UKZN’s Leading Centre in HIV Research Sets Up Medical Advisory Board

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UKZN’s Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, funded by the UK-based Wellcome Trust, recently convened the inaugural meeting of its newly-created Medical Advisory Board (MAB).

In a quest to undertake globally recognised research informed by the local context, the Africa Centre’s Professor Deenan Pillay said: ‘In keeping with our vision to undertake world class research in the pursuit of improved health for the local population with relevance to providing global solutions, the Africa Centre wants to strengthen its link with local medical specialists by creating an MAB. It is hoped that the MAB will guide and recommend to support the development of high quality primary health care research at the Centre.’

The committee includes local, district, and provincial senior medical professionals as well as leading KwaZulu-Natal-based health specialists whose expertise is directly related to developing the clinical scientific strategy of the Centre.

The Centre sought to create an MAB to render advice and counsel regarding the Africa Centre’s clinical research strategy and ensure that it is aligned and responsive to research priorities in South Africa – principally KwaZulu-Natal. The MAB would also facilitate engagement with the Department of Health and UKZN’s College of Health Sciences as well as clinical research and health service management structures.

‘The formation of the MAB represents a tangible advancement towards the new vision and strategic direction of the Centre, and we are optimistic that this new forum will augment the Africa Centre’s ability to contribute to world class science in this province and in South Africa,’ commented Pillay.

 MaryAnn Francis