, Gómez-Olivé FX, Tollman S. Protective effect of pregnancy in rural South Africa: Questioning the concept of “Indirect Cause” of maternal death. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(5):e64414 Sartorius B, Kahn K, Collinson MA, Sartorius K, Tollman SM. Dying in their prime: determinants and space –time risk of adult mortality in rural South Africa. Geospatial Health 2013;7(2):237-249 Clark SJ, Kahn K, Houle B, Arteche A, Collinson MA, Tollman SM, Stein A. Young children’s probability of dying before and after their mother’s death: a rural southern-African population- based surveillance study. PLoS Med 2013; 10(3):e1001409 MacPhail C, Adato M, Kahn K, Selin A, Twine R, Khoza S, Rosenburg M, Nguyen N, Becker E, Pettifor A. Acceptability and feasibility of cash transfers for HIV prevention among adolescent South African women. AIDs & Behaviour 2013; DOI:10.1007/S10461-013-0433-0 Ngugi AK, Bottomley C, Kleinschmidt I, Wagner RG, Kakooza-Mwesige A, Ae-Ngibise K, Owusu-Agyei S, Masanja H, Kamuyu G, Odhiambo R, Chengo E, Sander JW, Newton CR, on behalf of the SEEDS group (including Kahn K, Tollman SM, Collinson M, Connor M). Prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa and associated risk factors: cross-sections and case-control studies. Lancet Neurology 2013; DOI: 10.1016/S1474- 4422(13)70003-6 Hunter LM, Nawrotzki R, Leyk S, Maclaurin G, Twine W, Collinson M, Erasmus B. Rural outmigration, natural capital and livelihoods in South Africa. Population, Space and Place 2013; DOI: 10.1002/psp.776 Sartorius B, Cohen C, Chirwa T, Ntshoe G, Puren A, Hofman K. Identifying high risk areas for sporadic measles outbreaks: lessons from South Africa. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2013;91(3):174-83 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.12.110726 McParland D, Gormley IC, Clark SJ, McCormick TH, Kabudula CW. Clustering South African households based on their asset status using latent variable models. Annals of Applied Statistics. In press Hounton S, de Bernis L, Hussein J, Graham WJ, Danel I, Byass P, Mason EM. Towards elimination of maternal deaths: maternal deaths surveillance and response. Reproductive Health 2013; 10:1 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4755-10- 1
Musenge E, Chirwa TF, Kahn K, Vounatsou P. Bayesian analysis of zeroinflated spatiotemporal HIV/TB child mortality data through the INLA and SPDE approaches applied to data observed between 1992 and 2010 in rural North East South Africa. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geo Information 2013; DOI: 10.10.1016/j.jag2012.04.001 French DP, Wade AN, Farmer AJ. Predicting self-care behaviours of patients with type 2 diabetes: the importance of beliefs about behaviour, not just beliefs about illness. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2013; 74(4):327-33 172
Olofin I, McDonald CM, Ezzati M, Flaxman S, Black RE, Fawzi WW, Caulfield LE, Danaei G, Adair L, Arifeen S, Bhandari N, Garenne M, Kirkwood B, Mølbak K, Katz J, Sommer A, West Jr KP, Penny ME. Associations of suboptimal growth with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in children under five years: a pooled analysis of ten prospective studies. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(5):e64636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064636 Cohen C, Moyes J, Tempia S, Groom M, Walaza S, Pretorius M, Dawood H, Chhagan M, Haffejee S, Variava E, Kahn K, Tshangela A, von Gottberg A, Wolter N, Cohen AL, Kgokong B, Venter M, Madhi SA. Severe influenza- associated lower respiratory tract infection in a high HIV-prevalence setting- South Africa, 2009-2011. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2013; 19(11); DOI:10.3201/eid1911.130546
New research initiatives
Nkateko-‘blessing’ PIs: Margaret Thorogood (univ Warwick); Jane Goudge (Wits); Charles Newton (Oxford). Objective: We hypothesize that a clinic-based lay health worker will achieve improved access and management of hypertension when compared with “usual care”. We will evaluate barriers and enablers affecting patient outcomes and pay attention to labour migrants as continuity of care is problematic.
AWI-Gen. The Wits-INDEPTH H3Africa Collaborative Centre, under the leadership of Professor Michéle Ramsey and Dr Osman Sankoh, aims to study the environmental risk factors for obesity and related cardiometabolic diseases. It is a partnership between Wits and the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in low and middle income countries, using five INDEPTH member health and demographic surveillance system field sites across four African countries: Ghana, Burkino Faso, Kenya and South Africa, as well as an urban study site in Soweto. The study will begin by examining the genetic architecture of these African populations and will progress to investigate genomic contributions to body fat distribution, considering the relevant environmental and social contexts, in order to contribute to an understanding of cardiometabolic disease susceptibility.
Visitors
Professor Matthew McQueen- University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Stig Wall, Umeå University, Sweden and Editor of Global Health Action Profesor Peter Byass, Umeå University, Sweden Dr Kirsten Edin, Umeå University, Sweden Professor Andy Foster, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island Professor Shah Ebrahim, LSHTM, UK Professor David Lam, University of Michigan, USA Emeritus Professor Jerry Coovadia, UKZN, MATCH (Wits) Professor Catriona Macleod, SARCHI chair: Critical studies in sexualities and reproduction, Rhodes University, Grahamstown Dr Barni Nor, SIDA
9.7. SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC SCIENCES
Appointments Dr Hellen Myezwa (Department of Physiotherapy) promoted to Associate Professor. Dr Joanne Potterton (Department of Physiotherapy) promoted to Associate Professor. Dr Helena van Aswegen (Department of Physiotherapy) promoted to Associate Professor.
