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Dr Elisa Nemes completed her PhD in HIV-specific T-cell immunology in Italy and France in 2008. She then worked on paediatric immune responses to HIV and TB in Cameroon. Dr Nemes joined the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) at the University of Cape Town in 2011. She is involved in clinical trials of new tuberculosis vaccines, development of immunodiagnostics and basic immunological studies on adaptive and innate immunity to M. Tb in children, adolescents, and adults. Her research focuses on identifying immune correlates of protection from M.tb infection and TB disease, which can facilitate development and assessment of new vaccines.
Dr. Lee-Ann Davids is a medical doctor with vast experience in primary health with a dominant focus on HIV, Tuberculosis and Women’s Health. She has several years of experience as a research clinician in infectious diseases clinical trials. After completing her medical degree, she completed post graduate diplomas in Obstetrics and HIV Management. She subsequently completed a Masters Degree in Public Health. She serves as a co-chair on the South African TB Think Tank in the Optimising Treatment Outcomes Task Team. She currently occupies the position of Senior Scientist in the Office of AIDS and TB Research at the SAMRC.
Dr Mamothe Makgabo is a senior Technical Specialist at the Aurum Institute. She holds a BSc degree in Psychology and Biology, and an MBChB (Medunsa), Diploma in HIV Management (CMSA), Certificate in Advanced Health Care Management (FPD/ Yale) and Diploma in Occupational Health and master’s in public health (Wits University). She has about 20 years’ experience in HIV/TB management and has worked in different PEPFAR NGO’s in SA. She is part of the TB think Tank for the past 2 years. She has co-authored several publications and presented at a few conferences. She is passionate about capacity building of Health care workers and the delivery of good quality of care to patients.
A Medical Scientist, with a research focus on Mycobacterium tuberculosis with over 15 years’ experience. He currently head the the Centre for Tuberculosis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases/NHLS (South Africa), which incorporated the National & Supranational TB Reference Laboratories. He leads diagnostic evaluations, drug resistance determination and surveillance using next-generation sequencing, molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis and the application of novel technologies for these purposes. He has contributed to national and global policy guidance and facilitated national implementation of new TB diagnostics for routine laboratory use
Professor Kogie Naidoo, MBCHB, PhD, is Deputy Director and the Head of the Treatment Research Program at the Centre of the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). She is also a Honorary Associate Professor in the College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her research has shaped both local and international guidelines on TB-HIV treatment integration. She serves on the WHO HIV Treatment guidelines Committee and the WHO TB-HIV Technical Working Group, and as a board member of the South African HIV Clinicians Society. Dr Naidoo received the 2013 Union Scientific Prize awarded by the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
Assoc. Prof Limakatso Lebina (MBChB, Dip. In HIV Man., MPH, PhD) is a clinical trials unit lead at Africa Health Research Institute, and Associate Professor at University College London. She has managed multiple clinical trials as well as implementation research studies on HIV, TB and COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Prof. Lebina was the lead writer and technical expert consultant on TB objectives and interventions for the recently launched South African National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs 2023 – 2028. She has co-authored over 70 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at local and international conferences.
Mohlopheni is Faculty member at AHRI and an Associate Professor at UCL. His laboratory’s primary research interest is on immunopathogenesis of Tuberculosis, with an aim of developing host-directed therapies targeting lung inflammation. His other interests are in understanding strategies utilized by mycobacteria to survive the immune system. Work in his lab is funded by SAMRC, Wellcome Trust and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition to his current positions at UCL and AHRI, Marakalala is also a Visiting Scientist at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and he maintains an affiliation with UCT as an Honorary Research Associate.
Dr Nkateko Mkhondo is a medical doctor and public health specialist who currently serves as the Technical Officer for TB at the World Health Organisation (WHO). Her role primarily focuses on; supporting the National TB Programme and key stakeholders in the TB response, in generating evidence through research, development of normative guidance, and adaptation of global best practices to the local context. She has provided technical leadership in periodic programme reviews, and TB priority studies, such as the National TB Prevalence survey and the National TB Patient Cost survey. Recently her role has included support for the COVID-19 emergency response in KwaZulu-Natal as part of the WHO mandate. Dr. Mkhondo has extensive clinical and public health experience in the TB and HIV programmes. Her experience over the years spans the public health sector, and non-governmental organizations, in both local and international settings. She completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Pretoria and holds a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University, as well as a postgraduate Diploma in HIV Management from Colleges of Medicine South Africa.
Dr. Mkhondo has a deep passion for improving the TB and HIV programs in South Africa and the wider Africa region. She is committed to bringing quality healthcare to patients and addressing barriers to access.
Dr. Roger Phili is an experienced Public Health Manager with more that 20 years of health programme planning, implementation, and monitoring. His focus was mainly on HIV, TB and STIs management, research and health systems strengthening programmes in the public and private sector. Dr Phili is currently serving as the Executive Manager for Resource Mobilisation and Donor Coordination at the at the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). During his tenure SANAC managed to establish the Country’s Technical Support Unit that is dedicated at the improvement of bottlenecks in achievement of the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (NSP) objectives, the development of the new NSP (2023-2028) and several Donor funding proposals for SANAC. Previously he led the inception and expansion of prevention programmes such as ART, establishment of the HIV, STIs and TB Unit (HAST) unit and the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in KZN. Dr Phili possesses qualifications comprising an Honours degree in Medical Science (Virology), a master’s degree in health promotion, PGDip in Public Health, and PhD in Public Health.
I hailing from Khuma, a small township in Stillfontein, the semi-rural gold and platinum mining region of South Africa’s North-West Province. I founded the Silicosis Awareness Program (SAP), dedicated to raising awareness about TB, HIV, and Silicosis. I’m also the Director of Excellent Project 2030 (E2030), a
movement for ex-mineworkers. As an ex-mineworker and three-time TB survivor, I proudly serve as the National TB ambassador and a member of the Civil Society Forum (CSF). Currently, I’m the TB alternate member at the Global Fund (GF) Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and co-chair the National Civil Society TB Task Team. Additionally, I’m the Demand Generation Mobilizer and TB Ambassador for Show Me Your Number (SMYN). I advocate for affordable TB treatment, transforming TB management from top-down to community-inclusive.