South African Medical Research Council

Positive Results Announced in Largest Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of a First-in-Class Oral Antibiotic to Treat Uncomplicated Gonorrhea

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수요일, 11월 1, 2023
Health, Infectious Diseases, Clinical Trials, Research, Science, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Grand duchy, Food, Face, VWS, Disease, Gonorrhea, MHLW, Partnership, The Lancet, National Rural Development Partnership, Infection, Nursing care plan, Reproduction, SAMRC, Azithromycin, Hope, Physician, Prevalence, HIV, Ceftriaxone, BMBF, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, University, Therapy, Patient, Food and Drug Administration, Infertility, DFID, Heart, BMG, NIAID, MD, DHSC, AMR, BZ, Clinical trial, World Health Organization, Zoliflodacin, Woman, Multidrug-resistant bacteria, FOPH, South African Medical Research Council, Death, Ministry, Pharmaceutical industry, Vaccine, Medicine

These positive preliminary findings offer hope for patients with this condition, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance to current regimens.

Key Points: 
  • These positive preliminary findings offer hope for patients with this condition, particularly in the face of rising antibiotic resistance to current regimens.
  • It also paves the way for a new research and development model in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • Now, the positive results of this landmark Phase 3 trial confirm that zoliflodacin has the potential to tackle the most difficult-to-treat gonorrhea infections.
  • This builds on the critical Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Measles and whooping cough outbreaks in South Africa: a sign of low vaccination coverage, experts warn

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목요일, 6월 15, 2023
Vaccine, Gaps, Seizure, Cold medicine, Immunization, Vaccination, Vaccine-preventable diseases, Education, South African Medical Research Council, Parent, COVID-19, Infection, Measles vaccine, Whooping cough, Immunity, World Health Organization, Diphtheria, Research, Brain damage, Vaccine hesitancy, History, UNICEF, Measles, Cough, Death, Health, Cholera, Child, Tetanus, Sneeze, WHO, World, Safety, Pneumonia, Caregiver, Disease, Pharmaceutical industry

Worldwide, in the decades 2000-2020, childhood vaccination led to the reduction of deaths in children under 5 by 50% to 5.4 million deaths per year.

Key Points: 
  • Worldwide, in the decades 2000-2020, childhood vaccination led to the reduction of deaths in children under 5 by 50% to 5.4 million deaths per year.
  • These are deaths that would have been caused by measles, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, pneumonia, rotavirus diarrhoea, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Scientists from the South African Medical Research Council explain why these diseases continue to threaten children’s health in the country.

The country currently has outbreaks of several diseases. What are they?

    • It is the second most frequently reported disease outbreak in Africa after cholera.
    • Up to 10% of children under five years of age who develop measles die from complications of the disease.
    • A child requires two doses of the measles vaccine to develop protective immunity against the disease.
    • The two doses of the measles vaccine are given at 6 and 12 months of age in South Africa.

These diseases are preventable. What’s behind the spread?

    • The resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in South Africa is due to immunity gaps caused by low vaccination coverage.
    • A national survey conducted from July to December 2019 found that only 81% of children had received all their vaccine doses scheduled up to 12 months of age in South Africa.

What’s the cause of the gaps in immunisation?

    • This has led to an increase in the number of children who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
    • Structural barriers such as vaccine availability and access to health facilities are well known to reduce vaccination coverage.
    • This has had a dramatic impact on routine immunisation services and ultimately reduced vaccine coverage over the years.

What steps can be taken to close these gaps?


    Globally, many initiatives exist to improve childhood immunization, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Within the context of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) programme, WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, are launching the “Big Catch-Up” initiative. This initiative aims to support countries like South Africa to plan and implement intensified efforts to bolster immunisation. It has three main objectives:
    • Interventions that are focused on improving the healthcare system include cold-chain infrastructure improvements to ensure availability and access to vaccines.
    • Informing and providing education to caregivers and healthcare workers has also been effective increasing vaccination in children in cases where parents were hesitant.
    • However, not enough research is done on interventions to dispel misinformation and misconception regarding immunisation, which is one of the leading causes of vaccine hesitancy.