Awards/Recognition Mrs Shirra Moch won the 2013 Pharmacology Educator Award from the SA Society of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology "in recognition of contributions to excellence, expertise, and demonstrable achievement in pharmacology education. Associate Professor Yahya Choonara was awarded the Friedel Sellschop award in recognition of exceptional young researchers Dr Witness Mudzi was awarded an NRF Rating in the Y1 category. 173
Associate Professor Yahya Choonara was awarded an NRF Rating in the Y1 category. Professor Viness Pillay was awarded the Wits Innovators Forum International Inventor Award for having a patent granted in an international jurisdiction, Wits Commercial Enterprise (Pty) Ltd., May 2013. Professor Viness Pillay, Associate Professor Yahya Choonara and Ms Lisa du Toit were awarded the Wits Innovators Forum Prolific Inventor Award for having disclosed more than five inventions, Wits Commercial Enterprise (Pty) Ltd., May 2013. Professor Viness Pillay, Associate Professor Yahya Choonara and Ms Lisa du Toit, Mr Pradeep Kumar were awarded the Wits Innovators Forum First-Time Inventor Award for having disclosed a first patent, Wits Commercial Enterprise (Pty) Ltd., May 2013.
Substantial research grants Associate Professor Yahya Choonara was awarded an National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) Research Grant under the Blue Skies Program, Nanomicelles for Cancer Therapy, (Principal Grant Holder), R180,000, 2013. Associate Professor Yahya Choonara was awarded the Friedel Sellschop Grant from the University Research Committee, University of the Witwatersrand, (Principal Grant Holder), R105,000 p.a., 2011-2013.
Significant local research collaborations Dr Leonie Harmse is currently collaborating with Professor Charles de Koning from the Wits Chemistry Department on a project which involves the screening of novel compounds as potential anticancer agents which includes their cytotoxic potential and ability to induce apoptosis.
Significant international research collaborations Mr Maluta Steven Mufamadi, a PhD candidate in novel drug delivery, under the supervision of Professor Viness Pillay of the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, has successfully completed a 3-month Novartis Next Generation Scientist (NGS) Internship Programme in Basel, Switzerland. Angeliki Stephanou was invited by Professor Debra Goff from the Ohio State University as part of an exchange program to enhance skills and knowledge relating to Antibiotic Stewardship. The training took place between 11 and 23 November 2013. The exchange program is being funded by MSD Pharmaceuticals and FIDSSA in partnership with the Netcare Group.
Participation in congresses Mrs Juliana Freeme (Occupational Therapy) with students Mildred Maboitshego, July Masango, Winnie Mashimbe, Rendani Tshifa gave a poster presentation on “Virtual reality and neurological rehabilitation: can they be partners in SA?” at the South African Neurology And Rehabilitation Association (SANRA) which was held at the Hilton Hotel, Sandton between 28 and 30 August 2013. Their poster won the prize for best poster at the conference.
Hosting of a Congress/Research Day/Research Workshop The School of Therapeutic Sciences hosted their biennial Research Day on 10 September 2013 – the following prizes were awarded: Mrs Shirra Moch : Best Oral Presentation Ms Ronel Roos : Runner-Up - Oral Presentation Mrs Denise Franzsen : Best Poster Presentation Ms Natalia Neophytou : Runner-Up - Poster Presentation Ms Zelna Hubsch : Emerging Researcher
Visitors The Department of Nursing Education hosted Dr Mary Stewart, a research midwife from University College, London, on 14 August 2013. Dr Stewart conducted a workshop for a large audience on Evidence of vaginal examinations in labour: conversations with mothers and midwives and Evidence based midwifery: developing and celebrating own knowledge. 174
The Wits Department of Nursing Education in conjunction with the Nursing Education Association and Johnson & Johnson hosted a workshop on 8 March 2013, entitled: Strengthening a Research Culture. The guest speaker was Professor Dame Tina Lavender of the University of Manchester, a midwifery professor who was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to midwifery in 2012. The Department of Nursing Education hosted visiting Honorary Professor Alexandros Molassiotis. A series of workshops were facilitated by Professor Alex Molassiotis, Professor of Cancer and Supportive Care at the University of Manchester and chair of Nursing at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Professor Adam Thomas from the USA spoke to biokineticists, physiotherapists and students on Concussions: Management, Treatment, Prevention, and the role of the Physical Therapist’. He is a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer entering his 9th year as an assistant clinical professor at North-Eastern University in Boston, MA, USA where he has been a faculty member in the Physical Therapy Department and Athletic Training Education Program. He is the director of the Sports Residency Program in the Physical Therapy Department at North-Eastern. His teaching interests include therapeutic modalities, concussion management, and orthopeadic injuries/treatment, especially with the athletic population.
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Professor Sandy van Vureen
Significant local research collaborations
Collaboration with Prof Alvaro Viljoen (NRF / DST chair of Phytomedicine) at Tshwane University of Technology has resulted in four joint publications for 2013. We are co-supervising three postgraduate students together Collaboration with Prof Helene De Wet from the Department of Botany, University of Zululand has resulted in two joint publications for 2013.
