Research under way to fight the virus
The lack of accurate rapid tests for Covid-19 has asÂsisted in the spread of the virus from China to the rest of the world. The advent of the panÂdemic in our communities is calling for a rapid response to curb the spread.
This rapid response can be achieved through multidisciÂplinary, inter-institutional and multi-sectoral endeavours, which demand effective colÂlaboration. The University of Limpopo (UL) has joined global research efforts by presenting collaborative ground-breaking research aimed at assisting govÂernments with their strategic reÂsponse to the Covid-19 outbreak.
A UL-led multidisciplinary, inter-institutional and mulÂti-sectoral team has started reÂsearch projects on the impleÂmentation of low-cost blockÂchain and artificial intelligence (AI) coupled self-testing and tracking system and on essenÂtial diagnostics to guide adminÂistration on the Covid-19 drugs.
These two research projects are led by Professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson, a LimÂpopo-born, NRF-rated mediÂcal scientist (molecular bioloÂgy) who is based in the departÂment of public health, UL. Her team comprises Dr Desmond Kuupiel, a point-of-care (POC) diagnostics supply chain manÂagement expert and intensive care nurse based at the UniverÂsity of KwaZulu-Natal; Dr BuyÂisile Chibi, a public health pharÂmacy expert based at Caprisa; Ms Ellen D Crayton, an inforÂmation technology and blockÂchain expert based at Genesis Technology and Management Group in Maryland, WashingÂton in the US.
New tech to curb virus
In a recent article, MashamÂba-Thompson and Clayton reÂported a growing concern about the failure to find and report Covid-19 cases, especially givÂen weak health systems, inadeÂquate surveillance, insufficient laboratory capacity and limited public health infrastructure in African countries. They called for improved access to accuÂrate diagnosis, monitoring and reporting of health outbreaks. The researchers also proposed the use of innovations such as blockchain and AI that can be coupled with POC diagnostics to enable self-testing of patients in isolation as a result of exposure to Covid-19.
Local solution
South Africa has observed how different communities reÂacted to the lockdown strategy, which has been shown as efÂfective in Europe and Asia. We welcomed international pharÂmaceutical companies’ efforts to develop drug products for prevention and radical cure of Covid-19. Some of these prodÂucts have shown to be effective  in predominately Asian and EuÂropean populations.
The differences in the genetic make-up of people of different races may result in a different response to drug products. This calls for local research efforts on new drugs and vaccines before their distribution to the wider population.
The UL-led research team is leading research focused on preÂventing drug, diversion, abuse and misuse. The projects will be aimed at drugs that have been recommended for radical cure of Covid-19 among Africans. Its research efforts will be aimed at essential POC diagnostics to help guide clinics when making decisions to administer different group drugs for the radical cure of Covid-19.
The UL team’s research efÂforts call for African universiÂties to create multidisciplinary research platforms for interdisÂciplinary, preclinical research, disease-targeted research aimed at improving population health outcomes.
This type of research also calls for an end in research siÂlos, which are keeping Africa behind in terms of health-care innovations. Most health innoÂvations that are in use in AfriÂca are developed by researchers in advanced high-income counÂtries and deployed to us at a cost.
African researchers are well-positioned to develop efÂfective strategies to respond to local disease outbreaks. This will require a collaboration of expertise and to ensure local inÂnovations are developed locally to reduce the costs.
