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uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
@uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
63 followers 79 following 20 posts
This account is focused on sharing research milestones, breakthroughs and awards of the University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences
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uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
In the wake of #nationalimmunizationweek we focus on the work of Vaccines for Africa Initiative: an organisation at the University of Cape Town that prides itself on serving as the bridge between research and translation.

www.news.uct.ac.za/news/researc...
From research to impact: How VACFA is transforming vaccine policy in Africa
World Immunization Week, commemorated on the last week of April, brings a spotlight to the work of UCT’s VACFA which works across the continent to rid Africa of vaccine-preventable diseases.
www.news.uct.ac.za
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Would you have guessed that couple communication plays a critical role with managing type 2 diabetes? According to recent research, good communication between two partners improves self-diabetes management, which improves overall health outcomes.

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...
Effective couple communication alters diabetes care, health outcomes
Good communication between two partners improves self-diabetes management, which improves overall health outcomes.
www.news.uct.ac.za
April 24, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
who.int
It’s #WorldImmunizationWeek

Vaccines have saved 154 million lives in the last 50 years. That’s 6 lives every minute.

A reminder of what is #HumanlyPossible. Science saves lives.

#VaccinesWork
bit.ly/wiw2025
Every 10 seconds vaccination saves a life. Immunization for all is Humanly Possible
April 24, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
satviuct.bsky.social
The World Health Organisation have just released the latest consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis treatment and care. @uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
who.int/publications...
April 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Congratulations to Emerita Professor @valmizrahi.bsky.social of the UCT Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine who was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, announced last night.

See the full list of new members: www.amacad.org/new-members-...
April 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Comorbidities - co-occurring infectious or chronic conditions in a person - is a major exacerbating factor for #TB in South Africa, with high rates of #HIV and #NCDs. Cutting edge research at University of Cape Town is tacking this:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...
March 24, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
thelancet.com
On #WorldTBDay, listen to a podcast episode from The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia exploring historical efforts & current challenges with #tuberculosis in the WHO south east Asia region.

Experts share their vision of how we can achieve the SDG goals on TB.

🔊Listen: tinyurl.com/yc2acury
Anurag Bhargava, Mohammed Yassin, and Swarup Sarkar on TB elimination - The Lancet Regional Health in conversation with
March 24 serves as a reminder to evaluate our progress in eliminating the centuries-old scourge of tuberculosis. Dr Swarup Sarkar, Dr Anurag Bhargava, and Dr Mohammed Yassin speak with  Shal...
tinyurl.com
March 24, 2025 at 8:32 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
This #WorldTBDay we put a spotlight on some of the excellent work researchers at the University of Cape Town to #StopTB in sub-Saharan Africa:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...
March 24, 2025 at 10:04 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
PEPFAR funding to South Africa constitutes around 18% of the country’s HIV response. The funding freeze will have a significant impact on the South African HIV programme. But we can turn this crisis into an opportunity, suggests Prof Linda-Gail Bekker: www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...
Turn PEPFAR funding freeze crisis into opportunity
The PEPFAR funding freeze has impacted millions of South Africans living with HIV.
www.news.uct.ac.za
March 18, 2025 at 7:12 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
The Neurogenomics Lab at the University of Cape Town's Neuroscience Institute is working to expand our understanding of neuromuscular disorders in African populations and transforming patient care by improving access to genomic testing.

#BrainAwarenessWeek2025

neuroscience.uct.ac.za
March 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Last day of #BrainAwarenessWeek and we continue to spotlight the research groups working on #neuroscience at the University of Cape Town.

The Brain-Behaviour centre works address key brain-behaviour issues relevant to South Africa
neuroscience.uct.ac.za/research-res...
Mental disorders are highly prevalent both locally and globally, and the burden of disease due to these conditions is predicted to continue to rise. In South Africa, they are already the 3rd largest contributor to burden of disease.
March 14, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
edrybicki.bsky.social
Interesting piece in today’s Daily Maverick on vaccine manufacturing in Africa - which is sorely needed, if we are not to be left out AGAIN if a new pandemic hits. @isv-news.bsky.social www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Sustainable African vaccine manufacturing will save lives
Now is the time to continue the momentum towards achieving African vaccine sovereignty. We must work to both increase the continent’s vaccine manufacturing capacity and then develop strategies to prom...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
March 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
It is still #brainawarenessweek2025 and we are proud to showcase our Neuroscience Institute. Working through an interdisciplinary network of scientists and clinicians they are improving lives and advancing our understanding of the human brain in the African context.
neuroscience.uct.ac.za
March 13, 2025 at 11:41 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
This #BrainAwarenessWeek we showcase the incredible research teams at the University of Cape Town's Neuroscience Institute. The African Brain Child Initiative is working to ensure children in Africa with conditions that affect their brain can maximize their potential.

