Staff

Please click on a person for more information:

Anneke C. Hesseling
Director - Distinguished Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health

Anneke C. Hesseling

Director - Distinguished Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health

Anneke Hesseling is a Distinguished Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health at Stellenbosch University, where she holds the SARChI chair in paediatric tuberculosis. Anneke has been conducting clinical TB research in children in settings with a high-burden of TB and HIV in South Africa and globally for 18 years. The focus of her research is improved and safe TB preventive strategies for HIV-infected and uninfected children, adolescents, pregnant women and households through chemotherapy and vaccination, improved treatment strategies for drug-susceptible and resistant TB disease, and improved TB diagnosis in HIV-infected and uninfected children. Her group also has a strong focus on epidemiology, implementation science and health systems strengthening and advocacy for paediatric TB.

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Anneen van Deventer
Laboratory Manager

Anneen van Deventer

Laboratory Manager

Anneen van Deventer joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2013. She is responsible for all the laboratory aspects within the centre for DAIDS and non-DAIDS sponsored clinical trials, overseeing lab activities conducted at the admin hub as well as peripheral research sites. She has accumulated extensive experience over the last 9 years working on various HPTN and IMPAACT studies and is also listed as Laboratory Protocol Manager for UNITAID sponsored clinical trials. She works in close conjunction with external contracted laboratories and specialty laboratories ensuring lab set-up is executed correctly and all technical procedures are followed throughout the lifespan of the study. In addition, she is liaising closely with national and international collaborating labs promoting paediatric TB research outcomes.

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Carien Bekker
Research Clinician

Carien Bekker

Research Clinician

Carien Bekker is a paediatrician. She has a special interest in paediatric pulmonology and neurology, as well as adolescent health. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2022 and is primarily involved in the Covid Kids and the Umoya projects.

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Delphine Adams
Personal Assistant to the Director
Graeme Hoddinott
Socio-behavioural Science: Strategic Input

Graeme Hoddinott

Socio-behavioural Science: Strategic Input

Graeme Hoddinott has 15 years’ experience working in communities of highest TB and TB/HIV co-morbidity in South Africa. Much of his work has focused on young people. Since 2012, he has been responsible for the socio-behavioural science portfolio at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre, which includes being the in-country social science lead for a number of trials. Graeme also convenes a module for a masters-level methods on Transdisciplinary Health and Development Studies. His research expertise (that bridges between public health and social science) is focused on explicating the structural, systemic and operational processes underpinning public health interventions in high-burden contexts through rigorous mixed-method design and analyses.

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Gwynneth Hendricks
Communications and Community Advisory Board Liaison (CAB) Officer

Gwynneth Hendricks

Communications and Community Advisory Board Liaison (CAB) Officer

Gwynneth Hendricks has a personal and particular interest in the health and rights of women, adolescents, young adults (youth) and children.
She represent the Desmond Tutu TB Centre on the global IMPAACT CAB (ICAB) and the IMPAACT Leadership Group (ILG) and serves as advisor on the TB Trials Consortium Community Gwynneth Hendricks has a personal and particular interest in the health and rights of women, adolescents, young adults (youth) and children. She represent the Desmond Tutu TB Centre on the global IMPAACT CAB (ICAB) and the IMPAACT Leadership Group (ILG) and serves as advisor on the TB Trials Consortium Community.

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James Seddon
Research Clinician

James Seddon

Research Clinician

James Seddon is a paediatrician, who divides his time between clinical work and research. Clinical work takes place at St. Mary’s Hospital in London where he looks after children with complex infectious diseases. His research is undertaken at the Desmond Tutu TB centre, where he is part of a number of clinical trials and epidemiological research studies related to TB in children. James’ interests include mathematical modelling, biomarker evaluation, as well as pharmacokinetics and safety of TB drugs for children. In additional, he has experience in operational research, health economic evaluations, microbiology and systematic reviews.

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Jennifer Hughes
Research Clinician

Jennifer Hughes

Research Clinician

Jennifer Hughes is a medical officer with over 10 years’ experience managing adults with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in South Africa. She now works at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre as a research doctor on pharmacokinetic studies looking at safety and dosing of new drugs and regimens in children and pregnant women with drug-resistant TB.

