CHRU has four Clinical Research Sites (CRS) in South Africa where it undertakes clinical trials. These are at:
CHRU’s sites have all demonstrated an outstanding ability to recruit study populations.
This is one of four academic hospitals of the University of the Witwatersrand. CHRU’s CRS here is located adjacent to the hospital and allows access to the hospital facilities for X-rays, CT scans, scopes, biopsies and in-patient wards. The hospital houses the Themba Lethu Clinic (TLC) which facilitates one of the largest patient population on ARV treatment in South Africa.
This research clinic also offers specialised management for complicated TB cases, as required by the research protocols. These include:
This is our first site set up to implement CHRU’s research agenda around Drug Resistant TB (DR TB). It is the referral site for all complicated DR TB cases including paediatric cases and Extensively Drug resistant TB (XDR TB).
We have also assumed clinical and management oversight of a DR TB site in Durban. This site is in the epicentre of the DR TB epidemic in South Africa. It is one of the highest enrolling sites for a number of trials.
The Eastern Cape CRS was recently opened as a new research division at the Empilweni TB Hospital in Port Elizabeth. It is called the IsangoLethemba TB Research Unit managed and supervised by CHRU. The participant community is located in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.
The core research work here is the treatment of tuberculosis with a particular focus on Drug Resistant TB (DR TB).
The goals of the drug trials are to:
The site will also strengthen the TB research capacity in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.
This CRS is associated with both the Empilweni TB Hospital and Jose Pearson TB Hospital.
It is only focused on clinical trials and does not provide other healthcare services.
CHRU’s research activities around TB are integrated with South Africa’s National TB Program (NTP).