Research & Global Health

HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme (HAGH)

Multidisciplinary biomedical, social and behavioural research with national and international relevance.

Global Health Research

Research, training and community impact

HAGH brings together investigators from UNIVEN, partner institutions and communities to address global-health challenges through research, human-capital development and collaboration.

About the Programme

HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme

The HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme comprises a multidisciplinary team of investigators drawn from UNIVEN, other institutions and the community to seek solutions to biomedical, social and behavioural problems with national and international relevance.

Vision

To become a reference programme in South Africa for global health research and human capital development.

Mission

To conduct high quality research relevant to policy development and practice; and to train the next generation of researchers with a global perspective.

Director's Profile

Professor Pascal O. Bessong

Pascal O. Bessong is a virologist and experienced professor whose research focuses on microbiological investigations for translational science and global health. His interests include viral and human determinants of HIV drug resistance, sustainability of antiretrovirals, gut microbiota and antimicrobial resistance, and the interactions of gut infections with growth, cognitive development and vaccine response in young children.

A former Head of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Venda, he is Principal Investigator of the AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Founding Head of the HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme, Visiting Scholar at the School of Medicine, University of Virginia, and Director of the SAMRC-UNIVEN Unit on Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research.

Professor Bessong has published in leading journals, hosted visiting scientists and successfully trained more than 60 MSc/PhD students and postdoctoral fellows.

Tel: 015 962 8301 Email: bessong@univen.ac.za
Research Focus

Programme research areas

Sustainability of first-line antiretroviral therapy

Biologic and psychosocial determinants of resistance development to combination antiretroviral therapy, treatment outcomes, molecular epidemiology, viral fitness, viral inhibition assays, pharmacogenomics and intestinal microbiome in HIV/AIDS.

Malignancy-associated viruses

Molecular genetics of KSHV, HPV and HBV/HCV, innate immunity and implications for vaccine design.

Malnutrition and Enteric Diseases (MAL-ED)

An observational prospective study examining the interaction of enteric infections and malnutrition and their consequences for child growth and development, with community-based work in Dzimauli.

Bioprospecting

Expression and biophysical characterization of HIV-1 subtype C enzymes and pre-clinical HIV inhibitory evaluation of substances.

Investigators

Research collaborators

Training Opportunities

Human-capital development

National Annual Gene Expression and Biotechnology Training Course

An annual intensive hands-on course for junior and mid-level postgraduate students, delivered with the University of Virginia. It combines lectures, problem solving, group discussions and laboratory practicals.

  • Genes, gene expression and genomics
  • RNA polymerases and protein synthesis
  • mRNA transcription and processing
  • Non-coding RNAs and RNA editing
  • HIV as a genetic system
  • Molecular biology applications in health and agriculture

Laboratory training

  • Polymerase chain reaction
  • Restriction digestion and cloning
  • Protein expression and purification
  • Tissue culture
  • Transfection and infection
  • Sequence editing and bioinformatics

Global Infectious Diseases Research Training Program

In partnership with the University of Virginia and supported by the Fogarty International Center/NIH, the programme provides research fellowships for University of Venda doctoral students.

WHIL Innovations Fellowships

Designed to develop junior faculty with the skills and technical know-how required to begin an independent research career, with mentoring at UNIVEN and the University of Virginia.

Research & Training Facilities

Key instrumentation and equipment

BD FACSPresto CD4 cell counterIllumina MiniSeq platformUltracentrifuge (Sorval WX100)Microbeta 2 counterLight Cycler (Roche 480 II)Luminometer (Promega)ThermocyclersGel documentation (Syngene)Microplate reader (Versamax)Liquid nitrogen / ultra-low storageBiosafety level II facilityHPLC (Waters)
Community Engagement

Partnerships with local communities

Programme activities have led to sustained interactions and collaborations with communities and institutions including Dzimauli, Centre for Positive Care in Sibasa and the HIV/AIDS Prevention Group in Bela Bela.

HAPG engagement

  • HIV treatment outcome studies
  • HIV prevention in adolescents
  • Community impact studies

Dzimauli engagement

Education on mother and child care, including infection, vaccination and nutrition, through town-hall meetings and focus-group discussions.

Contact Us

Programme and laboratory addresses

Office courier address

Office FF172, Life Sciences Building
University of Venda, University Road
Thohoyandou 0950
South Africa

Laboratory courier address

Attention: Lufuno Mavhandu — 071 293 3842
Lab FF015, Life Sciences Building
University of Venda, University Road
Thohoyandou 0950
South Africa

Scientific Coordinator

Dr Lufuno Mavhandu-Ramarumo

Dr Mavhandu-Ramarumo obtained a doctorate in Microbiology specialising in molecular virology from the University of Venda. Her research interests include the molecular basis of HIV drug resistance, sustainability of first-line antiretroviral therapy and preclinical evaluation of compounds for anti-HIV properties.

Her postgraduate training included research fellowships at the University of Virginia and the J. Craig Venter Institute. She has received national and international fellowships and awards and is involved in research on antiretroviral adherence biomarkers and drug resistance in Limpopo Province.

Tel: 015 962 8962 Email: lufuno.mavhandu@univen.ac.za