Participation in congresses
Cock I, van Vuuren SF. Anti-Proteus activity of some South African medicinal plants: Their potential for the treatment and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. Indigenous Plant Use Forum, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, 1-4 July 2013. [Oral presentation] Olivier DK, Tantoh Ndinteh D, van Vuuren SF, AF Mulaba-Bafubiandi. Biological properties of 10 plants used in Pygmy medicine. Indigenous Plant Use Forum, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, 1-4 July 2013. [Oral presentation] de Wet H, Nciki S, van Vuuren SF. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of various skin disorders by a rural community in northern Maputaland, South Africa. 54th Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany The Sherwell Conference Centre at Plymouth University Plymouth, South Western England, 28 July-2 August 2013. [Oralpresentation] Hubsch Z, van Vuuren S, van Zyl R. What are the implications of combining allopathic antimicrobials with traditional medicinal plants? School of Therapeutic Health Sciences Research Day, 10 September, 2013. [Winner of emerging researcher division] Govender M, Choonara YE, Kumar P, du Toit LC, Tomar LK, van Vuuren SF., Pillay V. Fabrication, statistical optimization and characterization of a multi-particulate system for the concurrent delivery of antibiotics and probiotics. School of Therapeutic Health Sciences Research Day, 10 September, 2013. [Poster presentation] Maree JE, Viljoen AM, Kamatou GPP, Ahmad A, van Vuuren SF. The application of chemometric modelling in optimising antimicrobial essential oil formulations The 44th International Symposium on Essential Oils, Budepest, Hungary, 8-11 September, 2013. [Oral presentation] van Vuuren SF, Kaatz G. Antimicrobial efficacies of commercial essential oils: single compound to interactive profiles. The 44th International Symposium on Essential Oils, Budapest, Hungary, 8-11 September, 2013. [Oral presentation] Kasote D, Viljoen A, Chen W, van Vuuren S, Chemical profiling of South African propolis. The 34th Annual Conference of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa- Cape Town, 4-6 October, 2013. [Poster presentation] 175
Ahmad A, van Vuuren S, Viljoen A. Interactions of Thymus vulgaris volatiles against various microbial pathogens. The 34th Annual Conference of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa- Cape Town, 4-6 October, 2013. [Poster presentation] Suleman T, Viljoen AM, Kasote D, Sandasi MS, van Vuuren SF. Investigating the antimicrobial and chemical properties of South African propolis. Inter-university Research day, University of Johannesburg, 29 October, 2013. Nciki S, de Wet H, van Vuuren SF. Validating the traditional use of medicinal plants in Maputaland to treat skin diseases. Inter-university Research day, University of Johannesburg, 29 October, 2013. Hübsch Z, van Vuuren S, Van Zyl R. Can traditional medicinal plants have an effect on allopathic antimicrobial therapies? Inter-university Research day, University of Johannesburg, 29 October, 2013. [Winner of medal for best MSc presentation]
Invited Key Note Lecture
van Vuuren SF. Antimicrobial efficacies of essential oils: commercial and indigenous counterparts, Integrative Aromatherapy AROMASA Congress, Shaka’s Rock, KwaZulu Natal, 3-5 May 2013.
Publications
Mabona U, Viljoen AM, Shikanga E, Marston A, van Vuuren SF. Antimicrobial activity of southern African medicinal plants with dermatological relevance: From an ethnopharmcological screening approach, to combination studies and the isolation of a bioactive compound. The Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013, 148, 45-55. Zonyane S, van Vuuren SF, Makunga NP. Antimicrobial interactions of Khoi-San poly-herbal remedies with emphasis on the combination; Agathosma crenulata, Dodonaea viscosa and Eucalyptus globulus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013, 148, 144-151. de Rapper S, Kamatou GPP, Viljoen AM. van Vuuren SF. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil in combination with other aroma-therapeutic oils. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, Article ID 852049, 1-10, DOI.org/10.1155/2013/852049. Mabona U, van Vuuren SF. Southern African medicinal plants used to treat skin diseases. South African Journal of Botany, 2013, 87, 175-193. Mufamadi SM, Choonara YE, Kumar P, Modi G, Naidoo D, van Vuuren S, Ndesendo V.M.K, du Toit LC, Iyuke SE, Pillay V. Ligand-functionalized nanoliposomes for targeted delivery of galantamine. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013, 448, 267-281. Naidoo D, van Vuuren SF, van Zyl RL, de Wet H. Plants used traditionally to treat sexually transmitted infections in northern Maputaland: Antimicrobial activity and toxicity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013, 149, 656-667. Cock I, van Vuuren SF. Anti-Proteus activity of some South African medicinal plants: their potential for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammopharmacology, 2013, DOI: 10.1007/s10787-013-0179-3. de Wet H, Nciki S, van Vuuren SF. Medicinal plants used for the treatment of various skin disorders by a rural community in northern Maputaland, South Africa. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2013, 9:51, DOI:10.1186/1746-4269-9-51. Govender M, Choonara YE, Kumar P, du Toit LC, van Vuuren S, Pillay V. A Review of the advancements in probiotic delivery: Conventional vs. non-conventional formulations for intestinal flora supplementation. AAPS PharmSciTech, 2013. DOI: 10.1208/s12249-013-0027-1 Johnston D, Choonara YE, Kumar P, du Toit L, van Vuuren SF, V Pillay. Prolonged delivery of ciprofloxacin and diclofenac sodium from a polymeric fibre device for the treatment of peridontal disease. Accepted, BioMed Research, 2013. Maree J, Kamatou G, Gibbons S, Viljoen A, van Vuuren S. The application of GC-MS combined with chemometrics for the identification of antimicrobial compounds from selected commercial essential oils. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, Accepted Nov 2013. Leboho TC, van Vuuren SF, Michael JP, de Koning CB. The synthesis of 7-Azaindoles from 2-Amino-3-alkynyl Pyridines using acid catalysis and their antimicrobial activity. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Accepted Nov 2013.
Visitors
International collaboration with Dr I. Cock (Department of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences, Griffith University, Australia) resulted in a six month (September 2012-Febuary 2013) research sabbatical fellowship where he was 176
hosted in my research laboratories. We already have one joint publication together as well as one recently submitted (October, 2013) to the journal of Food Control (impact factor 2.74).
