Visit from DAIDS VRP and OCSO
The CAPRISA Vaccine team hosted officials from the DAIDs Vaccine Research Programme (VRP) and OCSO (Office of Clinical Site Oversight) on 19 Sep-tember at the eThekwini CAPRISA Research clinic where the HVTN stud-ies are currently underway. The pur-pose of the visit was to gain insight into the challenges experienced in conducting multiple vaccine protocols simultaneously. The officials had an opportunity to observe the infusion of a participant in the AMP study.
The delegation met with Dr Nesri Padayatchi Deputy Director CAPRISA, Dr Kathy Mngadi HVTN Principal Investigator and senior CAPRISA staff. Dr Kathy Mngadi who led the tour of the Prevention facility, the onsite laboratory and pharmacy units, highlighted the challenges experienced in under-taking the vaccine studies which in-cluded space constraints.
A visit to the CAPRISA headquarters followed and officials had a tour of the main laboratory.
The vaccine team is currently conducting five HVTN studies; three phase I studies and two efficacy studies. The current combined cohort size is approximately 220 participants, with an expected accrual of about 25 par-ticipants per month until the end of September 2018.
Photo: Front Row: Tina Tong (Health Specialist - VRP), Joanne Csedrik (Programme Officer - OCSO), Tanuja Gengiah (Head: Pharma-cy), Lutchmee Eswarlal (Laboratory Manager), Jacqueline Kasa-van (QA –Lab) . Back Row: Kevin Ryan (Deputy Director - VRP), Kathy Mngadi (PI HVTN), Mary Marovich (Director - VRP), Nesri Padayatchi Deputy Director CAPRISA), Yajna Duki (HVTN Study Coordinator).