Clinical Mycobacteriology and Epidemiology (CLIME) Group
Members
Grant Theron
Principal investigator
Email: gtheron@sun.ac.za
Grant is interested in improving how patients with TB or drug-resistant TB are diagnosed, enhancing our understanding of TB transmission, and investigating whether the microbiome has any role in TB pathogenesis. Grant trained at the University of Cape Town and University College London. When he isn't thinking about TB, he is probably on Table Mountain.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar profile
NCBI MyBibiliography
Post-doctoral fellows and research students:
Hridesh Mishra
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email:
hrideshkmishra@gmail.com
Hridesh is investigating the infectiousness of TB patients and the aerobiology of M. tuberculosis. Hridesh is a disciplined Ashtanga yoga practitioner, he loves watching stand-up comedy shows, movies and series.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar profile
Charissa Naidoo
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email: ccnaidoo@sun.ac.za
Charissa is investigating the microbiome in pulmonary tuberculosis patients, including during treatment, and its association with treatment outcomes. Charissa enjoys oil painting and hiking.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar profile
Byron Reeve
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email: byronreeve@sun.ac.za
Byron is leading the evaluation of several new TB diagnostic, where he is measuring their impact in different settings. Byron loves road running and competing in half marathon races. When he's not running, he's playing video games.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar profile
Rouxjeane Venter
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email: rouxjeane@sun.ac.za
Rouxjeane’s research focuses on understanding the infectiousness of TB patients and exploring novel diagnostic approaches for drug-resistant TB. Outside of academia she spends most of her time at the bouldering gym or dancing.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar Profile
Suventha Moodley
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email:
suventha@sun.ac.za
Suventha’s research focuses on understanding the role of microbiome, microbiome-associated metabolites, and antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPE bacteria during various stages of the TB disease spectrum. Suventha enjoys digitally capturing the beautiful landscapes of Cape Town.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar Profile
Anna Okunola
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email:
annaojo@sun.ac.za
Anna's research focuses on the evaluation of several new TB diagnostics, and their performance in field conditions. She is co-ordinating the EDCTP funded pan-African clinical trial,
SeroSelectTB, at Stellenbosch University. Anna was awarded a 3-year EDCTP Training and Mobility Action (TMA2020CDF-3209 – RADIANT) grant for her project entitled “Selected concise host transcriptional signatures for the blood-based diagnosis of active tuberculosis in an HIV-prevalent setting (RNA-based diagnosis of TB; RADIANT)".
RADIANT aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of selected concise host transcriptional signatures for the non-sputum-based diagnosis of active TB in symptomatic patients in Africa. Synergy with SeroSelectTB will provide Anna with access to specimens, data, infrastructure and expertise for her investigations.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar Profile
Shima Abdulgader
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email:
sabdulgader@sun.ac.za
Shima is working on the validation of novel and existing point of care diagnostics assays for the prediction of incipient TB. When Shima is not working, she enjoys cooking and spending quality time with her family.
ResearchGate profile
Google Scholar Profile
Georgina Nyawo
PhD student
Email: georginan@sun.ac.za
Georgina is studying the microbiome in the context of extra-pulmonary TB, as well as several other areas. Georgina loves to sing... at church, karaoke, in the lab, everywhere…
ResearchGate profile
Zama Mahlobo
PhD student
Email: pzamah@sun.ac.za
Zama is working on investigating the infectiousness of TB patients and the factors associated with the airborne survival of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Zama likes playing pool and her favorite TV shows are "Family guy" and "American dad".
Brigitta Derendinger
PhD student
Email: brigitta@sun.ac.za
Brigitta is working on advancing how drug-resistant TB is ultimately diagnosed by optimising and evaluating new tests and developing phenotypic methods for new TB drugs. Brigitta enjoys building complex Lego and needlework in her spare time.
Samantha Pillay
PhD student
Email: samantha.naidoo@nhls.ac.za
Samantha is based at a National Health and Laboratory Service laboratory in Cape Town, where she routinely performs high volumes of tests for drug-resistant TB, and uses these data towards her studies. Samantha loves travelling and trying out new recipes.
