Dr Nesri Padayatchi (EDCTP Senior Fellow 2011) - a leading expert in MDR-TB - Awarded SAMRC Silver Scientific Achievement Award!
EDCTP alumnus - a well- known research clinician, epidemiologist, academic and scientist in multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was recognised by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) for her research excellence in the management of patients with MDR and XDR TB. Dr Nesri Padayatchi, a scientist and Deputy Director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), received the SAMRC 2018 Silver Scientific Achievement Award, a medal, at the SAMRC Scientific Merit awards in last year.
“SAMRC recognises and congratulates you as an outstanding South African scientist who has contributed to raising the profile of science in South Africa,” said Dr Mike Sathekge, chairperson of the SAMRC Board.
Professor Nesri Padayatchi, MBChB, DCH(Paediatrics), DTM&H (Tropical Medicine), DPH(Public Health), DHSM (Health Management) MS(Epi), is an honorary Associate Professor in Public Health and Nursing, in the College of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.
She has more than 30 years clinical and research experience in the management of TB and related problems. Respected as an authority on the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, her experience extends to the design and implementation of several self-initiated TB-HIV clinical trials as the Principal and/or co-investigator of the studiesShe serves as the South African Principal Investigator for the Columbia University-Southern African Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Programme since 2009. She serves on the South African National Advisory Board for MDR –TB since 2010 to date and on the KwaZulu Natal MDR-TB technical advisory committee since 2013.
Her biggest scientific contribution has been as a co-investigator in the SAPiT and STRIDE (A5221) studies which changed not only South African guidelines for the management of patients with TB-HIV coinfection, but also WHO and DHHS guidelines.
She has participated as the Principal Investigator in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention TB Trials Consortium and was the CAPRISA Principal Investigator for the ACTG studies from 2006-2013. She has published several scientific papers on TB-HIV in high impact journals and is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
Padayatchi serves on several scientific bodies that include, the International Union against TB and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) Ethics Advisory Group, the Board of the South African HIV Clinicians society, the South African National and Provincial Advisory Boards for MDR –TB.
“I am honoured and humbled to be recognised by the South African Research Medical Council and my peers,” said Padayatchi. “TB remains the leading cause of death in South Africa and MDR-TB, in particular, threatens the gains made in HIV. MDR TB remains a serious global threat particularly in impoverished communities constrained countries.”
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Free Access To The Spirit Electronic Protocol Tool And Resource (Septre) Platform
The Global Health Network, EDCTP, and Women’s College Hospital at the University of Toronto have extended their partnership to provide continued access to the SPIRIT Electronic Protocol Tool and Resource (SEPTRE) platform. Through this collaboration, a limited number of free three-year licenses remain available for researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who may not otherwise afford access.
SEPTRE is an online tool that helps researchers design, manage, and register high-quality clinical trial protocols in line with the SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) guidelines, which were updated in 2025. The update introduced new sections on open science, harms assessment, intervention descriptions, and patient and public involvement.
Applications can be submitted through the EDCTP Knowledge Hub SEPTRE enquiry form. Applicants should be located in a low- or middle-income country (preference is given to researchers based in Africa and who are members of the EDCTP Knowledge Hub). We encourage applicants via the form to state their goals and objectives to apply for a SEPTRE license and the research they want to undertake. Successful applicants agree that they will submit a yearly report on how they have made use of the license.
Learn more about the EDCTP Knowledge Hub.
Read moreEdctp Association Mourns The Passing Of Professor Jean Louis Abdourahim Ndiaye
The EDCTP Association deeply mourns the loss of Professor Jean Louis Abdourahim Ndiaye, joining the global health community in honouring an outstanding researcher whose impact will continue to be felt across the global health research field.