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Karen du Preez
Lead: Paediatric TB Operational/Implementation Science research

Karen du Preez

Lead: Paediatric TB Operational/Implementation Science research

Karen du Preez is a clinician with specialized training in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2008, and has considerable experience in operational, health-systems and implementation science research. Her specific research interests include epidemiological analyses of routine data, impact evaluation of health system strengthening interventions, spatial analyses and modelling to improve prevention, management, surveillance and disease estimates of childhood TB. Karen is passionate about improving child health in South Africa and globally, and committed to conduct high priority public health research. She is actively involved nationally and internationally to translate research into policy and practice.

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Kerry Nel
Research Clinician
Lario Viljoen
Socio-behavioural Science Lead

Lario Viljoen

Socio-behavioural Science Lead

Lario Viljoen is a sociobehavioural researcher with a background in Sociology. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2012 and has a special interest in sexual behaviour, intimate relationships, and health-related stigma. She works across various projects focusing on family dynamics, paediatric tubeculosis treatment acceptability, and patient linkage to care. She also manages communications for the Unitaid sponsored BENEFIT Kids project

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Louvina van der Laan
Research Clinician: Population pharmacokinetic modeling

Louvina van der Laan

Research Clinician: Population pharmacokinetic modeling

Louvina is a medical doctor with training in paediatrics (DCH) and clinical pharmacology (MPhil). Since 2014, she has been working as a clinical investigator at the pediatric pharmacokinetic research unit based at Brooklyn Chest TB Hospital in Cape Town.
She has a passion in improving treatment for children affected by TB and HIV, which is a critically important yet much neglected area of research. Few clinicians in South Africa have formal training in clinical pharmacology to support this emerging area of clinical research in children, so Louvina has decided to contribute to filling this gap and develop her career in clinical pharmacology research focused on paediatric TB. She enrolled for her PhD in 2018 with the plan to expand her knowledge and skills in pharmacometric modelling as a particular field of interest. While still dedicated to her clinical work, she is actively involved in the analysis of pharmacokinetic studies through pharmacokinetic modelling.

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Marieke van der Zalm
Research Clinician: Lead TB diagnostic studies and lung health platform

Marieke van der Zalm

Research Clinician: Lead TB diagnostic studies and lung health platform

Marieke van der Zalm is a paediatrician with a keen interest in paediatric infectious diseases and respiratory medicine. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2014 to be able to combine her knowledge on respiratory pathogens and lung function measurements gained in the Netherlands, with clinical research on TB in children within a high TB/HIV burden setting. Marieke has experience in large paediatric cohort studies and clinical trials. Her specific interest is in the impact of TB and other respiratory pathogens on lung health in children.

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Megan Palmer
Research Clinician

Megan Palmer

Research Clinician

Megan is a South African paediatrician who joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2013. Megan spent her first 5 years at Desmond Tutu TB Centre working on the diagnostic platform’s diagnostic cohort studies and clinical trials. She moved across to the Desmond Tutu TB Centre PK Unit in 2018 as Medical Director where she is investigator on several clinical trials which explore the pharmacokinetics and safety of TB drugs in children. Megan’s primary research interest is the use of imaging to diagnose and manage TB in children.

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Peter Bock
Lead Clinical Researcher

Peter Bock

Lead Clinical Researcher

Peter Bock is a medical doctor, with a background in family Medicine and public health, working as a principal investigator at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre. Peter has a particular interest in HIV and TB prevention clinical trials and in strengthening and advancing the primary health care approach, inclusive of a strong community-based platform, for HIV and TB care. Prior to working at the Centre, Peter was head of a large prevention of mother to child transmission programme across four provinces in South Africa. In this role, and previously as an antiretroviral treatment programme manager, he gained valuable insights into challenges faced in the delivery of clinic and community-based interventions.

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Peter Donald
Advisor and Mentor

Peter Donald

Advisor and Mentor

Peter Donald is emeritus professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. He has a wide range of interests in tuberculosis, predominantly in childhood tuberculosis; in particular tuberculous meningitis and the epidemiology and natural history of tuberculosis. He has been active in the assessment of antituberculosis agents in children and adults for thirty-five years and associated with the DTTC since its inception.