ResearchGate profile
Gcobisa Ndlangalavu
PhD student
Email:
gcobisa@sun.ac.za
Gcobisa is investigating new sputum-and non-sputum-based TB diagnostics that can be used at point-of-care. She is interested in seeing how well these TB diagnostics work in people living with HIV (PLHIV) initiating antiretroviral therapy, as well as HIV viral load testing for monitoring PLHIV already on antiretroviral treatment. Apart from enjoying her laboratory work, Gcobisa loves going to the gym and spending time with her family.
Yonas Ghebrekristos
PhD Student
Email: yonasg@sun.ac.za
Yonas is working on improving the diagnosis of TB and drug-resistant TB (including heteroresistance) in a high volume programmatic laboratory using novel molecular tools . He is based at a National Health and Laboratory Service laboratory in Cape Town. In his spare time, Yonas loves playing football and watching sport.
ResearchGate profile
Tinaye Chiyaka
PhD student
Email: tinayechiyaka@sun.ac.za
Tinaye is studying the role of the Microbiome in pulmonary TB pathogenesis. The study will focus on microbiome from the site of disease (Bronchoalveolar space). Tinaye is a staunch Arsenal fan & amateur photographer.
Erick Auma
PhD student
Email:
eauma@sun.ac.za
Erick is studying clinical and molecular epidemiology of resistance to new and re-purposed tuberculosis drugs using novel molecular tools. Erick loves watching football, playing chess and enjoys watching series and reality shows, especially Survivor and Amazing race.
ResearchGate profile
Arthur Chiwaya
PhD student
Email: achiwaya@sun.ac.za
Arthur is studying Markers for predicting incipient Tuberculosis. Arthur spends his free time watching nature and technology documentaries, travelling, and cooking when stressed.
Welile Dube
PhD Student
Email:
wdube@sun.ac.za
Welile's research focuses on the evaluation of a serological triage rapid test (SeroSelectTB) against the standard of care. She enjoys hiking.
Stephanie Minnies
PhD Student
Email: stephm@sun.ac.za
Stephanie is working on novel and rapid tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis using non-sputum specimens. "It's wingardium leviOsa, not leviosAH."
Loren Rockman
Masters student
Email:
rockman@sun.ac.za
Project: Focuses on novel methods for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis in high-risk HIV-positive people.
Loren is investigating the yield and accuracy of GeneXpert Ultra in patients with presumptive EPTB. Loren enjoys spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen and loves going on long road trips.
Rencia Alberts
Masters student
Email: renciaalberts@sun.ac.za
Rencia is working on characterising the resistance to new and repurposed tuberculosis drugs. Rencia is an avid painter, tea taster and a lover of ballet.
Laboratory staff:
Megan Hendrikse
Laboratory Manager
Email: mhendrikse@sun.ac.za
Megan overseas the day to running of the CLIME laboratory, assisting with the co-ordination of new and existing projects. Megan enjoys spending sunny days outside with her family.
Zaida Palmer
Senior Technical Officer
Email: zaida@sun.ac.za
Zaida oversees specimen processing and diagnostic testing at multiple sites in the field, as well as the biobanking of specimens at the main lab. Zaida loves cooking and shopping for clothes.
ResearchGate profile
Happy Tshivhula
Research Assistant
Email:
tshivhula@sun.ac.za
Happy attends to various day to day laboratory tasks and assists with specimen processing, DNA extractions and diagnostic testing across several studies. Happy is a massive soccer and wresting fan.
ReasearchGate Profile
Nandi Niemand
Research Assistant
Email:
nniemand@sun.ac.za
Nandi attends to various day to day laboratory tasks and assists with diagnostic testing and sample collection for multiple studies. After a busy week Nandi likes to escape the city life. You will probably find her unwinding with a glass of wine and her dogs always close by, or working in the farrowing houses on the farm.
ReasearchGate Profile
Desiree Mbu
Research Assistant
Email: desireelm@sun.ac.za
Desiree assists with day to day laboratory tasks and is involved in specimen processing, biobanking and data capturing across multiple studies. Desiree's hobbies involve dancing and cooking.
