HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Units University of Cape Town CTU 2020 to 2027

PROJECT SUMMARY
The University of Cape Town Clinical Trials Unit (UCTCTU) is based at the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre in
Cape Town, South Africa. The CTU’s primary goal is to provide a highly efficient, effective, and integrated
Clinical Trials Unit that contributes to the global epidemic control of HIV and Tuberculosis. The UCTCTU has
the capacity, capability and competence to deliver world standard clinical trials in HIV, tuberculosis, and STI
treatment and prevention in a broad range of populations.
One of the core advantages of the UCTCTU is its location in Southern Africa. Recent reports estimate that
of the 36.9 million people living with HIV globally, 25.7 million are living in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, the sub-
continent faces significant challenges in delivering treatments and methods of prevention but also stands to
make a significant contribution to innovation and progress. In addition to its key location, the UCTCTU
provides world-class scientific leadership, administrative support, and common infrastructure. This enables
six well-established, diverse Clinical Research Sites to contribute cohesively to the research agenda of the
four NIH funded networks. Each of the Clinical Research Sites are located in communities around Cape Town
where the burden of HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases is high. Thus, the research agenda of the NIH is
being fulfilled in communities where treatment and prevention is needed most.
Based at the University of Cape Town, this CTU is accommodated and supported by an institution that is
consistently ranked the best university in Africa, with a Health Science Faculty recently ranked in the Top
100 globally. All Clinical Research Sites have access to high-quality laboratories, with arguably the finest
scientific expertise and best medical diagnostic and investigative resources in the country. The consortium
of Clinical Research Sites are all components and affiliates of the University of Cape Town and thus share
the same or similar management platforms, supporting and amplifying efficiencies and synergies.

Grant Number: 5UM1AI069519-20
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Linda-Gail Bekker