WITS ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY PLATFORM (WADDP)
Director: Professor Viness Pillay
Awards/Recognition
Professor Viness Pillay has been admitted as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), in honor of his exceptional contribution made to research in the field of pharmaceutics and having attained the highest international standards in his work, 2013. Professor Viness Pillay was honored with a prestigious Fellowship from the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) which recognises the highest level of scholarship and achievement of Africa-born scientists. The AAS fellowship programme is an initiative to honour and acknowledge African scientists who have become internationally renowned in their respective fields. Currently, the number of Fellows of AAS stands at 162 from 28 African countries. He was inducted at a formal ceremony at the AAS General Assembly meeting. Professor Yahya E. Choonara was awarded a National Research Foundation (NRF) Y1 rating for 2013-2017. He was also nominated for The Word Academy of Sciences Research Prize in 2013. A paper entitled: A Prospective Overview of the Essential Requirements in Molecular Modeling for Nanomedicine Design by Pradeep Kumar, Riaz A. Khan, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay, Future Medicinal Chemistry, 5(8), 929-946, 2013” was the highlight of the respective issue (vol 5 issue 8) in Future Medicinal Chemistry. 34th Annual Conference of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa 2013 Award for Best Research Publication in Pharmaceutics – “Surface-Engineered Nanoliposomes by Chelating Ligands for Modulating the Neurotoxicity Associated with β-Amyloid Aggregates of Alzheimer’s disease”, Maluta S. Mufamadi, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Girish Modi, Dinesh Naidoo, Valence M. K. Ndesendo, Lisa C. du Toit, Sunny E. Iyuke and Viness Pillay, Pharmaceutical Research (2012) 29:3075–3089, 2012. Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Lomas Tomar won the Young Investigator Award for a paper entitled ‘Poly(PEGDMA- MAA) Copolymeric Micro and Nanoparticles for Oral Insulin Delivery: A Molecular Mechanistic Revisit’ at the International Joint Conference on Pharmaceutical Pharmacology Technology - IJCPPT 2012 - organised by IRNet Group, India at New Delhi, Sep 6-7, 2012. PhD student Mr. Pradeep Kumar was the Winner of the World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation (WCNR) Executive Committee Student Scholarship 2012 for a paper entitled ‘Polyphenol-flavonol synergistic paradigm for neural repair: Combinatorial computational modeling approach for post-traumatic μ-calpain inactivation’, at the 7th WCNR Congress: Innovations in NeuroRehabilitation, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 – 19 May 2012; the Elsevier’s International Society for Developmental Neuroscience (ISDN) Student Scholarship 2012 for a paper entitled ‘In silico theoretical molecular modeling for Alzheimer’s disease: The nicotine-curcumin paradigm in neuroprotection and neurotherapy, at the 19th Biennial Meeting of the ISDN2012: Neurodevelopment and Neurological diseases, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, 11-14 January, 2012 and several Elsevier’s NanoToday 2011 PhD Student Awards for three conference papers pertaining to the robust design of biodegradable block-copoly(ester-ether)s and multifunctional nanoconstructs for spinal cord injury.. PhD student Ms. Lisa du Toit was the Winner of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) International Travel Grant 2012, for a paper entitled ‘In Vivo Verification of the Bioresponsive Potential of an Intelligent Intraocular Implant, (Supervisor of PhD student, Ms. Lisa C. Du Toit), ARVO Annual Meeting 2012, Fort Lauderdale Florida, USA, 6-10 May 2012. Masters student Mr. Angus Hibbins was the Novartis Next Generation Scientist Program 2012 Award designed to accelerate the scientific and leadership capabilities of talented students. Masters student Mr. Tong Sheng-Tsai was the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Biotech Fundi Award 2012 for Best Student Research. Masters student Ms. Priya Bawa won the 2011 University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences Best Postgraduate Degree Award for a dissertation entitled: Design and Development of a Stimuli-Responsive Oral Tablet System for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. 177
6th International Conference on Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences (ICPPS) Award for Best Research Publication in Pharmaceutics – “Investigation of the physicochemical and physicomechanical properties of a novel intravaginal bioadhesive polymeric device in the pig model, Valence Ndesendo, Viness Pillay, Yahya E. Choonara, Leith Meyer, Eckhart Buchmann, Lisa C. du Toit, Riaz A. Khan and Uwe Rosin, AAPS PharmSciTech, 11(2), 793- 808, 2010”. Masters student Ms. Ameena Wadee was the 6th International Conference on Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences (ICPPS), Winner Award for Best Young Scientist Research – “The development of an in situ forming implant for the treatment of solid tumors: Determination of the effect of methotrexate release on colon carcinoma cells and in vivo studies in the rat model, Ameena Wadee, Viness Pillay, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit and Clement Penny.
Substantial research grants
Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) Research Grant, ‘Drug-Loaded Nanomicelles Conjugated to Mucin Antibodies for Direct Targeting of Ovarian Cancer Cells Expressing Mucin Antigens’, Prof. Viness Pillay, R120,000, 2013. University of the Witwatersrand’s Vice-Chancellors Research Grant Award, ‘Application of New Constructs for Superior Drug Therapy and Repair of Spinal Cord Injury’, Prof. Viness Pillay, R250,000, 2013. NRF-ASACEN Grant Supporting Joint Research Co-operation between South Africa and Argentina. Collaborating with Professor Ismael Bianco, Biotechnology Unit, CEPROCOR-CONICET, Ministry of Science and Technology of Cordoba, Santa Maria de Punilla (CP 5164), Argentina, Prof. Viness Pillay, R450,000, 2013-2015. Medical Research Council of South Africa Self-Initiated Research Grant, “An Implantable Polymeric Configuration for application in AIDS Dementia Complex” Prof. Viness Pillay, R102,000, 2012-2014. NRF Research Grant under the Blue Skies Program, Nanomicelles for Cancer Therapy, Prof. Yahya E. Choonara, R535,000, 2012-2014. NRF Thutuka Grant entitled a Neurodurable Scaffold Device, Prof. Yahya E. Choonara, R203,000, 2013. Professor Viness Pillay NRF Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers, R80,000.00, 2012-2017. Professor Yahya E. Choonara NRF Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers, R20,000.00, 2013-2017. NRF Research Chair: Pharmaceutical Biomaterials and Polymer-Engineered Drug Delivery Technologies, University of the Witwatersrand, Prof. Viness Pillay, R2.5,000,000 p.a., 2012-2017 (a 3-cycle renewable grant).
