Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has secured R9-million to revive HIV vaccine trials in the Eastern Cape.
The university received the funding from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to conduct research in its unit.
According to a report compiled by WSU’s dean of the health faculty Dr Wezile Chitha, the faculty secured the funding for its research development programme over the next three years.
Chitha said the move was aimed at improving clinical research capacity by partnering with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network through SAMRC.
“As a result, we are reviving the former WSU HIV Vaccine Research Unit (now named Nelson Mandela Academic Clinical Research Unit) to conduct HIV vaccine trials.
“About R5-million has been committed to fund the development of the research site,” Chitha said.
He said the university had strengthened the faculty’s research ethics committee.
In December last year, the committee was paid a visit by the National Health Research Ethics Council.
“They indicated that the functioning of the committee was on track,” he said.
Chitha said the university also managed to convince the SAMRC to open an office in East London, which would assist and support development of research in the province.
The faculty has contracted the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association to deliver research training.
The training would focus on
- Project management;
- Grant writing;
- Science communication; and
- Research ethics and building a research profile – for early career researchers.
Chitha said the first course was planned for the second quarter of this year.
“The university will also provide access to research methodology courses for our masters in medicine students, and other postgraduate students.
“Our researchers have started with a training, coaching and mentoring programme in operational research.
“The faculty takes advantage of research support offered by the university’s research development office including funding of research projects, training in supervision, coordination of research and scientific writing.
“We would like to get this support aligned to the external support received in order to maximise and take advantage of available opportunities within the university.”
The collaboration with the SAMRC provides access to available expertise within the SAMRC research units as well as its collaborators including the National Institutes of Health and United States-based Johns Hopkins University, which offer various capacity development initiatives for researchers in biostatistics, data management and data analysis.
Chitha said the initiative would also benefit the health fraternity in the province.
Attempts to get further details relating to HIV vaccine trials from WSU and SAMRC had not elicited a response at the time of writing. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
University to resume HIV vaccine trials
The university received the funding from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to conduct research in its unit.
According to a report compiled by WSU’s dean of the health faculty Dr Wezile Chitha, the faculty secured the funding for its research development programme over the next three years.
Chitha said the move was aimed at improving clinical research capacity by partnering with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network through SAMRC.
“As a result, we are reviving the former WSU HIV Vaccine Research Unit (now named Nelson Mandela Academic Clinical Research Unit) to conduct HIV vaccine trials.
“About R5-million has been committed to fund the development of the research site,” Chitha said.
He said the university had strengthened the faculty’s research ethics committee.
In December last year, the committee was paid a visit by the National Health Research Ethics Council.
“They indicated that the functioning of the committee was on track,” he said.
Chitha said the university also managed to convince the SAMRC to open an office in East London, which would assist and support development of research in the province.
The faculty has contracted the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association to deliver research training.
The training would focus on
Chitha said the first course was planned for the second quarter of this year.
“The university will also provide access to research methodology courses for our masters in medicine students, and other postgraduate students.
“Our researchers have started with a training, coaching and mentoring programme in operational research.
“The faculty takes advantage of research support offered by the university’s research development office including funding of research projects, training in supervision, coordination of research and scientific writing.
“We would like to get this support aligned to the external support received in order to maximise and take advantage of available opportunities within the university.”
The collaboration with the SAMRC provides access to available expertise within the SAMRC research units as well as its collaborators including the National Institutes of Health and United States-based Johns Hopkins University, which offer various capacity development initiatives for researchers in biostatistics, data management and data analysis.
Chitha said the initiative would also benefit the health fraternity in the province.
Attempts to get further details relating to HIV vaccine trials from WSU and SAMRC had not elicited a response at the time of writing. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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