As per our Business Plan for the current phase of the CBTBR, the following services were provided in 2011:

The provision of scientific/ technical service, advice and assistance to local Government, regional services, institutions, research groups and individuals

Thesis examination

• Dr. Kana examined an MSc dissertation submitted to the University of KwaZulu Natal and several MSc/PhD project proposals submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University. Dr. Bhavna Gordhan examined protocols submitted for various degrees and further examined MSc dissertations submitted to UCT and Wits University.
• Dr. Warner examined a PhD thesis submitted to the University of the Witwatersrand, a MSc dissertation submitted to Stellenbosch University and Honours projects submitted to UCT.
• Numerous external examinations were done by members of the SU node. These include examining PhD or MSc theses for WITS, Pretoria, UCT, UWC and other universities and Universities of Technology. Details are not kept.

Journal editing and reviews

• Dr. Kana reviewed manuscripts submitted to FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Journal of Bacteriology and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
• Dr. Gordhan reviewed a manuscript submitted to Tuberculosis Research and Treatment.
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Biochemical Journal, Tuberculosis, and Cellular Microbiology, and was appointed to the Editorial Board of Emerging Microbes and Infection. In 2011, she also reviewed manuscripts submitted to the following journals: Cell, Cell Host & Microbe, Microbiology, Tuberculosis, mBio, EMBO Molecular Medicine, Journal of Bacteriology, PLoS Pathogens and Science Signalling.
• Dr. Warner reviewed manuscripts submitted to PLoS Pathogens, International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Molecular Microbiology, Nature Communications, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal of Bacteriology and Tuberculosis.
• Dr. Evans reviewed manuscripts for Clinical & Developmental Immunology and the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
• Dr. Gopinath reviewed manuscripts for Archives of Clinical Microbiology, and the Journal of AIDS and HIV Research.
• Most if not all senior members of the SU node review numerous manuscripts for international journals. Records are not kept, but journals include Nature Reviews, Lancet, Lancet Infectious Diseases, PLoS, J Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, J Mol Med, BMC, Tuberculosis, IJTLD, JID, J Biotech, IJMS, Indian Heart Journal, Cardiovasc. J SA, J Biotech, IJMS, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, Journal of Bacteriology, Journal of Medical Microbiology, American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Tuberculosis and Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

Expert Panel or Committee Membership

• Dr. Kana serves on the Advisory Committee of the CU-SA Fogarty AITRP.
• Dr. Kana serves on the Steering Committee for the Wits-Aurum Coalition and chairs the Projects Committee for this venture
• Dr. Kana has been elected to serve on the University Research Council (URC) at Wits University
• Dr. Kana and Dr. Gordhan serve on the Faculty Research Council (FRC), Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana and Dr. Gordhan serve on the Postgraduate Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Gordhan serves on the Research Entity Review Task Group, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana chairs the Wits Health Sciences Research Day Committee (2012)
• Dr. Kana was elected to serve on the FRC Budget task group, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Faculty Advisory Board, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Executive Committee of the School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Research Entity Forum, Faculty of Health Sciences Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Equipment Review Committee, Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the URC major and minor Equipment Review Committees, Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Research Coordinators Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Faculty of Health Sciences Imaging Committee, Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Faculty Graduate Studies Committee Working Group on Research Output Guidelines, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University
• Dr. Kana serves on the Molecular Biosciences Thrust Committee, Faculty Health Sciences, Wits University
• In November 2011, Dr. Kana served on an expert panel at a workshop run by Discovery Health entitled: Award winning Health Journalism - lessons from the first three years of the Discovery Health Journalism Awards. This workshop was held at the Discovery Health headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg and was facilitated by Prof. Harry Dugmore, interim director for the Discovery Centre for Health Journalism, School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University. The workshop was attended by several health journalists with video conferencing to participants in other areas of South Africa.
• On the 9th September, Bavesh Kana from the Wits node co-chaired the Tuberculosis session at the 4th Congress of the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa, held at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban. This session was particularly significant for the CBTBR since representatives of all three nodes were present at delivered presentations on ongoing work in their respective laboratories.
• Dr. Bavesh Kana served on a panel for the Sense about Science workshop held at Wits University aimed at assisting researchers with media interactions. At the workshop, Dr. Kana gave a short talk on his interest in science communication and provided some suggestions for improving interactions with journalists for a mutually beneficial outcome. The workshop was attended by several researchers within the Faculty of Health Sciences including Dr. Bhavna Gordhan from the Wits node of the CBTBR.
• Dr. Bavesh Kana served as a judge for the Discovery Health Journalism Awards.
• Prof. Mizrahi served as a member of the Board of Directors, KwaZulu Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH), University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Council of Scientific Advisors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Trieste, Italy)
• Prof. Mizrahi served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of K-RITH, University of KwaZulu Natal
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Search Committee of K-RITH, University of KwaZulu Natal, and also served as a member of the Stakeholders’ Committee of K-RITH
• Prof. Mizrahi served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance, New York)
• Prof. Mizrahi served as a member of the SACEMA Trust and also as a member of the SACEMA Management Board, Stellenbosch University
• Prof. Mizrahi chaired the Executive Committee and Membership Committee of the IIDMM, UCT
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Management Committee of the IMTB Project, Seattle Biomed, USA
• Dr. Warner served as a member of the Steering Committee, iThemba Pharmaceuticals, Johannesburg
• Dr. Warner served as a member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee, UCT
• Dr. Warner served as a member of the GMO Committee, UCT
• Dr. Warner served as Lead Academic in charge of core Biological Safety Level III laboratory, IIDMM, UCT
• Dr. Warner served on the Administration and Operations Committee of the IIDMM, UCT
• Dr. Evans served on the IIDMM Health & Safety Committee of the IIDMM
• Dr. Evans chaired the UCT Health Sciences Postdoctoral Association and Dr. Gopinath served as a member of this committee
• Profs van Helden and Walzl served on MSF, GATB, WHO and Stop TB Partnership.
• Profs Walzl and Wiid served on the Ethics Committee for Experimental Animal Research of Stellenbosch University.
• Prof Warren served on the Centre for Infectious Diseases of Stellenbosch University.
• Profs Walzl and Warren served on the Research Committee of Stellenbosch University, Health Sciences.
• Prof Gey van Pittius served on the Committee for Postgraduate Education and Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University Faculty of Health Sciences.

Examples of Research Funding Reviews

• Dr. Kana and Dr. Gordhan participated in the review of several research/equipment/travel proposals in 2011. Dr. Kana served as a reviewer for the NRF Rating Program (for several applications), the NRF Competitive Grants for Rated Researchers Program and for several grants submitted to the KwaZulu –Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV. Dr. Kana also served as a reviewer on grants submitted to Wits University. Dr. Gordhan serves on the NRF Postdoctoral Review Panel and further assessed an SA/Swiss grant application for the NRF. Dr. Gordhan also serves as an international reviewer for the Welcome Trust/DBT India Alliance.
• MMRU staff participated actively in reviewing proposals submitted to international and local funding agencies/ institutions. Prof. Mizrahi served as a reviewer of proposals for the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France), the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the NRF. She also served as a reviewer for promotion at the University of Massachusetts, McGill University, and Cornell University. Dr. Warner reviewed grant applications submitted to TWAS (2011 TWAS Research and Advanced Training Fellowship Program) (Trieste, Italy), the NRF, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and K-RITH (Collaborative Grants Program).
• Many of the SU node members are either on editorial boards or act as regular reviewers for many journals. Again, a list is not provided, since we have so many of these we do not keep record.

Other services rendered

• Speciation of Non Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) for Kruger National Park
• Identification of M. tuberculosis in tissue specimens for the NHLS
• Genotyping of clinical isolates (RFLP or mutation detection) for the NHLS.
• Prof V Corfield was NRF rating panel moderator in 2011
• Specialist Diagnostic service for CV diseases listed earlier
• Specialist diagnostic service for MDR or XDR TB cases
• Specialist diagnostic service for suspect extra-pulmonary TB cases
• Hospital medical specialist clinical services, eg pulmonology and genetics
• Advice to National Dept Agriculture on GMOs and veterinary TB
• Weekly tutorials/practicals to Clinical Genetics registrars in molecular genetics by CMCB staff during 2011 (Prof Corfield and Mrs de Villiers).
• Seegene (Korea): We have been approached and are currently in a collaborative venture with Seegene, Inc. to design and improve M. tuberculosis diagnostics.  Seegene is a molecular diagnostic company based in Korea well known for its pioneering R & D activities and novel technologies. Seegene, Inc. has continued to develop innovative technology platforms, ACP™ (Annealing Control Primer), DPO™ (Dual Priming Oligonucleotide), and READ™ (Real Amplicon Detection). With these cutting-edge molecular diagnostic technologies applied to diagnostic kits and various practical approaches, Seegene has enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) up to unprecedented level. This advance enables Seegene Inc. to provide multiplex PCR products by which multiple target genes of pathogens can be simultaneously detected, saving time and cost.
• AID (Germany): Evaluation of a genetic drug susceptibility test.
• Hain Life Sciences (Germany): Evaluation of the MDRTBsl genetic drug susceptibility test.
• Vakzine Project Management (VPM): phase IIa vaccine trial on tuberculosis
• Cellestis: Evaluation of new peptide to diagnose TB

Gender impact of research

“Science for Women” (gender-sensitivity of the research agenda)
The work being undertaken in the CBTBR is aimed at contributing towards global efforts in researching and developing new laboratory-based tools for reducing the societal burden of TB. TB is the greatest single infectious cause of death in young women, and causes more deaths among women than all causes of maternal mortality combined. The particularly high rates of HIV co-infection in women are expected to fuel an increased prevalence of TB in women over time. In addition to the disease burden, TB also imposes a massive, but largely hidden burden of social impact on women.

“Science by Women” (the participation by women in the research programme)
Five out of the 13 Core Team Members of the CBTBR are women. In 2011, the CBTBR has also maintained a high percentage of female students (69% of all students and 42% of postdoctoral fellows), which is in line with demographic norms for the Life and Health Sciences at a national level. All three nodes have demonstrated that they are able to provide an environment which is attractive to, and supportive of women researchers at all levels, from Honours students to senior postdoctoral fellows and Core Team Members. These indicators confirm that the CBTBR serves as a centre in which women researchers are nurtured and developed.