The Ndlovu Care Group has been a partner in the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) since 2014. Significant international results have been achieved with the ring study . At last year’s annual CROI conference (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections) in Boston, Hugo Tempelman reported on the success. This study represents an important scientific achievement in the field of women’s health and can give HIV prevention a whole new face. Ndlovu is one of 12 laboratories conducting the study. There are not many organizations in South Africa that can do this.
DREAM study as successor to the RING study
The DREAM study was initiated in August 2016 as a continuation of the RING study. DREAM stands for Dapivirine Ring Extended Access and Monitoring. In the DREAM study, the long-term effect of the ring application is now to be observed and documented. The DREAM research team is touring schools and youth centers and bringing the topic of the ring study and the follow-up study closer to young women and men. Pregnancy prevention and HIV prevention are topics that require particular attention from young people. The Ndlovu team has built up a trusting relationship with the young people in the area.
Award at the new research center in Elandsdoorn
The team at the new Research Center in Elandsdoorn has now received the award for best research facility. The financial management was also recognized as one of the best. The Research Center in Elandsdoorn was only opened in October. With this facility, Hugo Tempelman has managed to focus the attention of international scientists on Elandsdoorn.
This is a remarkable achievement, especially in view of the fact that Hugo Tempelman and the Ndlovu Care Group want to become more involved in research. The Ndlovu Care Group wants to promote research capacity building in Africa, introduce academic and evidence-based working methods in the rural areas of Limpopo and provide the best conditions for the re-migration of professional skills to rural areas. To this end, an improved research infrastructure will be created and challenging research programs will be acquired.
The opportunities are enormous. It is not only the local people who can be helped. The findings are transferable – throughout Africa as well as to the entire industrialized world, where AIDS may not be an everyday threat but is a reality for many that cannot be minimized. This research at least secures a future for local children.
