5th November 2024
Prof K Dheda was an award recipient in the 2024 National Research Foundation Awards.
18th December 2023
Growing up in India, which for decades has clocked millions of tuberculosis cases each year, Lalita Ramakrishnan was intimately familiar with how devastating the disease can be. The world’s greatest infectious killer, rivaled only by SARS-CoV-2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis spreads through the air and infiltrates the airways, in many cases destroying the lungs.
28th November 2023
One reason why so much TB and HIV research can be done in South Africa is quite simply that we have large epidemics of both diseases here. Around 13% of South Africa’s population are living with HIV.
17th November 2023
“Almost a third of newly ill patients with TB globally remain undetected or undiagnosed,” Dr. Keertan Dheda, professor of TB research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, wrote to The Epoch Times. This can be due to poor diagnostic techniques and difficulty accessing care.
19th October 2023
Together with Prof. Dr. Keertan Dheda from the University of Cape Town, clinical scientists from the Research Center Borstel are investigating the impact of tNGS technology on the treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB in a clinical trial in South Africa.
18th March 2023
The study by the US National Institute of Health and the South African Medical Research Council embarked on a case finding of undiagnosed TB in Mitchells Plain and Klipfontein in Cape Town.
Ntsika Majiba from The Argus recently caught up with the researchers for an interview.
11th March 2023
The fight against TB continues.
And health professionals are making strides in monitoring and identifying new cases.
A study conducted in Mitchell’s Plain and Klipfontein utilises a low-cost scalable mobile mini-clinic, operated by two health care workers. The clinics portable battery-operated DNA-based diagnostics tools are used to identify or track active. This replaces the older smear-microscopy diagnostic methodology.
Professor Keertan Dheda from the University of Cape Town and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine joins me now live to tell us more about this.
9th March 2023
“Rapid treatment initiation remains the most effective way of rendering patients non-infectious. Thus, the XACT case finding strategy could be linked to new advances in TB treatment characterised by shortening of treatment regimens for both drug-sensitive and resistant TB”, said Dheda, PI.
27th January 2023
According to the World Health Organization, of the roughly 10 million people who fall ill with TB annually, over 80% survive.
Unfortunately, as with long Covid, being cured of TB is not always the last hurdle and many people go on to struggle with post-TB lung disease.
Tiyese Jeranji asked local experts about this sometimes-neglected area of TB care.
24th January 2023
In 2022, many authors bring new findings, practical information on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to thoracic disease to our journal. Their articles published with us have received very well feedback in the field and stimulate a lot of discussions and new insights among the peers.
Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding authors who have been making immense efforts in their research fields, with a brief interview of their unique perspectives and insightful views as authors.
3rd November 2022
A South African public health expert has called on authorities to increase efforts to find tuberculosis (TB) cases instead of waiting for patients to arrive at clinics when they are already at risk of dying.
Sipokazi Fokazi from Times Live reports.
27th October 2022
Covid-19 set back the battle against tuberculosis. But it also points the way forward.
Read more in The Economist.
25th October 2022
Our podcast on science and technology. This week, we examine why the pandemic shattered global efforts to control tuberculosis, and ask whether innovations from the covid era could turn the tide against the disease.
Podcasts | Babbage - The Economist
19th October 2022
Prof. Keertan Dheda - Director of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity at the University of Cape Town - was recently a guest on SAfm, The Talking Point.
