The Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Community of Scientists include the NEF Fellows and Ambassadors, Africa’s Brain Trust. The NEF Fellows Programme showcases Africa’s best young scientists on the global stage. NEF Ambassadors are the NEF’s young science and technology champions, one from each African country. Ambassadors organize Africa Science Week in their countries.
https://nef.org/nef-fellows/
Read moreA strategic model for the future of clinical trial sites in Africa: A gateway to developing quality management systems
PROGRAMME INCLUDES
• What has been accomplished so far? Current state of ethical and Regulatory oversight of clinical trials in Africa.
• Perceived gaps in clinical trial site capabilities and quality management: Investigator, Pharmaceutical and NGO perspectives
• Proposal of an innovative model for certification and strategic oversight of trial sites in Africa.
• Business models for the financial sustainability of trial sites: A UCT Graduate School of Business partnership.
For more information, please contact Belinda Chapman
Tel: +27 (021) 406 6381 | email: belinda.chapman@uct.ac.za
Based on new evidence assessing benefits and risks, the WHO recommends the use of the HIV drug dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential.
Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions such as spina bifida) in infants born to women using the drug at the time of conception. This potential safety concern was reported in May 2018 from a study in Botswana that found 4 cases of neural tube defects out of 426 women who became pregnant while taking DTG. Based on these preliminary findings, many countries advised pregnant women and women of childbearing potential to take efavirenz (EFV) instead.
New data from two large clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of DTG and EFV in Africa have now expanded the evidence base. The risks of neural tube defects are significantly lower than what the initial studies may have suggested. DTG is a drug that is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs that are currently used. DTG also has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance, which is important given the rising trend of resistance to EFV and nevirapine-based regimens. In 2019, 12 out of 18 countries surveyed by WHO reported pre-treatment drug resistance levels exceeding the recommended threshold of 10%.
WHO press release: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/22-07-2019-who-recommends-dolutegravir-as-preferred-hiv-treatment-option-in-all-populations
WHO Guideines 2019: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325892/WHO-CDS-HIV-19.15-eng.pdf
Read moreThe course aims to facilitate critical decision-making in vaccinology by providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the field, from immunology to vaccine development and clinical trials, as well as the social, economic, political and ethical issues of vaccination. The Course is relevant for both the public and private sectors.
Fellowships covering travel expenses, as well as registration and accommodation fees will be available for a number of selected participants in accordance with the criteria outlined on the website. These fellowships are provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).
Date: 11-22 May 2020
Venue: Veyrier du Lac (near Annecy), France
https://www.advac.org/
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