Global Health Study Validates Biospectal OptiBP Mobile Blood Pressure Measurement App Accuracy Across Diverse Settings

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목요일, 5월 25, 2023
Medical Devices, Health, Telemedicine, Virtual Medicine, Health Technology, General Health, Cardiology, Blood pressure, Pressure, Pregnancy, University, Smartphone, World Health Organization, University of Global Health Equity, HDP, Global health, Research, Ifakara Health Institute, Pulse, Digital health, HRP, Nursing, Hypertension, Grand Challenges Canada, Reading, Disease, South African Medical Research Council, Mortality, Death, Medical device, Pharmaceutical industry

Biospectal SA , the remote patient monitoring and biosensing software company, today announced the publication of global health study results published in Nature’s NPJ Digital Medicine of the first independent research and validation study to use Biospectal’s mobile blood pressure monitoring app, OptiBP™ in low-resource urban and rural settings.

Key Points: 
  • Biospectal SA , the remote patient monitoring and biosensing software company, today announced the publication of global health study results published in Nature’s NPJ Digital Medicine of the first independent research and validation study to use Biospectal’s mobile blood pressure monitoring app, OptiBP™ in low-resource urban and rural settings.
  • The Biospectal OptiBP app calculates pressure using pulse wave analysis through a smartphone’s camera lens.
  • Biospectal’s OptiBP app was identified in the WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies along with Grand Challenges Canada as an innovative solution for low-resource health systems.
  • “This research shows that OptiBP has the potential to transform lives and improve global health by offering people a simple yet painstakingly reliable way to track their blood pressure.

Audere and South Africa-Based Medical Diagnostech Partner to Bring Africa’s First Home-Grown COVID-19 Antigen Test to Market with Digital Companion App

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금요일, 3월 11, 2022
Research, Technology, Infectious Diseases, Software, Philanthropy, Biotechnology, General Health, Health, Foundation, Science, South African Medical Research Council, ISO, HIV, Disease management, Health Products Regulatory Authority, Pregnancy, Department, Partnership, Research, Public health, Machine learning, Google Play, Accreditation, App Store (iOS/iPadOS), Membrane protein, Investment, Technology Innovation Agency, Bill, SAMRC, Department of Science and Innovation, MD, Artificial intelligence, Capsid, Health equity, SAHPRA, Solution, COVID-19, Innovation, Global health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Immunity, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Infection, Malaria, Medical device, Mobile phone, Pharmaceutical industry, Audere, Medical Diagnostech, AUDERE, MEDICAL DIAGNOSTECH

Access to aggregated test data will provide a comprehensive understanding of disease prevalence, enabling more informed surveillance and disease management.

Key Points: 
  • Access to aggregated test data will provide a comprehensive understanding of disease prevalence, enabling more informed surveillance and disease management.
  • As a South African, I have first-hand experience with the test inequity challenges faced by individuals in my country.
  • I feel extreme pride to partner with Medical Diagnostech and support the roll-out of a COVID-19 rapid test made on the continent, for the continent.
  • The increased public health reporting capabilities enabled by digitizing rapid diagnostic test result data are crucial to South Africas evolving public health strategy.

Infectious Disease Research Institute Exits Receivership and Launches AAHI, the Access to Advanced Health Institute, with $50 Million Funding Commitment

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수요일, 3월 2, 2022
Health, Infectious Diseases, Practice Management, Other Health, Research, Science, Biotechnology, Drive, Medicine, Nature, RNA, Board, COVID-19, Allergy, Disease, University of Oxford, Infectious Disease Research Institute, IDRI, Degenerative disease, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Vaccine, White House, MPH, Government, South African Medical Research Council, LinkedIn, Solution, Development, Needle, CEO, Division, Non-governmental organization, Access, COVID, Director, Oxford, OMS, Temperature, Medical degree, Parasitism, Technology, Coronavirus, Immune system, Fungus, Physician, Doctor of Science, Immunotherapy, Science, University, Board of directors, Geography, Glas, Cancer, CBE, Health, BARDA, Pharmaceutical industry, Management, MD, Research, ImmunityBio

AAHI will continue with the direction and guidance of its new Board of Directors and executive team on solid financial footing.

Key Points: 
  • AAHI will continue with the direction and guidance of its new Board of Directors and executive team on solid financial footing.
  • AAHI launches with multi-year commitments for over $50 million dollars, including recent licensing agreements with partners such as the prominent immunotherapy company ImmunityBio, Inc.
  • Our new name, Access to Advanced Health Institute, reflects our ongoing emphasis on advancing science that enables global equitable access to effective, efficient, broad, and durable vaccines and therapeutics.
  • For nearly three decades, AAHI, previously known as the Infectious Disease Research Institute, has focused on creating immune-enhancing technologies that improve the bodys natural response to disease.