Participation in congresses
Invited Plenary Speaker at the 34th Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa (APPSA) Conference: ‘In Silico Quantitation of the Molecular Energy and Surface Attributes of Multi-Modal Neuromaterials for CNS Drug Delivery’, 4-6 October 2013 at Lagoon Beach Hotel, Milnerton, in Cape Town, 2013. Copolymeric Nanoparticle Depot for Prolonged Insulin Delivery in the Diabetic Rabbit, Lomas K. Tomar, Charu Tyagi, Manoj Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara, Harpal Singh and Viness Pillay, International Conference on Health, Environment and Industrial Biotechnology, BioSangam 2013, Department of Biotechnology, Mortilal Nehru Institute of Technology Allahabad, India, November 21-13, 2013. Biodegradable Cellulose-g-Glycidyl methacrylate Surfaces for Quantitative Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Charu Tyagi, Lomas K .Tomar, Yahya E. Choonara, Harpal Singh and Viness Pillay, International Conference on Health, Environment and Industrial Biotechnology, BioSangam 2013, Department of Biotechnology, Mortilal Nehru Institute of Technology Allahabad, India, November 21-13, 2013. Electrospun nanofiber matrix with a mucoadhesive backing film for oramucosal drug delivery Charu Tyagi, Clare Dott, Lomas Tomar, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar and Viness Pillay, 5th International Conference on Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering – ICBEE 2013 Conference, New Delhi, India, 14-15 September 2013. Rheological and swelling behavior of pH sensitive hydrogel particles, Lomas Kumar Tomar, Charu Tyagi, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit and Viness Pillay, 5th International Conference on Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering – ICBEE 2013 Conference, New Delhi, India, 14-15 September 2013. Podium Presentation: In silico analyticomathematical interpretation of multi(biomed)material assemblies: Quantification of energy surfaces and molecular attributes via atomistic simulations, Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay, 25th European Conference on Biomaterials, Madrid, Spain, September 8-12th, 2013. 178
Postdoctoral Fellow
L. Tomar, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Pharmaceutics), date of commencement (2012), In progress. Research Project: Investigations into the oral delivery of cytokines for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
Institution: University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, South Africa
C. Tyagi, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Pharmaceutics), date of commencement (2010), In progress. Research Project: Specialized electrospinning techniques for super-stable 3D drug delivery constructs.
Institution: University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, South Africa
O. Adeleke, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Pharmaceutics), date of commencement (2013), In progress. Research Project: Exploration of the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of decorated polyamide 6,10 complexes for specialized drug delivery.
Institution: University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, South Africa
Divyarani Bijukumar, Post-Doctoral Fellow (Pharmaceutics), date of commencement (2013), In progress. Research Project: Chronotherapeutic drug delivery technologies
Institution: University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, South Africa
Publications
Oral Bioavailability and Neuro-Availability vs. “Neuro-Transmittability”: A Figment of Imagination in the Conundrum of Neuronal Intervention, Viness Pillay, Pradeep Kumar and Yahya E Choonara, Journal of Bioequivalence and Bioavailability, 5(5), 1-2, 2013. A Mucoadhesive Electrospun Nanofibrous Matrix for Rapid Oramucosal Drug Delivery, Clare Dott, Charu Tyagi, Lomas Tomar, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa du Toit and Viness Pillay, Journal of Nanomaterials, Volume 2013, Article ID 924947, 1-19, 2013. Exploration of the Biomacromolecular Interactions of an Interpenetrating Proteo-Saccharide Hydrogel Network at the Mucosal Interface, Felix Mashingaidze, Yahya E. Choonara Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit, Vinesh Maharaj, Eckhart Buchmann, Valence M.K. Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research- Part A, 101A, 3616–3629, 2013. A Hybrid Methacrylate-Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose Interpolyelectrolyte Complex: Rheometry and In Silico Disposition for Controlled Drug Release, Ndidi Ngwuluka, Yahya E. Choonara, Girish Modi, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Viness Pillay, Materials, 6(10), 4284-4308, 2013. A Novel pH-Sensitive Interferon-β (INF-β) Oral Delivery System for Application in Multiple Sclerosis, Pierre P.D. Kondiah, Lomas K. Tomar, Charu Tyagi, Yahya E. Choonara, Girish Modi, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar and Viness Pillay, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 456(2):459-72, 2013. Monolayered multipolymeric buccal films with drug and polymers of opposing solubilities for ARV therapy: Physico- mechanical evaluation and molecular mechanics modeling, Elsabé Jones, Elizabeth Ojewole, Viness Pillay, Pradeep Kumar,Sanjeev Rambharose, Thirumala Govender, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 455(1-2):197-212, 2013. Vitamin D Therapy and Related Metabolomics: Is the Calciferol Dose and Form the Only Requirements for Successful Clinical Therapeutics?, Miles C. Braithwaite, Pradeep Kumar, Charu Tyagi, Lomas K. Tomar, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay, 81(4), 656-663, 2013. Physicomechanical Characterization and Optimization of EDTA-mPEG and Avicel®-EDTA-mPEG In Situ Melt Dispersion Mini-Pellets, Angus R. Hibbins, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit and Viness Pillay, AAPSPharmSciTech, 14(3), 935-949, 2013. A Novel Multi-Layered Multi-Disk Oral Tablet for Chronotherapeutic Drug Delivery, Zaheeda Khan, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa du Toit, Valence Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, Biomedical Research International, Volume 2013, Article ID 569470, 1-16, 2013. 179
