IN AN attempt to intensify the fight against tuberculosis and HIV, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has joined forces with the US's Howard Hughes Medical Institute to build a multimillion-rand research centre.
The centre, known as the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH), will cost R308million to build - R219million coming from the US institution and the balance made up by the Lifelab research group and the UKZN.
The centre will enable researchers to conduct basic research on TB and HIV, translate scientific findings into new tools to control infections, and expand the educational opportunities for future scientists in the region.
The university's executive director of cooperative relations, Nomonde Mbadi, said the centre would find solutions that would benefit those afflicted by the epidemic, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.
She described the grant received from Howard Hughes Medical Institute as the largest ever to be provided by the institute for medical research outside the US.
"The institutions wanted to seize the opportunity to study HIV and TB in South Africa, which has more residents infected with HIV than any other nation in the world and one of the highest per capita rates of TB," she said.
Mbadi said a symposium, to be held on Tuesday, would be attended by dignitaries from the health and science ministries, as well as top TB and HIV researchers from around the world. She added that the US institute would provide an additional R40million over the next 10 years.
"The symposium will bring together South African dignitaries with eminent local and international researchers to examine the scientific challenges K-RITH will tackle. It is anticipated that the building will be completed by 2012."
SA and US institutions join hands to fight TB, HIV
IN AN attempt to intensify the fight against tuberculosis and HIV, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has joined forces with the US's Howard Hughes Medical Institute to build a multimillion-rand research centre.
The centre, known as the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH), will cost R308million to build - R219million coming from the US institution and the balance made up by the Lifelab research group and the UKZN.
The centre will enable researchers to conduct basic research on TB and HIV, translate scientific findings into new tools to control infections, and expand the educational opportunities for future scientists in the region.
The university's executive director of cooperative relations, Nomonde Mbadi, said the centre would find solutions that would benefit those afflicted by the epidemic, particularly the poor and the vulnerable.
She described the grant received from Howard Hughes Medical Institute as the largest ever to be provided by the institute for medical research outside the US.
"The institutions wanted to seize the opportunity to study HIV and TB in South Africa, which has more residents infected with HIV than any other nation in the world and one of the highest per capita rates of TB," she said.
Mbadi said a symposium, to be held on Tuesday, would be attended by dignitaries from the health and science ministries, as well as top TB and HIV researchers from around the world. She added that the US institute would provide an additional R40million over the next 10 years.
"The symposium will bring together South African dignitaries with eminent local and international researchers to examine the scientific challenges K-RITH will tackle. It is anticipated that the building will be completed by 2012."
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