Current Projects
The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU) was formed in 2013 during the revitalization of the South African Medical Research Council. The unit was established by merging three existing units which were previously conducting research in different areas of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and by attracting additional staff from other units affected by the revitalization process. The three units merged to form the NCDRU were: (1) The Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Research Unit (CDL), (2) The Diabetes Discovery Platform (DDP), (3) The National Collaborative Research Programme on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (NCRP CV&MD)
Thematic Area 1: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases
| Cardiometabolic Diseases Risk Evaluation and Reduction in African People Living with HIV Infection (CaDERAL) |
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Project details Background: Care of people with HIV across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is provided through dedicated parallel health streams, primarily designed to address HIV and related infectious co-morbidities. Consequently, the opportunity of addressing co-morbid non-communicable disease (NCD) is not fully realized in this population in regular contacts with the health system. Integration of HIV and NCD care has been suggested to improve the co-detection and co-management of co-morbid HIV and NCDs. Key to the success of this integration is a better understanding of the burden and drivers of NCDs in people with HIV, and appropriate strategies for promoting their care without compromising HIV specific care. Project description: The Cardiometabolic Diseases Risk Evaluation and Reduction in African People Living with HIV Infection (CaDERAL) aims to enhance the understanding of common cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (CMDs), and improve their co-detection and co-management in African people living with HIV infection, through a program of research and capacity development based on a network of institutions led by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and comprising the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and the Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC, Cameroon). Clicking on the project will provide more detail on the projects being carried out in the three countries under the leadership of Prof Kengne.
Capacity Development: The three research projects support the training of a PhD student in each of the three countries and are reinforcing the research capacities of junior and senior researchers where appropriate. SAMRC Team Member: Dr Kim A Nguyen Publications
Contact person: Prof André P. Kengne (andre.kengne@mrc.ac.za) Funding: This project is part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union
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| The South African Diabetes Prevention Programme (SA-DPP) |
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PI: Prof André P. Kengne Short summary: The overall purpose of this project to develop and evaluate a culturally relevant model of diabetes prevention programme for South Africa, using evidence from successful diabetes prevention effectiveness and implementation programmes. Our expectations are to arrive at a model that will inform lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes and other lifestyles related conditions at primary health care level in South Africa and serves as a prototype for adaptation in other countries in the region that are confronted to similar challenges like South Africa. Collaborators: Prof Brian Oldenburg (University of Melbourne, Australia), Tandi Matsha (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa), Prof Rajiv Erasmus (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa), Prof Naomi Levitt (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Prof Thandi Puoane (University of Western Cape, South Africa), Prof Julia Goedecke (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Dr Nasheeta Peer (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Prof Pamela Naidoo (Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa), Esme Jordaan (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Prof Sanni Yaya (University of Ottawa, Canada) SAMRC Team Members: Dr Jillian Hill, Sr Deborah Jonathan, Dr Cindy George, Dr Paul van Jaarsveld, Prof Mieke Faber Students: Samukelisiwe Madlala (PhD ongoing, UWC), Tatum Lopes (PhD ongoing, US), Chad Africa (MPH ongoing, UCT), Dezlynn Jansen (MSc ongoing, CPUT), Anne-Marie Aurousseau (MSc 2020, University of Bordeaux), Camille Lavigne-Delville (MSc 2020, University of Bordeaux) Funding: SAMRC Baseline Funding Publications:
Contact persons: Prof André P. Kengne (André.kengne@mrc.ac.za) and Dr Jillian Hill (jillian.hill@mrc.ac.za) |
| The Eastern Cape Diabetes Prevention Programme (EC-DPP) |
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PIs: Dr Jillian Hill and Dr Yandi Yako (Walter Sisulu University) Short summary: The purpose of this project is to implement and evaluate the suitability, applicability and appropriateness of the SA-DPP developed and tailored in urban populations in the Western Cape Province, in peri-urban populations in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Collaborators: Prof André P Kengne (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Prof Constance Rusike (Walter Sisulu University, South Africa), Dr Simthandile Toni (Mthatha General Hospital, South Africa), Dr Hannibal Musarurwa (Walter Sisulu University, South Africa) Funding: Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships: Precision Medicine, Grants Innovation and Product Development, South African Medical Research Council Contact person: Dr Jillian Hill (jillian.hill@mrc.ac.za) |
| Cardiometabolic Outcomes, Mechanisms and Approach to Prevention of Dolutegravir Associated Weight Gain in South Africa (DTG Study) |