Design of an Anti-Inflammatory Composite Nanosystem and Evaluation of its Potential for Ocular Drug Delivery, Lisa C. du Toit, Thirumala Govender, Trevor Carmichael, Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 102(8):2780-2805, 2013. Design and Pharmaceutical Evaluation of an Implantable Nano-Enabled Crosslinked Multipolymeric Scaffold for Prolonged Intracranial Release of Zidovudine, Sheri-lee Harilall, Yahya E. Choonara, Girish Modi, Lomas K. Tomar, Charu Tyagi, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit, Sunny E. Iyuke, Michael P. Danckwerts and Viness Pillay, Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16(3) 470 - 485, 2013. Five Decades of Sci-Fi in Drug Delivery, Viness Pillay, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit and Yahya E. Choonara, Therapeutic Delivery 4(3), 2013. A Prospective Overview of the Essential Requirements in Molecular Modeling for Nanomedicine Design, Viness Pillay, Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara and Riaz A. Khan, Future Medicinal Chemistry, 5(8), 929-946, 2013. Integration of Biosensors and Drug Delivery Technologies for Early Detection and Chronic Management of Illness, Mpho Ngoepe, Yahya E. Choonara, Charu Tyagi, Lomas K. Tomar, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Valence Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, Sensors, 13(6), 7680-7713, 2013. Modulation of the Nano-Tensile Mechanical Properties of Co-Blended Amphiphilic Alginate Fibers as Oradurable Biomaterials for Specialized Biomedical Application, Deanne Johnston, Pradeep Kumar, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit and Viness Pillay, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 23:80-102, 2013. A Review of Polymeric Refabrication Techniques to Modify Polymer Properties for Biomedical and Drug Delivery Applications, Viness Pillay, Ahmed Seedat, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar and Valence M. K. Ndesendo, AAPSPharmSci Tech, 14(2):692-711, 2013. Design of an Interpolyelectrolyte Gastroretentive Matrix for the Site-Specific Zero-Order Delivery of Levodopa in Parkinson’s Disease, Ndidi C. Ngwuluka, Yahya E. Choonara, Girish Modi, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Valence M.K. Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, AAPSPharmSci Tech, 14(2):605-619, 2013. A Novel pH-Dependant and Double Crosslinked Polymethacrylate-Based Polysphere Matrix for Enteric Delivery of Isoniazid, Shivaan Cooppan, Viness Pillay, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit, Valence M.K. Ndesendo and Pradeep Kumar, Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 18(5):1066-1077, 2013. Micromechanical and physical stability analysis of an irradiated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) donut-shaped minitablet device for intraocular implantation, Yahya E. Choonara, Viness Pillay, Michael P. Danckwerts, Trevor R. Carmichael, Lisa C. du Toit and Riaz A. Khan, Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 18(5):1186-1203, 2013. Ligand-Functionalized Nanoliposomes for Targeted Delivery of Galantamine, Maluta S. Mufamadi, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Girish Modi, Dinesh Naidoo, Sandy van Vuuren, Valence M.K. Ndesendo, Lisa C. du Toit, Sunny E. Iyuke and Viness Pillay, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 1;448(1):267-81, 2013. A Novel Gastric Release PEG-Enclatherated Polymethacrylate-Based Memblet System, Shivaan Cooppan, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Valence Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 4327-4338, 2013. In vivo evaluation of a conjugated poly(lactide-ethylene glycol) nanoparticle depot formulation for prolonged insulin delivery in the diabetic rabbit model, Lomas Tomar, Charu Tyagi, Manoj Kumar, Pradeep Kumar, Harpal Singh, Yahya E. Choonara and Viness Pillay, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 8:505-520, 2013. A Review of the Effect of Processing Variables on the Fabrication of Electrospun Nanofibers for Drug Delivery Applications, Viness Pillay, Clare Dott, Yahya E. Choonara, Charu Tyagi, Lomas Tomar, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit and Valence M. K. Ndesendo, Journal of Nanomaterials, volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 789289, 1-22. A Novel Stimuli-Synchronized Alloy-Treated Matrix for Space-Defined Gastrointestinal Delivery of Mesalamine in the Large White Pig Model, Priya Bawa, Yahya E. Choonara, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Valence M.K. Ndesendo, Leith C.R. Meyer and Viness Pillay, Journal of Controlled Release, 166(3):234-245, 2013 Flavonoids and Polymer-Derivatives as CYP3A4 Inhibitors for Improved Oral Drug Bioavailability: An In Vitro and In Silico Comparative Analysis, Pius Fasinu, Yahya E. Choonara, Riaz A. Khan, Lisa C. du Toit, Pradeep Kumar, Valence M.K. Ndesendo and Viness Pillay, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 102(2):541-555, 2013.
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10. POSTGRADUATE OFFICE
The number of postgraduate students who completed qualifications in 2013 in PhD (D), Masters by dissertation (MR), coursework and research report (MC) and Postgraduate Diploma (X) with comparisons for 2011 and 2012 respectively, is shown in Table 27 below.
Table 27: Requirements complete for Faculty of Health Sciences displayed by School 2011 – 2013
Total per Academic Program Schools Program Year Type Type for FAHS Oral Anatomical Clinical Public Therapeutic Health Pathology Physiology Sciences Medicine Health Sciences Sciences 2011 D 8 5 3 7 23 2011 MC 52 5 3 53 23 136 2011 MR 4 11 4 1 14 34 2011 X 2 6 30 38
Total per School 0 66 5 25 7 84 44 231
2012 D 5 5 5 7 22 2012 MC 3 53 10 8 36 13 123 2012 MR 1 1 18 6 1 27 54 2012 X 9 4 14 27
Total per School 3 68 11 35 6 42 61 226
2013 D 1 9 10 5 3 9 37 2013 MC 69 9 5 35 27 145
2013 MR 1 4 16 5 11 37
2013 X 9 9 30 21 69
Total per School 2 91 9 40 10 68 68 288
A pleasing increase, particularly in Ph.Ds from 22 in 2012 to 37 in 2013 is noted. Unfortunately a drop in Masters by research occurred.
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Table 28 below is an illustration of the enrolment numbers of postgraduate students for the Faculty. An increase in student registrations is apparent from 2011 to 2013.
Table 28: Enrollments statistics for postgraduate students displayed by School for Faculty of Health Sciences 2011 – 2013
Total per Academic Program Schools Program Year Type Type for FAHS Oral Anatomical Clinical Public Therapeutic Health Pathology Physiology Sciences Medicine Health Sciences Sciences 2011 D 8 83 75 19 48 51 284 2011 MC 1028 75 91 1 230 188 1613 2011 MR 10 16 2 90 35 4 90 247 2011 X 4 11 32 57 104
Total per School 18 1131 77 267 55 314 386 2248
2012 D 14 89 77 19 54 58 311 2012 MC 1037 88 94 1 214 199 1633 2012 MR 18 18 1 85 34 3 91 250 2012 X 7 4 29 54 94
Total per School 32 1151 89 260 54 300 402 2288
2013 D 21 95 74 25 59 69 343 2013 MC 1005 79 85 188 198 1555
2013 MR 17 20 1 79 27 5 104 253 2013 X 13 12 30 63 118
Total per School 38 1133 80 250 52 282 434 2269
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A pleasing and noticeable increase in the number of M.Meds graduating between 2009 and 2013 is shown in figure 6 below. M.Dent graduations remain fairly low.