27th September 2022
13th June 2022
HIV has seen large increases in TB cases in the last few decades. Watch UCT's head of Pulmonology and Respiratory Services, Professor Keertan Dheda discuss this with eNCA's Gareth Edwards. Courtesy of #DStv403
19th May 2022
BTZ-043 was profiled in an early phase development study at the UCTLI, sponsored by the EDCTP and German funds in 2019
28th April 2022
Prof Rod Dawson, Managing Director of the UCT Lung Institute attends the handover of two Ford Custom Transporter vehicles from Mekor Ford Claremont
7th April 2022
UCT Lung Institute prides itself in having a strong partnership with the community we serve
30th March 2022
Professor Keertan Dheda, head of the University of Cape Town’s Division of Pulmonology, and of Respiratory Services speaks to Spotlight
26th March 2022
There was a significant reduction in tuberculosis (TB) testing and case detection across South Africa in the past two years
26th March 2022
TB is still a major problem in South Africa, mostly in the third world, but it can be cured, provided you get treatment
24th March 2022
World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 to build the fight toward ending the global epidemic of TB
24th March 2022
Watch this special programme featuring TB champions and medical specialists on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, 24 March
24th March 2022
A recently published study by academics from the University of Cape Town (UCT) has signaled a paradigm shift in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
24th March 2022
23rd March 2022
The global tuberculosis burden remains substantial, with more than 10 million people newly ill per year
22nd March 2022
In many African countries, there were more deaths from tuberculosis than from COVID-19
8th June 2021
8 June 2021 | Issue 59 There is a Setswana proverb that goes Motho ke Motho ka batho. In isiZulu, it goes umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. As we commemorated […]
19th May 2021
UCT News | 19 May 2021 | Niémah Davids The ground-breaking XACT Model project, which seeks to advance community-based active case finding (ACF) of tuberculosis (TB) […]
17th May 2021
17 May 2021 | Story Niémah Davids. Read time 7 min. The ground-breaking XACT Model project, which seeks to advance community-based active case finding (ACF) of tuberculosis (TB) […]
29th April 2021
spotlight – 29th April 2021 | Tiyese Jeranji South Africa’s first National TB Prevalence Survey (findings of which were published earlier this year) found that in […]
14th April 2021
spotlight – 14th April 2021 | Tiyese Jeranji After various delays and setbacks, new, less toxic, short-course tuberculosis (TB) prevention therapy is finally being launched in […]
28th March 2021
eNCA – Mar 28, 2021 COVID-19 has sidelined the testing and treatment for other infectious diseases like Tubercolosis. Health experts fear the focus on COVID-19 may […]
4th November 2020
19th October 2020 | Amy Green If the world had forgotten the importance of vaccines, COVID-19 has served as a stark reminder. Less than a year […]
13th October 2020
By Amy Green for Spotlight • 19 October 2020 In recent months, the world has seen unprecedented investment in new vaccines. Yet, while a Covid-19 vaccine […]
4th September 2020
EWN | Kevin Brandt | 04 September 2020 Researchers said 1,783 participants had so far been enrolled in the randomised control trial nationally. CAPE TOWN – Participant […]
1st September 2020
Health24 | Updated 01 September 2020 SA has been consolidating its place in the race towards a Covid-19 vaccine, with its involvement in three international clinical […]
28th August 2020
BusinessTech | Staff Writer | 28 August 2020 Coronavirus: Global Covid-19 infections have hit 24.2 million confirmed, with the death toll reaching 826,000. In South Africa, […]
11th August 2020
The Union, 11 August 2020 Partner sponsored content The Union presents a series of special webinar sessions, organised and paid for by our partners to showcase […]
1st August 2020
EWN | 01 August 2020 At least 11,014 new cases have been reported in the country, pushing the cumulative total to 493,183. CAPE TOWN – South […]
31st July 2020
EWN | 31 July 2020 The first eight candidates in the province were enrolled in the randomised control trial at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) […]
22nd July 2020
News24 – 22 July 2020 The Hospital of Hope at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Murray Williams, News24 While some in the Western Cape are […]
13th July 2020
13 July 2020 | Story Niémah Davids. Photo Adobe Stock. Read time 6 min. As Covid-19 surges, Gauteng hospitals and clinics are running out of oxygen. […]
24th March 2020
8th November 2019
SAMRC 50th GALA Event – 07 November 2019 – CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria Cape Town | The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) will tonight honour […]