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PIs: Prof André P. Kengne and Prof Jean Nachega (Pittsburgh University, United States; University of Stellenbosch, South Africa) Short summary: Studies investigating weight gain associated with switching from an efavirenz- to a DTG-containing anti-retroviral (ART) regimen are lacking and thus critically needed to provide important and novel insights. Thus, this 12-month prospective cohort study, including African men and women living with HIV (PLWH), aims to evaluate weight change in those who switch to DTG-based ART and those remaining on non-DTG-based ART in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-I’s: Dr Jillian Hill (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa); Prof Julia Goedecke (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa); Dr Eric Decloedt (Stellenbosch University, South Africa); Dr Marije Van Schalkwyk (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) Consultants: Dr Sudipa Sarkar (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States); Prof Gregory D. Kirk (Johns Hopkins University, United States); Prof Todd T. Brown (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States); Prof John W. Mellors (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States); Dr Donald H. Skinner (Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa); Dr Rhoderick N. Machekano (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) Funding: National Institute of Health (NIH)/Forgarty Contact person: Prof André P. Kengne (andre.kengne@mrc.ac.za) |
| Cape Town Vascular and Metabolic Health (VMH) Study |
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PIs: : Prof André P. Kengne, Prof Tandi Matsha (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa), Prof Rajiv Erasmus (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa) Short summary: The overall purpose of this programme of research is to establish a population-based cohort, backed up by adequate biorepository, in order to quantify and track the burden of cardio-metabolic diseases in mixed-ancestry South Africans in Cape Town, with a particular focus on the role of emerging risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. SAMRC Team Members: Dr Cindy George Funding: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) with funds from National Treasury under its Economic Competitiveness and Support Package and strategic funds from the SAMRC received from the South African National Department of Health. Publications (NCDRU-led):
Contact person: Prof André P. Kengne (andre.kengne@mrc.ac.za) |
| Cardiovascular Risk in Black South Africans (CRIBSA) Study |
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PI: Dr Nasheeta Peer Co-I: Prof André P Kengne Short summary: This study, which previously examined the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the black population of Cape Town, now aims to determine the biochemical and genetic markers, genes and level of renal impairment associated with these CVD risk factors. Collaboration: University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Funding: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC): SAMRC Intramural Research Fund: SAMRC-RFA-IRF-02-2016 Publications: Current study:
Main study:
Contact person: Dr Nasheeta Peer (Nasheeta.peer@mrc.ac.za) |
| Comorbidities of childhood obesity at tertiary hospitals in Kwazulu-Natal, South-Africa: 1995 TO 2016 |
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PI: Dr Nasheeta Peer Co-I: Prof André P Kengne Short summary: 1) To determine the number of obese children <12 years old who were assessed between January 1995 and December 2016 at King Edward Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, and describe their obesity-related comorbidities, and 2) To determine any changes in body mass index and comorbidities at 1, 2 and 5 years post-initial presentation. Collaboration: Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Contact person: Dr Nasheeta Peer (Nasheeta.peer@mrc.ac.za) |
| Exploring the status of non-communicable disease care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 13 Countries |
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PI: Prof Nasheeta Peer Co-Is: Prof André P. Kengne and Dr Anniza de Villiers (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa). Short summary: The study relates to care for non-communicable diseases (NCD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a multi-country study being conducted across 5 continents with the overall purpose of addressing the needs of key stakeholders (public health officials, health policy makers, health workers, and patients with NCDs) who are managing and/or informing on decisions to enable appropriate management of NCD care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The key stakeholders complete a questionnaire at a time of their choosing either electronically or through telephonic interview with the SAMRC Scientist, aiming to investigate their perceptions on their needs and expectations of NCD care during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine health system preparedness for NCD care in pandemics in a multi-country study which includes South Africa. Collaborators: University of Geneva, Switzerland and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. Funding: SAMRC NCDRU baseline funding. Contact person/s: Ms. Tshephang Mashiane (Tshephang.Mashiane@mrc.ac.za) or Professor Nasheeta Peer (Nasheeta.peer@mrc.ac.za) |
Thematic area 2: Kidney Diseases research
| The Chronic Kidney Disease in Africa Consortium: CKD-Africa Collaboration |
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PI: Dr Cindy George Co-Is: Prof André P. Kengne (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Prof Ikechi Okpechi (University of Alberta, Canada), Prof Mark Woodward (Imperial College, United Kingdom) Short summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, affecting individuals from low- income and- middle- income countries (LMICs) disproportionately, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the growing evidence pointing to an increasing prevalence of CKD across Africa, there has not been an Africa-wide concerted effort to provide reliable estimates that could adequately inform health services planning and policy development to address the consequences of CKD. Therefore, we established the CKD in Africa (CKD- Africa) Collaboration. The CKD-Africa Collaboration is an African network of CKD studies that pools individual participant data to: (1) determine the burden of CKD in Africa more accurately, (2) create resources that would allow the burden of CKD to be easily tracked and (3) enable CKD projections to be made in the context of Africa. To date, the network has curated data from 46 studies conducted in 13 African countries, totalling 47 949 participants, of which most are from sub-Saharan Africa. We are, however, continuously seeking further collaborations with other groups who have suitable data to grow the network. Collaboration: Africa, Europe, and USA Students: Suzaan Stoker (MSc 2020, University of Stellenbosch) Funding: Establishment of the consortium: National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka instrument Website: https://ckd-africa.samrc.ac.za/ Publications:
