As per our Business Plan for the current phase of the CBTBR, the following services were provided in 2009:

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

Thesis examination

• Dr. Gordhan served as external examiner of two MSc dissertations from UCT and as internal examiner of an MSc dissertation from Wits. Dr. Kana served as internal examiner of an MSc dissertation from Wits, and external examiner of an MSc dissertation from Stellenbosch University. Drs. Kana and Warner reviewed PhD proposals from the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN and Drs. Kana and Gordhan reviewed PhD proposals from Wits.
• 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

Journal editing and reviews

• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Biochemical Journal, Tuberculosis, and the International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. She also served as Guest Editor of the thematic issue on Neglected Topical Diseases in FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology (to be published in March 2010). In 2009, she also reviewed manuscripts submitted to the following journals: Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, PLoS ONE, Cellular Microbiology, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology, Journal of Bacteriology and PLoS Pathogens.
• Dr. Warner reviewed manuscripts submitted to Future Medicine, FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, PLoS Pathogens, Molecular Microbiology and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Kana reviewed manuscripts submitted to FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology and Biotechnology & Applied Biochemistry.
• 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.

Promotion reviews

• Prof. Mizrahi reviewed applications for promotion at the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Cornell University (USA).

Expert Panel or Committee Membership

• Prof. Mizrahi chaired the International Scientific Advisory Committee of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine at UCT.
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Management Committee of the IMTB Project, SBRI, USA
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Council of Scientific Advisors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Trieste, Italy).
• Prof. Mizrahi was re-appointed to, and served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH), UKZN, Durban
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Scientific Advisory Board of CAPRISA, UKZN, Durban
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Steering Committee of the Columbia University-southern Africa Fogarty AIDS and TB Research Training Program (CU-SA Fogarty AITRP).
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the EU-funded New Medicines for TB Program (NM4TB) based at the École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland).
• Prof Mizrahi served on the Committee on Genomics and Discovery of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) (Geneva)
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Jury for the Unesco-L’Oreal For Women in Science Awards for 2010 (Life Sciences), Paris.
• Dr. Kana served as a judge for the Discovery Health Journalism Awards.
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the Executive Committee of the School of Pathology of Wits University.
• Prof. Mizrahi served on the FRC Advisory Board, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University.
• Drs. Gordhan and Kana served on the Postgraduate Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University.
• Dr. Warner acted as specialist reviewer on a Radioactivity audit of the CHJAH Laboratory at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg General Hospital
• Profs Warren, Victor and Gey van Pittius served on the Feedback meeting on XDR-TB to the Dept. of Health, Eastern Cape.
• Profs van Helden and Walzl served on MSF, GATB, WHO and Stop TB Partnership.
• Prof van Helden served on the GMO Advisory Committee for the Dept. Agriculture.
• Prof van Helden served on the Interim Steering Committee of the DST TB Centre of Competence.
• 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 Faculty of Health Sciences.
• Prof Gey van Pittius served on the Committee for Postgraduate Research and Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University Faculty of Health Sciences.

Examples of Research Funding Reviews

• Wits node staff participated actively in reviewing proposals submitted to international and local funding agencies/ institutions. Prof. Mizrahi served as a reviewer of proposals for the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Wellcome Trust (UK), NRF, CIDRI (IIDMM, UCT) and CU-SA Fogarty AITRP. Dr. Gordhan reviewed proposals from the Wellcome Trust/ DBT India Alliance and the NRF. Dr. Kana reviewed proposals from the MRC, NHLS Research Trust and the Wits URC (Major Equipment grants, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award and Mellon Postgraduate Mentoring Awards). Dr. Warner reviewed proposals from the Innovation Fund, Biopad and NRF.
• Numerous grant application reviews were done by the staff of the SU node for both the MRC, NRF and NHLS, as well as other national and international funding organisations by all the senior members of the CMCB. No accurate records are kept, as these are too numerous and frequent. International bodies include the Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, Swiss Science Foundation, WOTRO, WHO, Alexander von Humbolt Foundation, European Young Investigator Award for European Science Foundation, Rolex Awards, etc.)

Other services rendered

• Speciation of Non Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) for the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and Kruger National Park
• Identification of M. tuberculosis in tissue specimens for the NHLS
• Provision of reagents for IS6110 RFLP analysis to the NHLS.
• Provision of reagents for RFLP to the Ghanan Research Fellows
• Genotyping of clinical isolates (RFLP or mutation detection) for the NHLS.

6. 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. The long-term nature of the research projects being undertaken within the CBTBR makes it impossible to assess their gender impact in the short-term.

“Science by Women” (the participation by women in the research programme)
Five out of the 13 Core Team Members of the CBTBR are women. The CBTBR has also maintained a high percentage of female students (70% of all students and 50% of postdoctoral fellows), which is in line with demographic norms for the Life and Health Sciences at a national level. Both 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.