He retired from a full-time post of ad hominem professor at Stellenbosch University in 2004, but remains active as a part-time clinical researcher, an advisor and mentor for a variety of tuberculosis research programmes. When not working he enjoys the unique flora of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, hiking and cross-country running and likes to pretend that he can play the recorder. He held an A2 rating from the National Research Foundation of South Africa from 2008-2018. In 2010 received the “Union Medal” of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease for his contribution to promoting child lung health.

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Regina Gioio
Clinical sub-investigator

Regina Gioio

Clinical sub-investigator

Regina Gioio joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in January 2022. She has experience working as a Clinical Medical Officer at Tygerberg Hospital in the Department of Paediatrics. She has also worked in Primary Care Clinics in the City of Cape Town and in General Practice.

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Rory Dunbar
Data Centre Manager

Rory Dunbar

Data Centre Manager

Rory Dunbar, who joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2006, is responsible for the formulation, implementation and management of high quality data collection policies and procedures for the data centre. He provides consultation on data management, GIS, epidemiology and analysis to principal investigators, postgraduate students, collaborators, health departments and National Health Laboratory Services. Rory is a member of the strategic task group working on developing a system for improved Information and Communication Technology in Research at Stellenbosch University. He has a strong interest in using data science, operational modelling and business intelligence in Health Systems Strengthening and the use of data-driven methods in healthcare improvement and cost reduction.

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Simon H. Schaaf
Senior Specialist in Paediatrics and Child Health

Simon H. Schaaf

Senior Specialist in Paediatrics and Child Health

Simon Schaaf is a distinguished Professor and senior specialist in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at Stellenbosch University. He is an active clinician and infectious diseases subspecialist. With extensive experience in tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis in children, Simon co-edited the book: Tuberculosis: a comprehensive clinical reference (2009). He has published extensively, with the emphasis of his research on childhood TB with special focus on MDR-TB and antituberculosis drug pharmacokinetics in children.

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Sterna Brand
Human Resources Manager

Sterna Brand

Human Resources Manager

Sterna Brand has over 10 years of human resources and people development experience. She has trained in all aspects of HR management including performance management, conflict resolution, mediation, recruitment and selection as well as labour legislation. With an interest in human behaviour, Sterna uses psychological principles to solve problems in the work place, improve work place productivity and enhance employee wellness. Her experience in coaching assists employees with personal and career development in order to reach their full potential.

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Sue-Ann Meehan
Senior Researcher: Implementation Science

Sue-Ann Meehan

Senior Researcher: Implementation Science

Sue-Ann Meehan is a research psychologist with a passion for public health. Since joining the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2008, she has gained a wealth of experience in leading implementation science projects that have focused on access to health services, TB and HIV prevention, linkage to care and improved patient outcomes. She has a special interest in maternal TB. Her other interests include research ethics, socio-behavioural science and health economics. Sue-Ann remains actively committed to working closely with health services to strengthen the TB and HIV programs in South Africa.

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Susan Purchase
Research Clinician

Susan Purchase

Research Clinician

Susan Purchase is a clinician with experience in the management of paediatric HIV and an interest in TB prevention in children. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2016 and has worked primarily on the TB CHAMP (Child Multidrug-Resistant Preventative Therapy) trial, leading the Desmond Tutu TB Centre CHAMP team.

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Theodore Smith
Logistics Manager

Theodore Smith

Logistics Manager

Theo Smith joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2015 and is responsible for the overall logistics at the Centre. He provides logistical support to the central administrative hub as well as the peripheral research sites. Theo oversees vehicle fleet management and reporting, office space and rental agreements, on and off-site storage facilities, asset management and verification, procurement purchase authorisation and finance payments certification, tender management, non-research contracts management, overseeing the non-trial insurance portfolio of the centre and responsible for the occupational health and safety at the centre.

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Vikesh T. Naidoo
Quality Assurance Manager

Vikesh T. Naidoo

Quality Assurance Manager

Vikesh Naidoo joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2012 and has been responsible for regulatory, quality assurance and study coordination. He has served on the Stellenbosch University Health Research Ethics Committee since 2013. In 2022, Vikesh was appointed as a Quality Assurance Manager. Vikesh has worked in the research environment for 20 years and has a strong interest in using a combination of structured methods to conduct and evaluate research quality.

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Affiliated Staff
Anne-Marie Demers
DTTC Microbiologist and Laboratory Director

Anne-Marie Demers

DTTC Microbiologist and Laboratory Director

Anne-Marie Demers is a medical doctor from Montreal, Canada with specialist training in Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology. She joined the Desmond Tutu TB centre in 2015. She oversees all laboratory aspects of ongoing DTTC studies and the diagnostic platform. She is also the protocol microbiologist on various paediatric TB clinical trials. She is working on harmonization of TB laboratory methods for the IMPAACT and ACTG network.

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Anthony Garcia-Prats
Medical Director: Brooklyn Chest Hospital Pharmacokinetics Unit

Anthony Garcia-Prats

Medical Director: Brooklyn Chest Hospital Pharmacokinetics Unit

Anthony Garcia-Prats is a paediatrician who spent six years doing paediatric HIV work in Lesotho and Tanzania before joining the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2012. His primary interests include multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in children and the optimal treatment and use of antituberculosis drugs in children, including pharmacokinetics and safety, and paediatric antituberculosis drug development. He is involved in and leading multiple phase I, II and phase III trials of TB drugs in children. He is committed to high-impact clinical research, teaching and capacity building, clinical care, and leadership, to the benefit of underserved children in resource-limited settings.

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Elisa Lopez Varela
Post-doctoral research fellow/Paediatric specialist

Elisa Lopez Varela

Post-doctoral research fellow/Paediatric specialist

Elisa Lopez Varela is a paediatrician who joined the Desmond Tutu TB centre in 2017. She holds an affiliation at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, where she leads and participates in several TB and HIV research studies. Her research interests are focused on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in children and the science of implementation around the TB and HIV care cascade in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Florian Marx
Senior Researcher

Florian Marx

Senior Researcher

Florian Marx is a senior researcher, who holds a joint appointment between the Desmond Tutu TB Centre and the South African Centre in Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), where he coordinates a joint Tuberculosis Modelling Partnership and Research Programme and leads the Working Group Data Analysis and Modelling. With a background in epidemiology and having completed a 3-year research fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Yale School of Public Health, Florian has focused his research on the epidemiology of tuberculosis and the public health impact of TB control interventions with a particular focus on high-incidence settings

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Muhammad Osman
Research Clinician

Muhammad Osman

Research Clinician

Muhammad Osman is a clinician and epidemiologist with significant health management experience in South Africa. Muhammad completed an MSc Epidemiology as a Fogarty Fellow in 2015 and his PhD in 2021 as a South African MRC Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme recipient. He has an interest in TB epidemiology with a focus on mortality and has expanded his work into the area of mathematical modelling. He is also a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich and an honorary lecturer, Health Policy and Systems, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town.

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Rosa Sloot
Research Fellow

Rosa Sloot

Research Fellow

Rosa Sloot is an epidemiologist who joined the Desmond Tutu TB Centre in 2016. She holds an MSc Public Health Research and obtained her PhD in the epidemiology of tuberculosis at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Netherlands. Rosa Sloot has more than 10 years of experience in the design, statistical analysis and management of retrospective studies using routine data to improve prevention and diagnosis of TB, HIV and noncommunicable diseases. Other areas of interest include the use of electronic medical records to estimate treatment effects and the burden of disease.

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Elisabetta Walters
Clinical lead: paediatric TB diagnostic research

Elisabetta Walters

Clinical lead: paediatric TB diagnostic research

Elisabetta Walters is a clinician scientist with specialist training in Paediatrics, who joined the Desmond Tutu TB centre in 2009. She is responsible for the provision of a rigorous platform to investigate novel strategies to improve diagnosis and characterise treatment response in children with pulmonary TB, including the use of stool and other samples. Other areas of interest include infectious diseases and the immunological basis for disease.

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