60 57 M Med M Dent 49
50
40 33 31 30 23 20 20 17
Number of graduations of Number 11 11 11 10 6 6 6 4 4 4 1 1 2 2 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Years
Figure 6: MMed/MDent graduations between 2004 – 2013
Faculty Goal: The 2013 Faculty Goals in relation to postgraduates was to increase enrollments by 5-10% at each qualification level and to increase the graduations within the stipulated time by 10-20% at each qualification level.
Achievements are in an increase in both enrollments (10%) and graduations (68%) for Ph.Ds and an increase in graduations in the Masters by coursework (17%). For our major group doing coursework, the MMeds, graduations are starting to increase slowly.
Impediments to postgraduate throughput: Time available for research component by clinical postgraduate students and clinical staff. Insufficient supervisors with equivalent higher degrees.
Faculty solutions: Mandatory courses to be introduced for all postgraduates and milestone achievement to be introduced. Moritorium on equivalent degrees allowed by Senate Graduate Studies Committee for two years. MD introduced for staff in 2014.
General Postgraduate Impediment: Communication with postgraduate students is difficult as many/most do not use the email address provided by the University. While a link to their own email address can be made, most Postgraduates do not migrate their primary address.
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LIST OF INTERNAL EXAMINERS 2013
Below is a list of internal examiners who examined research dissertations and theses as at (November 2013). The Faculty wishes to acknowledge the time and dedication of these academic staff.
Program Title Plan Description Title Examiner Name
Master of Medicine Paediatrics Dr Sanjay Lala Master of Medicine Ophthalmology Dr Aubrey Makgotloe Master of Medicine Diagnostic Radiology Dr Marnie Kemp Master of Medicine Emergency Medicine Dr Mamohapi Kgalamono Master of Medicine Surgery Dr Martin Brand Master of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Prof Martin Veller Surgery Master of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Dr Ines Buccimazza Surgery Master of Medicine Surgery Dr James Warwick Master of Medicine Paediatrics Dr Sithembiso Velaphi Master of Medicine Anaesthesia Prof Fathima Paruk Master of Medicine Medical Genetics Miss Robyn Kerr Master of Medicine Obstetrics and Prof Franco Guidozzi Gynaecology Master of Medicine Psychiatry Dr Wendy Friedlander Master of Medicine Ophthalmology Prof Trevor Carmichael Master of Medicine Radiation Oncology Prof Vinay Sharma Master of Medicine Internal Medicine Prof Yosuf Veriava Master of Medicine Paediatrics Prof Willem Venter Master of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Prof Donald Hudson Surgery Master of Medicine Plastic and Reconstructive Prof Beverley Kramer Surgery Master of Medicine Paediatrics Prof Keith Bolton Master of Medicine Paediatrics Prof Victor Davies Master of Medicine Psychiatry Prof Merryll Vorster Master of Medicine Psychiatry Dr Mashadi Motlana Master of Medicine Obstetrics and Dr Yasmin Adam Gynaecology Master of Medicine Anaesthesia Prof Eduard Oosthuizen Master of Family Medicine Family Medicine Prof Lorna Jacklin Master of Family Medicine Family Medicine Dr Olufemi Omole Master of Family Medicine Family Medicine Prof Michael Wells Master of Family Medicine Family Medicine Dr Colin Pfaff Master of Science In Occupational Therapy Prof Patricia De Witt Occupational Therapy Master of Science In Occupational Therapy Mrs Paula Barnard-Ashton Occupational Therapy Master of Science In Occupational Therapy Mrs Juliana Freeme Occupational Therapy Master of Science In Nursing Nursing Ms Sizakela Khoza Master of Science In Nursing Nursing Ms Shelley Schmollgruber Master of Science In Dentistry Community Dentistry Prof Peter Cleaton-Jones Master of Science In Dentistry Oral Pathology Dr Shabnum Meer Master of Science In Dentistry Oral Pathology Prof Vinay Sharma Master of Science In Medicine Emergency Medicine Prof Michael Wells Master of Science In Medicine Biokinetics Dr Benita Olivier Master of Science In Medicine Bioethics and Health Law Prof Judith Bruce 184
Master of Science In Medicine Bioethics and Health Law Dr Norma Tsotsi Master of Science In Medicine Sports Medicine Mrs Estelle Watson Master of Science In Medicine Emergency Medicine Dr Geoffrey Candy Master of Science In Medicine Emergency Medicine Ms Shelley Schmollgruber Master of Science In Medicine Pharmaceutical Affairs Prof Michael Danckwerts Master of Science In Medicine Bioethics and Health Law Prof Shan Naidoo Master of Science In Medicine Epidemiology and Prof Debbie Bradshaw Biostatistics Master of Science In Medicine Epidemiology and Prof Elena Libhader Biostatistics Master of Science In Medicine Bioethics and Health Law Mrs Yolande Guidozzi Master of Science In Medicine Genetic Counselling Dr Tina Wessels Master of Science In Medicine Emergency Medicine Prof Roger Dickerson Master of Science In Medicine Bioethics and Health Law Prof Martin Smith Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Debashis Basu Master of Public Health Health Systems and Policy Ms Bronwyn Harris Master of Public Health Health Systems and Policy Mr Pierre Brouard Master of Public Health Health Policy and Dr Ruxana Jina Management Master of Public Health Health Systems and Policy Dr Julia Moorman Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Leegale Adonis Master of Public Health Occupational Hygiene Dr Gillian Nelson Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Geoffrey Candy Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Ruxana Jina Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Rita Nathan Master of Public Health Hospital Management Dr Leena Thomas Master of Public Health Social and Behaviour Ms Sara Niewoudt Change Communication Master of Public Health Social and Behaviour Dr Aziza Mwisongo Change Communication Master of Public Health Social and Behaviour Ms Leane Ramsoomar Change Communication Master of Public Health Health Systems and Policy Miss Tintswalo Hlungwani Master of Science In Population Based Field Dr Gillian Nelson Epidemiology Epidemiology Master of Science In Biostatistics and Dr Gillian Nelson Epidemiology Epidemiology Master of Science In Biostatistics and Mr Eustasius Musenge Epidemiology Epidemiology Master of Science In Biostatistics and Dr Alisha Wade Epidemiology Epidemiology Master of Science In MSc Occupational Therapy Dr Morake Maleka Occupational Therapy Master of Science In MSc Occupational Therapy Mrs Lizelle Jacobs Occupational Therapy Master of Science In MSc Physiotherapy Dr Witness Mudzi Physiotherapy Master of Science In MSc Physiotherapy Mr Philippe Gradidge Physiotherapy Master of Medicine Family Medicine Dr Colin Pfaff Master of Medicine Family Medicine Prof Eckhart Buchmann Master of Medicine Microbiology Dr Andrew Black Master of Dentistry Maxillo-Facial and Oral Prof Mario Altini Surgery Master of Dentistry Maxillo-Facial and Oral Dr Farzana Mahomed Surgery Doctor of Philosophy Pharmacy Prof Michael Danckwerts Doctor of Philosophy Physiology Prof Pravin Manga 185
Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Microbiology & Prof Daynia Ballot Infectious Diseases Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Prof Charles Feldman Doctor of Philosophy Internal Medicine Dr Anthony Becker Doctor of Philosophy Paediatrics Prof Claire Penn Doctor of Philosophy Nursing Dr Helena Van Aswegen Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Dr Nicola Christofides Doctor of Philosophy Physiology Prof Michele Ramsay Master of Science In MSc Physiotherapy Mrs Vaneshveri Naidoo Physiotherapy Master of Science In MSc Occupational Therapy Prof Judith Bruce Occupational Therapy Master of Science In Nursing MSc Nursing Miss Agnes Huiskamp Master of Science In Medicine Haematology & Molecular Dr Sylvia Fanucchi Medicine Master of Science In Medicine Pharmacology Prof Robyn Van Zyl Master of Science In Medicine Physiology Dr Jo-Anne McVeigh Master of Science In Medicine Physiology Dr Karine Scheuermaier Master of Science In Medicine Internal Medicine Prof Marco Weinberg Master of Science In Medicine Physiology Dr Hilary Lease Master of Science In Medicine Anatomical Sciences Dr Amanda Esterhuysen Master of Science In Medicine Paediatrics Prof Christa Schnitzler Master of Science In Medicine Anatomical Sciences Prof Lynne Schepartz Master of Science In Medicine Virology Dr Melinda Suchard Master of Science In Medicine Internal Medicine Dr Mashudu Nethononda
STAFFING MATTERS IN THE POSTGRADUATE OFFICE
Mrs Mathto Senamela Head: Postgraduate Office
Things are beginning to improve in the Unit with the addition of wo(man) power effective from September 2013. The unit has acquired the service of one staff member who is now solely responsible for the capturing of data. This person is responsible to assist the Faculty Officer Admissions. We have also appointed an additional person who will be assisting with matters relating to protocol and research. As it was previously reported that we had lost the services of one Senior faculty Officer in August 2012, the position has now been filled with effect from September 2013. All of this was achieved as a result of constant meetings between the Dean, Assistant Dean, Faculty Registrar and the Head of Postgraduate Administration.
Challenges
Extending registration period beyond the required and agreed period – this effects the execution of other processes and results in problems in those areas; Not doing two-way checks properly affects the integrity of student data and also results in incorrect registration numbers; Registering students and linking them to incorrect schools presents with incorrect statistical data; Not capturing milestones affects the research information on the system, this result in presenting incorrect statistical information; Capturing incorrect research titles is problematic; Not capturing supervisor information is problematic; Delays in expediting examiners’ reports affects students negatively; Limited or lack of information impacts on how we do business in the unit; 186
Compilation of graduation lists which are accurate and informative with full details of students graduating; Competing vs working together towards common goals;
Recommendations and way forward
We need to stick to deadlines and stop bending backwards too much to accommodate late comers to the detriment of operational exigency; Two way check has to be done timeously and accurately; Students have to be correctly linked to their relevant schools; Milestones have to be captured consistently; Research titles have to be captured correctly and checked for accuracy; Supervisor information has to be captured timeously at registration as well as at protocol stage. Whenever, students request changes to supervisor information, this has to be processed timeously and accurately; Examiners’ reports have to be expedited timeously; Information (all sorts) should be freely disseminated without people having to ask for it as information is key to run the business adequately; Comprehensive and helpful lists should be compiled; We should all be working together towards a common goal rather than competing and trying to outdo or undermine others. It is necessary to acknowledge the fact that everyone is here for the same reason which is to provide service the same constituency. It is imperative that the resources are pooled together rather than to compete. Respect is more important than undermining each other.
Conclusion
The unit will continue to strive towards excellence and customer satisfaction. This will be achieved when more of the clients we service are happy and are in a position to give positive feedback.
Staff in the unit are continuously being encouraged to participate in the training sessions offered by CLTD; so far two of the staff members have taken advantage of this opportunity. I hope to see this number increase in the year 2014.
We are in the process of having a workshop facilitated by Mr Clifford Chauke from the Employee Relations Office. The aim of this workshop is to ensure that staff is aware of what is required of them in terms of acceptable conduct at a workplace. This is also to ensure that we minimize the need to have to engage in correcting unacceptable behaviour which impacts negatively on the way we run the business.
Success can also be achieved if we receive feedback and this is done timeously and directed to relevant people. We need to avoid creating gaps in the system and ensure that communication is relevant and current and directed to relevant people (eg. If there is a need to communicate to the Head of Postgraduate, the communication should be direct to the Head and it should not be done via a third party).
Faculty Goal 2013: To improve procedures in the Postgraduate Office.
1. There was a major discrepancy in the number of staff in the undergraduate and postgraduate sections of the Registrars Office. As the PG Office handles almost 50% of the students in the Faculty there was a need to increase the number of staff. This was rectified in 2013 and the training of these staff was undertaken by Mrs Senamela. 187
2. A problem still resides in drawing reports for the Assistant Dean and Heads of Schools. The SIMS system has a function which allows for this function to be used. However this function has not been available due to problems it causes when it is switched on. 3. Management and support of the Postgraduate Office is essential in order for this resource to come up to Faculty requirements and speed.