DST Centre of Excellence in Biomedical TB Research

Research at this Centre includes all aspects of TB diagnosis, testing & treatment. This includes the molecular and clinical point of view as well as genomic and proteomic studies of the TB Bacillus and its interaction with humans. With the third highest incidence rate and second highest mortality rate in the world, South Africa is facing a tuberculosis (TB) problem of such magnitude that this disease has been declared a national health emergency.

The rampant HIV co-epidemic plaguing this country has exacerbated the problem enormously. Although some improvements could be made in controlling TB through reform of existing control programmes, it is widely acknowledged that a quantum leap in the quality of tools for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of TB will be required if there is to be any hope at all of eradicating this devastating disease.

Contacts: Prof Paul van Helden
Tel +27 12 938 9401
Prof Val Mizrahi
Tel: +27 11 489 9370
Co-Hosted by Stellenbosch University and the University of the Witwatersrand.