africanbrainchild.com
Innovative translational neuroscience research which improves the lives of children with brain injuries in Africa, for the world
March 12, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
gvdn.bsky.social
The International Society for Vaccines (ISV) is organising the 2025 ISV Congress taking place in South Africa from October 28–30, 2025. They are excited to offer awards for Early Career Researchers and PhD students from both LMIC (Low- and Middle-Income Countries) and non-LMIC countries.
Poster images advertising the LMIC and non-LMIC awards.
March 12, 2025 at 4:19 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Nearly 17% of South African learners currently #vape, a figure that rises to nearly 30% by the end of high school years. University of Cape Town pulmonologist Richard van Zyl Smit unpacks why this is a problem and what we can do about it:

theconversation.com/vaping-hits-...
Vaping hits alarming levels among South African teens – new study of fee-paying schools
Nicotine use during adolescence harms the developing brain. South Africa needs to act to stop this harmful habit.
theconversation.com
March 12, 2025 at 6:29 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
"When a car travelling at 60km/h crashes to a stop, a 10kg child in your arms becomes a 600kg projectile.

This #brainawarenessweek2025 we put the spotlight on UCT's Neuroscience Institute's African Brain Child's #BeQuickToClick campaign

Buckle them up:
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
Seatbelt non-use drives South Africa's child brain trauma crisis
Every year thousands of children suffer brain damage from not belting up. It’s a national crisis, so why aren’t alarm bells ringing?
www.dailymaverick.co.za
March 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Dr Katleho Limakatso's recent finding of a strong correlation between lower leg amputations and low literacy levels underscores the need for better education and health literacy programmes to empower patients to take control of their own health:

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...
Low literacy levels exacerbate rapidly rising lower limb amputations
New research by Dr Katleho Limakatso demonstrates some interesting findings on patients predisposed to lower limb amputations.
www.news.uct.ac.za
March 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Approximately 12.5% of in-hospital patients in Africa are gravely ill, and they are not getting the care they need. Bruce Biccard of UCT's Global Surgery Division found 21% of these patients die within 7 days of admission:

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...
March 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
cidri-africa.bsky.social
Meet the team: Contributing Investigator A/Prof. Esmita Charani's research interests include understanding the role of social constructs in relation to health-seeking and health-providing behaviours in infection, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship.
#CIDRITeam
March 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
ehwoza.bsky.social
We hosted our final Wellcome Photography workshop with IkamvaYouthSA & Profs. Esmita Charani & Sipho Dlamini! We explored ethical global health imagery, followed by a showcase of learner-captured photos & stories. The images will be exhibited in London and Khayelitsha.
February 26, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
cidri-africa.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce that the IMAGINE clinical trial has successfully kicked off and is vaccinating volunteers at our facility at Site B CHC in Khayelitsha! 🌍💉

IMAGINE is a large-scale Phase 2b efficacy trial of the #tuberculosis vaccine candidate MTBVAC.

Learn more here: bit.ly/4khAkw1
A health care provider places an adhesive bandage on the injection site of a patient who just received a vaccine.
February 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life threatening heart disease which afflicts pregnant or postpartum women. Prof Karen Sliwa and her team at the Cape Heart Institute have made major strides in the treatment and understanding of PPCM.
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...
While PPCM remains a serious disease, the reduction in mortality rates and permanent damage to the heart is greatly reduced as a result of our increased understanding of the condition
February 26, 2025 at 9:20 AM
uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
Women who experienced pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are at high risk for hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure. Associate Prof Erika Jones and Dr Bianca Davidson are advocating for better follow-up screening for this high-risk group:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...
Women with pre-eclampsia have a 50% increased risk of high blood pressure by about 40 years of age. This is younger than average and occurs before it is common to start screening for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
February 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research
cidri-africa.bsky.social
Meet the team: A/Prof. Wendy Burgers, CIDRI-Africa Contributing Investigator. Research interests: HIV, cellular immunology, HIV/TB co-infection, vaccines, mucosal immunology
https://buff.ly/4aDcQgA
#CIDRITeam
Professor Wendy Burgers | University of Cape Town
Division of Medical Virology Selected publications |  Contact details | Group members | Collaborations Professor, Division of M
buff.ly
February 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM