Research Leadership & Support | Educational activities | Departmental Research Funding | View UCT Research Reports
Research is a core function of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, which has a very active research program. Research is regarded as integrally linked with clinical services, and research areas include development of improved diagnosis, prevention, treatment and advocacy strategies for childhood illness, so advancing the care of children and improving current management. Research activities within the Department include many research projects and studies, educational activities around research and mentorship and development of clinician scientists and researchers and a fully equipped research laboratory. All divisions are involved in research. Studies span a wide range of areas and methodologies from clinical to epidemiological to laboratory based work.
There are many research collaborations with other departments within the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, with other departments within the University of Cape Town, with other national institutions and with overseas institutions. Much of the research focuses on national health priorities regarding childhood illnesses. Research funding has come from national funding bodies including the Medical Research Council, Department of Health and National Research Foundation (NRF), and international funding agents including the National Institute Health (NIH), USA, Wellcome Trust and European Union. The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health currently has 7 NRF rated researchers.
In October 2013, the Research Centre for Adolescent and Child Health (REACH) was opened. This expanded clinical research centre, located in the Red Cross Children's hospital, follows a decade of successful clinical research at this institution.
Research Leadership and Support
The research leadership comprises the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research Committee, chaired by Dr Dave Le Roux, with the following members:
- Kirsty Donald
- Alan Horn
- Yaseen Joolay
- Dave Le Roux (DRC Chair)
- Shanaaz Mathews
- Brenda Morrow
- Rudzani Muloiwa
- Shirani Naidoo
- Natasha North (DRC Vice-Chair) (Child Nurse Practice Development Initiative
- Shakti Pillay
- Wiedaad Slemming (Children’s Institute)
- Aneesa Vanker
- Kate Webb
- Jo Wilmshurst (Paediatric Neurology)
- Heather Zar
The following Department of Paediatrics and Child Health research courses are currently run on an annual basis:
TBA
Please note CREDE currently runs GCP courses for which Paeds DRC will provide subsidy to those eligible - click here for eligibility criteria and process.
The Faculty of Health Sciences Biostatistician TBA.
For more information about current departmental statistical support to departmental members, kindly email gail.landers@uct.ac.za.
Please note that the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences has established a Clinical Research Centre. Researchers can obtain free advice and tools, and also access facilities for conducting clinical research projects.
Each year an annual Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Research Day is held, where young and established researchers present their findings.
Ongoing mentorship of undergraduate and post graduate students is provided by Department of Paediatrics and Child Health members. All registrars are registered for an MMed degree and all senior registrars are registered for an MPhil degree. A number of staff are registered for higher degrees.
The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health offers seed research grants for emerging or new researchers multiple times a year on a competitive basis.
Department of Paediatrics & Child Health Research Award
Department of Paediatrics & Child Health Travel Award