Advancing Clinical Research in Africa

Professor Friedrich Thienemann is a clinician-scientist in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and global health. He trained at Charité University Hospital in Berlin and the University of Cape Town before joining UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease in 2009. In 2019, he founded UCT’s General Medicine & Global Health research unit, focusing on tuberculosis, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases, with a commitment to improving health outcomes in Africa.

Dr Karen Wolmarans studied Medicine at University of Pretoria. She has been a sub-investigator on numerous clinical research studies with over 25 years' experience, initially in diabetes and lipid lowering medications and since 2020 in tuberculosis and vaccine studies. Her special interest is in Post tuberculosis cardiopulmonary disease and spirometry in tuberculosis.

Dr Fareda Jakoet-Bassier trained as a medical doctor and is currently working as a research clinician/sub-investigator. After graduating from the University of Cape Town, she pursued her passion in treating diseases affecting impoverished communities in and around Cape Town for over 10 years. Her special interest has led her to focus on research in TB/MDR-TB and Post-TB Lung Disease. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between groundbreaking TB research and equitable patient care for the most vulnerable populations. She believes that true medical innovation is measured not only in scientific journals but in the lives restored in the most marginalised communities.

Dr. Ashleigh Taylor is a medical doctor who graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand and thereafter did her post- graduate diploma in the field of Mental Health from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. Her experience in clinical medicine was mainly in Psychiatry before entering the field of clinical trials, which she has now been in for 3 years. She enjoys being close to cutting- edge research and feels privileged to have been a part of vaccine trials, trials involving TB treatment and post- TB cardiopulmonary research trials.

Nosipho Mkuzangwe is a Professional Nurse-Project Manager. She joined research in 2015 and has been involved in several clinical trials, mainly focusing on TB treatment and vaccines. Specialising in participant recruitment to emphasise clear communication about the studies, purpose, procedures and benefits to enhance participant willingness to engage.

Antoneta Mashinyira is an experienced Data Quality Officer with over a decade of expertise in clinical data management and information systems. She has coordinated data capture, cleaning, and quality processes across multicentre trials and cohort studies. Her work focuses on leveraging technological innovations to enhance healthcare outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.