Clinical Trials Unit Staff
The Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) has more than 10 years of experience conducting Phase II and III HIV-related drug and vaccine trials.
Located in the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine on the University of Cape Town Medical School campus, the Unit is headed by Professor Robin Wood, a specialist physician with infectious disease training. The Principal Investigators for the unit are Professors Robin Wood and Linda-Gail Bekker, Drs Jennifer Zeinecker, Catherine Orrell and Richard Kaplan. Drs Francois Cilliers, Roland Croxford, Keren Middelkoop, Piotr Chodacki and Andrew Scheibe work as sub-investigators at the site. The Unit also has three study coordinators, three study nurses, two pharmacists, a lab technologist and 6 counsellors.
The Unit is fully equipped and maintained to ensure that all trial procedures are conducted to the highest standard. It consists of a patient reception area, a blood-taking room, three patient examination rooms, a procedures room, counselling rooms and a pharmacy. Laboratory facilities include a centrifuge, a -4°C centrifuge, refrigerator and a -20°C freezer. Other equipment includes a resuscitation trolley with defibrillator, a vaccine preparation hood, a refrigerator, a -20°C and-70°C freezer, ECG machines, secure storage space and access to PK and Dexa Scan facilities.
Since 1996, the unit has been responsible for conducting over 25 HIV-related clinical trials for varying periods of time. This has enabled many people living with HIV/AIDS to receive antiretroviral drugs and thus improve their quality of life. Many of these patients are still receiving treatment at the unit.