11th October 2019
12th April 2019
08 – 09 April 2019 Partners from Statens Serum Institut, Aeras Africa, Ospedale San Raffaele, South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, The Aurum Institute, TASK Applied Science, […]
25th September 2018
The story of Goodman Mkhanda In the world of tuberculosis it is often said that ‘it takes a village to cure TB’, and in the case […]
19th December 2017
15 December 2017 | Story Nadia Krige In recognition of his excellent contributions to the field of pulmonology – with a specific focus on tuberculosis (TB) […]
20th November 2017
13 November 2017 | Story Michael Morris. Photo Supplied. Professor Heather Zar has been announced as the 2018 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Laureate for Africa and […]
25th September 2017
The Ultra’s combination of a lower limit of detection and ability to find dead bacilli after starting TB therapy vastly improves sensitivity compared to other tests, […]
1st May 2017
SAfm, Morning talk, 1 May 2017
24th March 2017
BBC Newsday, 24 March 2017
26th February 2017
Prof Dheda interviewed on Cape Talk Radio
26th February 2017
Prof Dheda interviewed on The Koketso Sachane Show
9th February 2017
Tuberculosis has killed more than a billion people over the last two centuries. A new UCT-led study had the myriad undiagnosed cases of the highly infectious […]
7th February 2017
The rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis has taken a new, horrifying turn. According to scientists, as a result of patients not finishing their treatments for tuberculosis (TB), […]
7th February 2017
eNCA channel 403 DSTV, 7 February 2017
6th February 2017
An estimated 35,000 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases were recorded in South Africa in 2014. CAPE TOWN – A University of Cape Town researcher says there’s been a […]
30th January 2017
The rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis has taken a new, horrifying turn. While various strains of TB, with varying degrees of resistance to drugs, have wreaked havoc […]
30th January 2017
URGENT action, including rapid diagnosis, better access to medication, improved home-based care and more community-stay facilities for patients, is crucial in addressing the rising transmission and […]
30th January 2017
The rise of incurable tuberculosis (TB) underscores the need to address poverty, overcrowding and the HIV epidemic in Africa, experts say. A study which tracked more […]
26th January 2017
A recent landmark trial showed 53% more patients initiated therapy for tuberculosis (TB) after a new DNA-based diagnostic tool was used to screen for the disease […]
23rd January 2017
Cape Town | TB researchers suggest that urgent action, including rapid diagnosis, wider access to newer and repurposed drugs, and bolstering home-based care and building long […]
20th January 2017
Cape Town | A recent randomized controlled trial revealed that 53% more patients initiated therapy for tuberculosis (TB) after a new diagnostic tool (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) was used […]
10th November 2016
An audit conducted by the City shows that 42 percent of children exposed to TB patients have not been screened for the disease. UCT head of […]
15th March 2016
Test enables a diagnosis in 20 minutes and earlier anti TB treatment A rapid, and simple to use, low-cost urine sample to test for TB at […]
27th January 2016
Tuberculosis often lies undetected in the very patients it is most likely to kill: HIV positive patients. But a urine test could change that. A new […]
21st September 2015
Newsroom, 21 September 2015
7th May 2015
You have a relentless, hacking cough that just won’t go away, but you don’t think it’s anything serious. It could be because of the change of […]
12th August 2014
Teamwork: Dr Rod Dawson (right) and his team of (from left) Thami Mlonyeni, Bernie Isaacs, Michelle Evreva, Dr Kim Narunsky, Gloria Vusani, Lizette Rooi, and Suraya […]
2nd June 2014
“My life has stopped. I don’t want anyone to go through what I’m going through,” 36-year-old Kirt tells me through the facemask that holds back the […]
31st May 2014
UCT researchers have been nominated for BHP Billiton Awards for their work in the fight against tuberculosis, from using satellite tracking to identify “super spreaders”, to […]
28th May 2014
“Sometimes I ask myself, why me? Why did this have to happen again?” says 31-year-old Andile from the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, South Africa. “But […]
27th March 2014
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a huge problem throughout the world. South Africa is particularly hard hit by the disease. It is one of only two countries […]
22nd March 2014
A sampling device identifies ‘superspreaders’ who cough up live TB bacteria A face mask with satellite-tracking will show where patients go in the community The team […]
17th March 2014
Watch the video.
