‘CROI is back on track’ – CAPRISA Researchers present at the CROI conference in Seattle
CAPRISA’s Prof Nigel Garrett, Dr Sharana Mahomed, Dr Anushka Naidoo and Ms Lara Lewis attended and presented at the 30th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) from 19-22 February in Seattle, Washington. “CROI is back” was the catch phrase of the conference as it was the first in-person CROI since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The in-person conference featured innovative interactive sessions, informative poster sessions, and networking opportunities. The CAPRISA team collectively presented seven posters.
Garrett, who is Head of Vaccines and Pathogenesis research, shared findings from the SHERPA and Ubuntu studies, assessing the safety of mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccinations in South Africa. He also presented an analysis by Dr Jienchi Dorward, Honorary Associate Scientist and the SHAPE team on the roll-out of Dolutegravir and its impact on clinical outcomes in KwaZulu-Natal.
Photo (L-R) Prof Nigel Garret, Dr Anthony Fauci, Dr Sharana Mahomed & Ms Lara Lewis at CROI
Ms Lara Lewis, Senior Statistician presented results from an analysis of community ART usage patterns and the impact of extending ART prescriptions in community ART programmes from 6 to 12 months.
Dr Sharana Mahomed, Research Clinician and Principal Investigator shared findings from the CAPRISA 012B study which demonstrated that both VRC07-523LS and PGT121 administered subcutaneously individually and in combination at high doses were safe and well tolerated. Dr Anushka Naidoo Research Fellow & Principal Investigator shared findings on a study on Dolutegravir in Children coinfected with HIV and TB.
Highlights from the conference included a presentation of the results from the Doxy-PEP studies for STI prevention, research being undertaken for HIV cure and an opening plenary by Dr Anthony Fauci chronicling the 30 years of CROI.
Photos (L-R) Presenting at CROI: Prof Nigel Garrett, Ms Lara Lewis, Dr Sharana Mahomed & Dr Anushka Naidoo