Research Activities

HIV & TB Treatment

Professor Rubeshan Perumal
Head: Treatment Research

Tuberculosis (TB) is the commonest cause of HIV-related deaths in most of Africa. CAPRISA’s HIV-TB research focuses on TB transmission, TB vaccines and optimal treatment strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in co-infected patients. Key studies include those optimising HIV-TB treatment strategies and treatment drug regimens in co-infected patients, especially for drug-resistant forms of TB. Studies on the operational effectiveness of HIV-TB treatment integration, clinical trials of TB vaccines and laboratory studies on TB immunology in HIV patients are being conducted.

Mucosal Immunology

Professor Derseree Archary
Head: Mucosal Immunology Research

Women, especially young women, have a disproportionately high burden of HIV infection in Africa. CAPRISA is studying young women’s vulnerability and risk of HIV acquisition in the vaginal mucosa. A major focus is on vaginal microbiome and dysbiosis as well as genital tract immunity in influencing the risk of HIV transmission in young women. Clinical trials of live biotherapeutic products containing strains of Lactobacilli crispatus are being conducted.

Prevention & Epidemiology

Quarraisha Abdool Karim
Head: Prevention and Epidemiology Research

A major focus of CAPRISA’s research is on new technologies to reduce the risk of HIV infection in young women in Africa. To develop and test new prevention modalities, CAPRISA is undertaking studies to understand the evolving HIV epidemic in South Africa, to identify biological, behavioural and sociological risk factors associated with HIV acquisition in young women and to unravel the transmission dynamics of HIV within a community setting. This lays the foundation for CAPRISA to conduct trials of new HIV interventions to reduce the risk of HIV infection in young women.

Vaccine & Pathogenesis

Dr Nivashnee Naicker
Head: Vaccine Research

Dr Sharana Mahomed

Head: HIV Pathogenesis Research

CAPRISA’s studies of HIV pathogenesis include the elucidation of early viral and immunological events in acute infection as well as host genetic factors associated with HIV transmission, establishment of HIV infection and containment of virus replication in humans. This has enabled CAPRISA to study the ontogeny of broadly neutralising antibodies. CAPRISA’s research includes the development and clinical trial testing of HIV vaccines and broadly neutralising antibodies.