Contact person: Dr Cindy George (cindy.george@mrc.ac.za) |
Thematic area 3: Social and developmental origins and consequences of Cardio-metabolic disorders: focus on the Environment & Lifecourse malnutrition
| Food-SAMSA - Food environment that Promote NCDs in Africa: Addressing malnutrition using a syndemics approach |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PIs: Dr Jillian Hill (South African Medical Research Council, South Africa), Prof Peter von Philipsborn (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany), Prof Eva Rehfuess (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany), Prof Peter Delobellev (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Dr Martina Lembani (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Prof Vicki Lambert (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Dr Olufunke Alaba (University of Cape Town, South Africa) Short Summary: This project aims to investigate the role of food environment in promoting the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa. The focus is on measuring malnutrition in all its forms, including over- and undernutrition, and also assessing its determinants and also exploring interventions to curb malnutrition at the macro (policy), the meso (community) and the micro (interpersonal) level. Collaboration: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), Germany, University of the Western Cape’s School of Public Health (SOPH) and University of Cape Town’s CDIA and HPALS Students: Ms Katharina Wabnitz (LMU), Ms Carmen Klinger (LMU), Annalie Wientzel (SAMRC), Hlolisiso Nonkeneza (UWC) Funding: German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture Contact persons: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) and Dr Jillian Hill (jillian.hill@mrc.ac.za) |
| Street Food Project: Cardio metabolic profile and concomitant blood omega-3 fatty acid, carotenoid and vitamin E statuses of taxi drivers in the Cape Town Metropole area |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PI: Prof Maretha Opperman (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa) Short Summary: This project is aimed at assessing the dietary intake, metabolic syndrome and its risk factors, as well as blood levels of omega-3 FA, carotenoids and vitamin E among taxi drivers who operate in the Cape Town Metropole area. Collaboration: Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Students: Mr Derrick Sekgala (PhD, UWC), Ms Buhle Mpahleni (MSc, CPUT) Funding: National Research Foundation, CPUT and SAMRC Publications:
Contact person: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) |
| Tracking food and beverage advertising in South Africa |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PI’s: Prof Nelia Steyn (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Prof Norman Temple (Athabasca University, Canada), Dr Whadi-ah Parker (Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa), Dr Zulfa Abrahams (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Dr Jeroen De Man (University of Antwerp, Belgium), Dr Sunday Onagbye (University of the Western Cape, South Africa ) Short Summary: This project is aimed at compiling the audits of food and beverage advertising in South Africa: investigating food advertising in popular print Media and Television Broadcasting Channels Collaboration: UWC, UCT, HSRC and Athabasca University Student: Daniel Awusi Yamoah (MPH, UWC) Funding: Athabasca University Publications:
Contact person: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) |
| Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Health |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PIs: Prof Charlotte De Backer (University of Antwerp, Belgium), Dr Yandisa Ngqangashe (Australian National University, Australia), Dr Sunday Onagbye (University of the Western Cape, South Africa) Short Summary: This project aims at investigating the role played by current global COVID-19 pandemic on shopping, cooking, food consumption, mental health and physical activity of individuals occurring globally. It also explores complementary and conventional interventions that could prove beneficial in ameliorating some of the respiratory difficulties associated with COVID-19 infections amidst the scarcity of vaccines and specific drugs to prevent and treat this disease, especially in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Collaboration: University of Antwerp, and Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven Co-Investigators, University of Auckland, University of the Western Cape SOPH and Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science & 38 international countries Funding: University of Antwerp Website: https://soph.uwc.ac.za/project-item/covid19-corona-cooking/ Contact person: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) |