22nd January 2014
The spread of a virtually untreatable form of tuberculosis in South Africa is being fueled by the release of infected patients into the general community, according […]
17th January 2014
Patients with incurable and highly infectious tuberculosis (TB) were being routinely discharged from hospital to die at home, putting friends, family and people in tehir community […]
17th January 2014
Patients with contagious and highly drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) are being routinely discharged from hospitals across South Africa, exposing others in their communities to potentially deadly infections, […]
6th January 2014
Health experts are trying to tackle an increase in a highly infectious drug-resistant form of TB which could leave London on the cusp of a TB […]
29th October 2013
An on-the-spot sputum test for tuberculosis works better than the commonly-used, 125-year-old microscope method, but did not reduce illness in a southern African trial, a study […]
28th October 2013
Point-of-care Xpert MTB/RIF tuberculosis testing is associated with more patients getting same-day diagnosis and having same-day treatment initiation but does not result in improved tuberculosis-related morbidity, […]
28th October 2013
PARIS – An on-the-spot sputum test for tuberculosis works better than the commonly-used, 125-year-old microscope method, but did not reduce illness in a southern African trial, a […]
23rd July 2013
Prof. Dheda interviewed on Power FM
12th June 2013
A new clinical trial by the UCT Lung Institute’s Centre for TB Research Innovation (CTBRI) is not only innovative in design and in its collaborative nature, […]
12th April 2013
Watch this informative video as uploaded to YouTube by EDCTP.
1st September 2011
UCT won no less than three nominations – more than any other institution – when the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) recently recognised […]
8th June 2011
Malika Davids, a doctoral student in UCT’s Lung Infection and Immunity Unit in the Department of Medicine, certainly had her fellow delegates sitting up and taking […]
4th May 2011
Prof Keertan Dheda interviewed on SABC
15th April 2011
Splinternuwe masjiene wat vir die eerste keer middelweerstandige tuberkulose (MDR-TB) in staatshospitale kan diagnoseer,isdeurdiedepartementvangesondheid aangekoop. Download article Die Burger, 15 April 2011
13th November 2010
Dr Keertan Dheda, Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Cape Town, is the recipient of the 2010 Union Scientific Award, bestowed by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD). The annual global award honours a researcher under the age of 45 who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of tuberculosis and/or lung disease.
1st November 2010
Recent unprecedented efforts have led to an expanded tuberculosis diagnostic pipeline, and, in September, publication of the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF in a large multicentre trial […]
21st September 2010
UCT researchers have shown that health workers in South Africa are contracting extensively drug-resistent tuberculosis (XDR-TB), the most serious form of the disease that is extremely […]
13th September 2010
The controversial question of whether or not to incarcerate patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis came under the spotlight at a workshop held at the Faculty of Health […]
19th May 2010
In The Lancet today, Keertan Dheda and co-authors present an interesting report about early treatment outcomes of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, any […]
14th May 2010
TB is the most common serious opportunistic infection that HIV-positive South Africans contract. TB patients who are tested for HIV can be put on antiretroviral treatment […]
1st May 2010
Data from Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, suggest that almost all patients with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis are HIV-positive, with a fatal outcome. Since, there are few […]
26th October 2009
Three specialists at UCT’s Lung Infection and Immunity Unit have won substantial US fellowships for their doctoral studies on tuberculosis. Download article Monday Paper, 26 October […]
23rd October 2009
Skin testing for tuberculosis, the current method used in South Africa as well as in the UK and Canada is being questioned by a top UCT […]