Associate Professor Adele Marais
Prof Adele Marais (Ph.D.) is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town. Her clinical and research interests include: the intersection of IPV and HIV, and its impact on medical care engagement and mental health; narrative research into intimate partner violence (IPV); and addressing IPV in key populations, including young adults, pregnant women and women with chronic illness. She offers teaching and training to a range of medical and mental health professionals in the screening and management of IPV in health care settings. Prof Marais offers clinical psychological services to the following GSH clinics/wards: the G22-Neuropsychiatry in-patient ward, the HIV Neuropsychiatry service, the G4 adolescent psychiatry clinic, and the multi-disciplinary Gender Dysphoria clinic. She is currently the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health’s Research Committee.
I would like to contact Adele.
Prof Sam Nightingale
Dr Sam Nightingale is a neurologist from the UK with a research interest in HIV. He is also involved in neurology education projects in southern Africa through a project he co-founded called NeuroAccess. He currently holds a Newton/MRC grant to run a project called CONNECT, which examines the CNS effects of the switch from efavirenz-based to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral regimens.
Dr Stephan Rabie
Dr Stephan Rabie is a Senior Research Officer in the HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town. Dr Rabie obtained his PhD in Psychology in 2017 from Stellenbosch University. Since then, the majority of his research work has been devoted to developing, adapting, and implementing culturally appropriate mental health interventions in diverse settings, including South Africa, Lesotho, and Ghana. Dr Rabie has provided academic oversight and led several trials focusing on HIV and mental health research, and is currently the project director of a R01 (NIMH) funded randomized controlled trial of a coping intervention for HIV-infected women with histories of sexual trauma.
I would like to contact Stephan.
Dr Stefani Du Toit
Stefani Du Toit is the new appointed Senior Research Officer in the HIV Mental Health Research Unit. She is the director of Project Khanya, which is a peer-delivered intervention to improve ART adherence and substance use disorder in primary care. She holds a MA in Psychology, a PGDip in Addictions Care and in the process of completing her PhD in Public Health. She has experience in community based research in the areas of mental health, HIV, and adolescent health.
I would like to contact Stefani.
Hlombekazi Sybil Majokweni
Hlombekazi Sybil Majokweni is a Junior Research Fellow in the HIV Mental Health Research Unit. She currently works on Project Someleze, a coping intervention for HIV+ women with sexual trauma, in collaboration with Columbia University and Project Khanya, a stepped care, peer-delivered intervention to improve ART adherence and SUD in primary care with the Maryland University Global Mental Health and Addiction Program. She holds a masters degree in Public Health specializing in Health Economics which is driven by her interest in public health policy and the cost of health care in low- and middle-income countries
Bulelwa Mtukushe
Bulelwa Mtukushe is a Research Project Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Her role is to manage the day to day running of multiple research projects. Ms Mtukushe research focus mainly involves working on adolescent behavioural studies. She has conducted qualitative studies and managed NIH funded R21 studies exploring the use of PrEP, adherence to HIV treatment, sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents living with HIV. Ms Mtukushe is also experienced in conducting and coordinating randomized controlled trials, including brief interventions addressing alcohol and drug use, and HIV risk and depression. She is currently completing her MPhil in Public Mental Health at the University of Cape Town.
Dr. Zanele Nhlabatsi-Khumalo
Dr. Zanele Nhlabatsi-Khumalo is a Public Health Researcher with extensive experience in research project management. She is currently the Logistics Project Manager in the HIV Mental Health unit for the Building Resources to Achieve Improvement in Neurocognition (B.R.A.I.N) study, which aims to develop an innovative therapeutic approach for addressing neurocognitive impairment in people living with HIV and other brain-related diseases. Her academic background includes a PhD in Chemistry (Computational Chemistry) a method that describes the use of quantum chemistry through computer modelling and simulation to study the structures and properties of molecules and materials, from the University of Johannesburg. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from the University of Pretoria and is currently completing her Master's degree in Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) at the University of Cape Town. She is experienced in conducting clinical and community-based research in Epidemiology, with a particular focus on HIV, cancer, COVID-19, and a strong interest in mental health.
Rhiannon Changuion
Rhiannon Changuion is a Junior Research Officer in the HIV Mental Health Research Unit., Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town. She is the Clinical Project Manager of an R34 (NIMH) funded projected titled Building Resources to Achieve Improvement in Neurocognition for persons with HIV. This study is aimed at adapting, translating, and piloting a cognitive and behavioural rehabilitation programme for persons living with HIV who are suspected of having neurocognitive impairment. She is currently completing her MA in Neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town where her interests are within the field of cross-cultural neuropsychology in South Africa.
Alexa Soule
Alexa Soule is the project manager on Project SCOPE: Screening for Major Neurocognitive Disorder in Older Persons, which aims to investigate the associated risk factors contributing to the development of Major Neurocognitive Disorder (MNCD) in older individuals, both with and without HIV. She holds an MA in Neuropsychology and is registered for her PhD in Public Health at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Her research interests include the intersection of HIV and public health service delivery in South Africa, psychoeducation and neuropsychological rehabilitation in the context of traumatic brain injury.