On 21 October 2024, the StatinTB consortium held its 6th Annual Progress Meeting in a virtual format.
The meeting commenced with an update by Dr Friedrich Thienemann from the University of Zurich on the StatinTB clinical trial and the recruitment of study participants. In addition, Dr Friedrich presented insights into the development of the clinical capacities of the trial research clinic in Cape Town, which is now equipped with a new BSL-2 laboratory and additional consulting and consenting rooms.
StatinTB Coordinator Prof. Reto Guler from the University of Cape Town, who received ad hominem promotion from Associate Professor to Full Professor in November 2023, provided an update on the laboratory work of his team on the clinical samples collected in the trial, including immunoassays and biomarker expression analyses.
In their update on capacity building activities at the University of Namibia Medical School, Dr Emmanuel Nepolo from the University of Namibia and Dr Gunar Günther from Inselspital Bern emphasized the successful implementation of a one-week research methods and manuscript writing workshop held in Windhoek, Namibia, in early 2024. The workshop was organized by Prof. J Wilkinson from Imperial College London, Dr Nepolo, and Dr Günther, and the training implemented by renowned international faculty from the University of Namibia, Imperial College London, Stellenbosch University, and the University of Cape Town was attended by 20 early and mid-career researchers – predominantly from Namibia, but also from Spain, the Gambia, South Africa, Eswatini, and Malawi.
The last project year was again characterized by sedulous work by all consortium members, who aim to further advance the project and achieve its objectives in the upcoming final 12 months of StatinTB.