Professor Ndiaye was awarded a Senior Fellowship in 2011 under the EDCTP1 programme to conduct research on seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC). He led transformative malaria prevention research, including innovative seasonal intermittent preventive treatment in children (IPTc), and continued to develop his research on preventing and protecting children from malaria. At the University of Thiès, Senegal, he built a research team and went on to head the OPT-SMC project, funded under the EDCTP2 programme, which focused on strengthening the capacity of national malaria control programmes in conducting implementation research to improve SMC delivery and impact. This project supported 13 countries across West and Central Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo), bringing together national malaria programme representatives to share expertise and tailor interventions to local contexts.
Professor Ndiaye was not only a leading scientist but also a kind and humble man, deeply committed to reducing the burden of malaria in Africa and developing the next generation of African researchers. His contributions have made a significant impact on malaria control and implementation research. His passing is a considerable loss to the global scientific community, particularly in Africa. He will be deeply missed. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Read moreProf. George Boateng Kyei: Advancing Hiv Research In Africa
In his EDCTP-GSK Senior Fellowship, Professor George Boateng Kyei of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, has not only advanced the search for an HIV cure but also strengthened research capacity across Ghana and the broader African region.
Addressing HIV persistence
HIV remains a pressing public health issue in Africa, with persistent challenges hindering the quest for a cure. This fellowship project focused on one such challenge: the virus’s ability to remain dormant within resting CD4+ T cells, even among individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). By exploring the innovative “shock and kill” approach, the research aimed to reactivate latent HIV and target infected cells for destruction. A notable scientific achievement was the identification and confirmation of three novel epigenetic compounds capable of reactivating latent HIV from virologically suppressed individuals. These findings pave the way for future studies in animal models, with the potential to transition into clinical trials aiming at finding a cure for HIV.
Strengthening research infrastructure
The establishment of a drug screening platform at the University of Ghana stands out as a long-term asset for HIV drug discovery and cure research. Additionally, the project introduced regular viral load monitoring for a substantial cohort of patients—an essential practice previously not standard in Ghana. The data generated from this monitoring has been instrumental in shaping national HIV treatment policies and improving patient care.
Furthermore, the project developed a biobank and a well-characterised cohort of HIV-infected adults, providing invaluable resources for ongoing and future HIV cure research. Insights gathered from patients regarding their perceptions of HIV cure research will inform the design and conduct of subsequent studies in Ghana and across Africa.
Training the next generation of researchers
The impact of the fellowship extends beyond laboratory accomplishments; it has significantly influenced research training and career development. The fellowship helped nurture the growth of junior scientists, many of whom have evolved into independent research leaders, securing competitive grants and fellowships, such as the IAS Research-for-Cure Academy and NIH R21. They have presented their findings at prestigious international conferences, including the African Virology Congress and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
Post-doctoral fellows have notably received fellowships from esteemed international programmes, such as the Science by Women Fellowship and the NIH CFAR Africure award, showcasing their growing prominence in the research community.
Recognition and awards
Professor Kyei’s mentorship has not gone unnoticed; in April 2024, he received special recognition from the University of Ghana’s Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) for his outstanding mentorship of female academics—an honour highlighted by nominations from his own mentees. The project also celebrated the achievements of its team members, with one post-doc winning Best Senior Research Fellow at the 2024 NMIMR Awards and research assistants earning accolades at the 2024 African Virologist Conference.
Professor Kyei’s research has led to significant international visibility, with his team members winning travel awards to attend prestigious conferences, including the Keystone Symposium and the African Virology Congress. These opportunities have allowed them to present their findings and collaborate with global experts in the field.
Expanding horizons
The EDCTP-GSK Senior Fellowship grant has facilitated the groundwork for additional projects, including a newly awarded Fogarty grant aimed at enhancing HIV basic science and cure research training at the University of Ghana. This grant will train 17 researchers over the next 5 years, further strengthening the research landscape in Ghana.
As the team looks to the future, plans are in place to expand research into HIV reservoir characteristics among virologically suppressed patients across Ghana. This extension not only continues the momentum generated by the EDCTP grant, but also reinforces Ghana’s position as a leader in HIV cure research in Africa and contributes to the global effort to eradicate HIV.