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Press Releases
Hiv/Aids Research
In The Western Cape Boosted By R16-Million In Grants From Secure The
Futuretm
Tuesday, 18 June 2002
Medical research institutions in the Western Cape are set to benefit from two study grants totalling R16-million. The grants, handed over at a function at the Red Cross Children¼s Hospital, earlier today form part of the Secure The Future TM programme - a Bristol-Myers Squibb¼s US$115-million commitment towards finding innovative, replicable and sustainable, solutions to address HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
One of the grants, equalling R13.3-million, will fund a randomised clinical trial designed to determine and evaluate the optimum treatment duration for tuberculosis (TB) in
HIV-infected children. The research, to be undertaken as a joint initiative between the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch will also seek to assess the effect that TB has on the natural history of HIV-infection.
Professor Greg Hussey, principal investigator of the joint programme said: "The study will be invaluable in helping to identify how best we can improve the microbiological diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected children. At the same time, we hope to determine whether children with dual infections are able to develop effective anti-mycobacterial immunity against the disease."
Dr Heloise Buys accepted a grant of R2.7-million on behalf of UCT to fund a research programme to be conducted in partnership with Tygerberg, Groote Schuur and Red Cross Hospitals. The purpose of the study is to establish the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation in reducing morbidity in HIV-infected children.
"The funding of these two additional research interventions is another step closer towards improving the overall understanding and treatment of HIV/AIDS", maintains
Dr Grimwood, Director of Secure The Future¼sTM HIV Research Institute.
"Allocating medical grants to support innovative, therapeutic research by local scientists and doctors will substantially increase South Africa¼s capacity to manage the debilitating epidemic," said Dr Grimwood. According to Dr Grimwood the Secure The Future TM programme has to date invested more than R10-million in HIV/AIDS related research projects in the Western Cape.
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