| Body size, Mental health, and Inequalities (BMI): a life course approach |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PIs: Prof Ilona Koupil (Stockholm University, Sweden), Dr Whadi-ah Parker (Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa), Ms Amy Heshmati (Stockholm University, Sweden), Dr Daniel Falkstedt (Karolinska Institut, Sweden), Prof Demetre Labadarios (Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa), Dr Sunday Onagbye (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Dr Anton Lager (Stockholm University, Sweden), Prof Christina Dalman (Karolinska Institute, Sweden), Prof Gita Mishra (University of Queensland, Australia), Prof Anna Goodman (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England) Short Summary: This project aims to use complementary existing sources of information from surveys, cohort studies and register data linkages to measure the burden of overweight and obesity and its strong social patterning in South Africa and Sweden. It also applies modern methods from life course epidemiology to investigate and address the social and developmental origins and consequences of overweight and obesity, negative body image, disordered eating and related psychological problems across the life course and across generations. Collaboration: Stockholm University and Karolinska Institut, Sweden and HSRC Students: Zakir Hossin (Stockholm University), Menghan Gao (Stockholm University) Funding: SAMRC/FORTE Swedish Council for Health Publications:
Contact person: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) Links:
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| MM-EE - multi-media entertainment-education project |
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PI: Prof Zandile J Mchiza Co-PIs: Prof Charlotte De Backer (University of Antwerp, Belgium), Dr Yandisa Ngqangashe (Australian National University, Australia), Prof Heidi Vandebosch (University of Antwerp, Belgium), Prof Christophe Matthys (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium) Short Summary: This project aims to develop and validate a multi-media education-entertainment (MM-EE) program to improve food and nutrition literacy, as well as body image of South African community health workers (CHWs) who operate in 3 townships (Gugulethu, Nyanga and Kensington). Collaboration: University of Antwerp, and Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven Co-Investigators & Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), Germany, University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) SOPH, South Africa & University of Cape Town’s CDIA & HPALS, South Africa Students: Ms Asiphe Ketelo (MPH, UWC) Funding: VLIR-UOS (Belgium, Flanders) Contact person: Prof Zandile Mchiza (zandile.mchiza@mrc.ac.za) |
| Growth patterns and societal cultural beliefs and practices in Dikgale, Limpopo Province: A mixed method study of primary school children and their mothers |
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PI: Prof Perpetua Modjadji Co-PI: Prof Sphiwe Madiba (University of Limpopo, South Africa) Short summary: Considering that malnutrition is one of the major problems in South Africa, a country with vast cultural and societal diversity, this project determined the nutritional status and growth patterns of primary school children and maternal factors influencing those growth patterns and explored the influence of cultural beliefs and practices of mothers on the nutrition and growth of the children in Dikgale. A child-mother pair study was conducted using convergent (concurrent) mixed-methods design. The project suggested (1) a need to address the dual problems of undernutrition and rapidly rising trends of overweight/obesity, (2) evidence-based and feasible nutrition program for school children, especially those in rural schools, (3) evidence-based strategies that focus on strengthening the social aspects, while addressing overweight and obesity among mothers of primary school children, and (4) timing of nutritional interventions for children and context-specific health promotion and health education programs to improve the knowledge of mothers on child growth. Funding: Research Development Grant, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), South Africa Contact person/s: Prof Perpetua Modjadji (Perpetua.modjadji@mrc.ac.za) or Prof Sphiwe Madiba (Sphiwe.madiba@ul.ac.za) |
| The impact of Nyaope use on the nutritional status and inflammatory markers of adolescent boys in the Townships of South Africa: A National Study |
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PI: Prof Perpetua Modjadji Co-PI: Prof Kebogile Elizabeth Mokwena (National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Chair: Substance Abuse & Population Mental Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), South Africa). Short summary: This project aims to determine the nutritional status and inflammatory markers, and their association with nyaope use among male adolescents in the townships in South Africa. Nyaope is an easily accessible highly addictive drug common in the streets of South Africa, and the primary active ingredient is low-grade heroin. The novelty of this project lies in the strength to generate a baseline information on the nutritional status and inflammatory markers, and their relationship with nyaope among male adolescents in the townships of South Africa. Funding: South African Medical Research Council, RCDI Contact person/s: Prof Perpetua Modjadji (Perpetua.modjadji@mrc.ac.za) or Prof Kebogile Mokwena (kebogile.mokwena@smu.ac.za) |
| The impact of COVID-19 on household food security, nutritional status and socioeconomic status in rural Limpopo Province, South Africa |
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PI: Prof Perpetua Modjadji Co-PI: Prof Eric Maimela (University of Limpopo (UL), South Africa) Short summary: This project aims to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the food security, nutritional status and the socioeconomic status of households in the population of rural DIMAMO Population Health Research Centre (DIMAMO PHRC) in Limpopo province. The restriction of lockdown has affected the income of most of the residents in DIMAMO PHRC due to closure of small businesses and loss of domestic and retail jobs. In addition, closure of schools has also affected supply of nutritious meals to school children through School Feeding Schemes, ultimately compromising optimal feeding for children living in households with low food availability. The already existing poor socio-economic status in this area might have been intensified in the Covid-19 era, suggestive of aggravated food security and nutritional status. Funding: SEED Funding, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), South Africa Collaboration: University of Limpopo (UL), South Africa Contact person/s: Prof Perpetua Modjadji (Perpetua.modjadji@mrc.ac.za) or Prof Eric Maimela (Eric.maimela@ul.ac.za) |