Page 88 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

Office of AIDS and
TB Research

Office director:
Dr. Fareed Abdullah

Prioritising responsive research The TB TT brings together TB researchers and the
through impactful interventions national and provincial TB Control programmes and
serves as a very effective research and knowledge
During the 2023/2024 reporting period, the Office of translation vehicle, and (6) Health Financing –
AIDS and TB Research (OATB) has been involved in Presidential Health Compact: The unit leads the work
several projects, these include: of Pillar 6 that is focused on reviewing and improving
national health financial management and systems
(1) Tuberculosis Research: The OATB has leveraged to realise greater impact and efficiency. This year,
significant funding from the National Institute of our research showed the impact of government-
Allergy and Infectious Diseases to implement TB negotiated increases on originally allocated health
RePORT II, a three-year project that ends this year. budgets, resulting in an adjustment being made by
This research is done across 7 laboratories in SA, the National Treasury.
collaborating with 7 other countries, and focuses
on identifying biomarkers to detect symptomatic Equitable capacity development
TB, subclinical and incipient TB among patients
and their household contacts; (2) Innovative for empowering communities
Financing: The Estimates of National Expenditure The OATB co-funds "Determinants of treatment
has earmarked finances for Social Impact Bonds outcomes with an injection-free shorter regimen
(SIBs) in the Health Vote 18; (3) HIV Research: Our for multidrug- and rifampicin resistant tuberculosis
Imagine SIB addresses HIV and teenage pregnancy (SHIFT-TB)". The SHIFT-TB study is based at
outcomes amongst school-going adolescent girls Nkqubela Chest Hospital which is in a historically
and young women (AGYW) by delivering HIV pre- disadvantaged area in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. A
exposure prophylaxis and contraception, increasing major outcome of SAMRC investment in the SHIFT-TB
initiation and adherence to ART amongst HIV- project was the establishment of a highly productive
positive AGYW, and linking pregnant AGYW to clinical research site at Nkqubela Chest Hospital.
early antenatal care. The considerable successes The study team has a strong partnership with the
have been shared with the DBE who are eager to hospital leadership and local health authorities
ensure these are scaled up; (4) COVID Research: whose support was key to the establishment of
The COVID study aims to evaluate the humoral and permanent physical research infrastructure at the
cellular immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 hospital. This includes a prefabricated building with
vaccinations administered to patients at Steve Biko two consultation rooms and office space, computers
Academic Hospital with severe immunosuppressive with stable internet connection and backup power
chronic medical conditions. The study is due to be supply, an ECG machine, a specimen fridge, and
completed in December 2024 when the findings other clinical equipment. This initiative has enormous
from the study will inform vaccination and booster potential to contribute to improving drug-resistant
protocols and policy; (5) Knowledge Translation: The TB (DR-TB) outcomes in the Eastern Cape through
OATB provides leadership, technical and funding research and clinical support adding tremendous
support to the South African TB Think Tank (TB TT). capacity to this previously disadvantaged setting.

86 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24