Goals & objectives of intended research
- To promote clinical research and the translation of basic science into clinical research to improve diagnosis, prevention and management of specific priority childhood diseases that shape child health in South Africa with a focus on pneumonia, tuberculosis, HIV-associated lung diseases and chronic illnesses such as asthma.
- To translate clinical evidence into population-level interventions to improve child health through primary health care and community initiatives that can be applied in diverse settings across the country and the continent, with a focus on priority illnesses.
Specific objectives
- To expand and strengthen research and collaborations in child health to improve health in South Africa and the region.
- To develop a translational, cutting edge research program focused on childhood diseases including national priorities such as pneumonia, HIV and TB.
- To investigate the impact of early exposures including infectious diseases on child health and on the development of chronic disease.
- To increase understanding of the risk factors, host responses and long term outcome of early childhood illness.
- To enhance the health of children and adolescents by developing new strategies for diagnosis, management and prevention of diseases.
- To provide a platform for the training of clinician scientists in child health.
- To promote implementation of research findings into policy and practice.
Advocacy
The unit has a long history of involvement in advocacy for child health. Current contributions include guideline development and implementation, serving on national and international advisory boards for child health and involvement in initiatives concerned with raising the profile of child lung health.
Division highlights
Members of the division are involved in a wide range of paediatric pulmonology related activities. Professor Zar is the current President of the Pan African Thoracic Society and on the Forum of International Respiratory Societies. She was the first paediatrician to receive the World Lung Health award in 2014. Dr Zampoli is the current chair of the SA Cystic Fibrosis Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee and treasurer of the South African Pediatric Society (SAPA). Dr Vanker serves as the paediatric pulmonology representative on the South African Thoracic Society and Dr Gray a previous recipient of a Wellcome Trust Fellowship has been integral in developing infant lung function testing in South Africa.
Innovation
The impact of the Centre’s work is evidenced by specific advances in child lung health that have impacted on global practice, contributed to new knowledge and resulted in greater advocacy for implementation of strategies to improve child health. Examples of these are development of a low cost spacer for childhood asthma, pioneering the use of respiratory secretions and rapid testing for diagnosis of childhood TB and for use in childhood pneumonia and other diseases, novel strategies for prevention of HIV-associated lung disease such as primary isoniazid prophylaxis and development of infant and preschool lung function measurements for African children. Findings have influenced national and global guidelines such as World Health Organisation guidelines, the International Union against Tuberculosis guidelines for childhood TB and the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Research has strengthened advocacy for global child health, highlighting neglected and common illnesses and contributing to the development of appropriate technology and strategies for better care of children in poorly resourced areas.