Irene Mardarowicz
Research Assistant
Email:
imardar@sun.ac.za
Irene assists with specimen processing, diagnostic testing and biobanking across multiple studies.
Nondumiso Lushozi
Research Assistant
Email: nondu@sun.ac.za
When you know you are destined for greatness, your potential haunts you. You will never feel complete until you succeed. It is also important to put in the work, you will always be the best project to work on.
Zola Nkwanyana
Research Assistant
Email:
znkwanyana@sun.ac.za
Zola attends to various day to day laboratory tasks and assists with specimen processing, biobanking and data capturing across multiple studies. Zola is a big coffee lover and fiction enthusiast.
ReasearchGate Profile
Clinical staff
Charlotte Lawn
Research Nurse
Email: clawn@sun.ac.za
Charlotte is based at Scottsdene TB clinic, where she recruits patients with suspected TB to evaluate the accuracy and impact of new TB tests. Charlotte is a keen orchid grower and loves gardening.
Charmaine van der Walt
Research Nurse
Email: charmainev@sun.ac.za
Charmaine leads recruitment at Kraaifontein Community Health Centre, where she recruits patients into studies evaluating the impact of new diagnostics for TB and HIV. Charmaine loves to snorkel.
Ruth Wilson
Research Nurse
Email: wilson@sun.ac.za
Ruth is based at Tygerberg General Hospital and collects specimens from patients with suspected extrapulmonary TB. Ruth loves instrumental music and often supports local artists.
Jane Fortuin
Research nurse
Email:
jcfortuin@sun.ac.za
Jane is a research nurse based at the Wallacedene clinic and recruits patients suspected with TB.
Lizl Bashe
Research nurse
Email: lbashe@sun.ac.za
Lizl is a research nurse currently involved in the Bedaquiline Hair Study at Brooklyn Chest Hospital.
Dawn Davis
Research Nurse
Email:
dawnd@sun.ac.za
Dawn loves hiking and camping in her spare time.
Dawn Davis
Research Nurse
Research Nurse on EPTB Study. Collects Pleural tap fluid, CSF , Bronchial wash fluid and Pericardial tap fluid at TBH, KBH and KDH.
Fikiswa Seti
Community Health Worker
Email: fikiswa@sun.ac.za
Fikiswa helps source patients, consent them, conduct home visits in the Kraaifontein area, and performs several point-of-care tests at the clinic. Fikiswa loves walking.
Dandelene Sylvester
Community Health Worker
Email: dandelene@sun.ac.za
Danny helps source patients, consent them, and conduct home visits in the Scottsdene area. Danny loves dancing and socialising with family and friends.
Zinthle Ntwana
Community health worker
Email:
zntwana@sun.ac.za
Zinthle is based at the Wallacedene clinic and handles recruitment of patients and helps consent them.
Nosimphiwe Booi
Community Health Worker
Assisting at Wallacedene Clinic to recruit patients and conducting home visits. Enjoys Cooking and Travelling.
Camray Botha
Clinical Assistant
I'm a family orientated person. Spending time with family outside nature and likes socializing.
Raymond Fredericks
Driver
Email: rpfredericks@sun.ac.za
Raymond is the group driver and all-round handyman, and plays an important role in the functioning of the recruitment sites. Raymond loves table tennis and soccer.
Byron Biscombe
Driver
Email: bbiscombe@sun.ac.za
Byron is ambitious and driven. He sets goals for himself and is always striving towards something. He is a humble individual who will try to assist where he can without complaints.
Alumni
Selisha Naidoo Laboratory Manager
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Rebecca Tadokera
Research Scientist
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Tatenda Mujuru
MSc student
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Ashley Steyn
Research Field Worker
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Analeen Sampson
Research Nurse
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Linda Makaluza
Research Nurse
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Natasha Kitchin
Technical officer
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Caroline Vanherck
Intern
| Nozuko Zukiswa
PhD student |
Yolanda Novokoza
Intern
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Roxanne Higgitt
Research Assistant
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Marina Ferreira
Study co-ordinator
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