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Research

Introduction to the Internal Medicine Research Unit that is an umbrella to all our Research units

The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½’ Internal Medicine Translational Research Unit (IM-TRU) will be established to exploit the era of genomic and precision medicine

The Department of Internal Medicine Research laboratory was established to develop laboratory-based research capability to complement the department's clinical initiatives.

The laboratory has grown organically over the past 10 years and has 3 dedicated scientific staff members (Associate Prof. Raquel Duarte, Dr. Caroline Dickens and Dr. Therese Dix-Peek), with combined backgrounds in genetics, biochemistry, and cell and molecular biology.

The laboratory offers expertise in a full range of molecular techniques (Appendix B), which will be enhanced through a strategic equipment acquisition process. 

Projects investigate disease conditions at a molecular and cellular level. Our highly trained staff can offer expertise in various DNA, RNA, and protein-based techniques.

 

Internal Medicine Translational Research Unit

IM-TRU -VISION
  • To be a premier research entity driving applied clinical research and precision medicine initiatives to improve the health of South Africans.
  • Research excellence through collaboration and innovation.
  • To be the preferred supplier of genomic-based solutions for improved diagnostics.

 

IM-TRU - MISSION

OUR MISSION

  • To improve health and well-being through multidisciplinary research enabled by access to cutting-edge technologies.
  • To provide infrastructure and training to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in medical research

 

IM-TRU - AIM

Our Aim

The main aim of IM-TRU at WITS is to provide an enabling research environment for all students and researchers and to serve as a training ground for South Africa’s future scientists and clinicians. We will achieve this by leveraging our key strengths: a highly skilled faculty with expertise covering all areas, coupled with direct  access to specialized equipment

The strategic goals of the IM-TRU are to advance Precision Medicine directed research activities and to develop income generation initiatives by establishing 3 business units  viz. TRU Diagnostics based on Real Time PCR, Digital PCR and NanoString technology; TRU Pathology, incorporating the Exakt precision cutting instruments and TRU Quantum, based on specialized Laser technology. 

The unit will remain housed in the Internal Medicine Department, under the School of Clinical Medicine. Staffing plans include the hiring of an additional scientist to bolster the research and development (RnD) research initiatives and a Pathology technologist to staff TRU Pathology. 

 

IM-TRU - STRENGTHS

OUR STRENGTHS

Our strength as a medical laboratory lies in the specialized services we can offer to the research community.

  • The expertise of staff emanates from a diverse array of clinical and scientific disciplines. The combined expertise provides a powerful force in the applied clinical research space.
  • Highly rated scientists, who are key opinion leaders in their chosen discipline, can identify pressing issues and knowledge gaps in clinical care.
  • Proven track record in delivering clinical-based projects.
  • Collaboration with international researchers to compete for large funding grants.
IM-TRU - ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS

As part of several collaborative partnerships with clinicians, we have been able to complete over 12 successful research projects. 

PhD training 

We consider one of our great achievements to be that of PhD training of the highly sought-after clinician-scientist. To date, we have supervised the lab-based training of 14 clinician-scientists and assisted clinicians from the Divisions of Cardiology (Dr’s A

Vachiat and McCutcheon), Infectious Disease (Prof C Menezes) and Pulmonology

(Prof’s I Kalla and R Morar) with their PhD projects. The past and current Heads of Department have carried out work in our laboratory. We have also been called upon to assist students in completing lab-based PhDs in the Department of Anatomy (O Oyedele, C Thomadakis).

NanoString

The award of a NRF major equipment grant to Prof Duarte permitted the acquisition of the NanoString nCounter® platform. This was the first of its kind in Africa (now only 3) and allowed us to develop our precision medicine research agenda. 

As part of the South African Breast Cancer and HIV Outcomes Study (SABCHO) and MRC- Common Epithelial Cancer Research Centre we have carried out the molecular profiling of 378 breast cancer tumours using the PAM50 genomic assay. This assay defines tumors into molecular subtypes based on the differential expression of 50 genes. The signature also provides prognostic information by providing a Risk of

Recurrence Score.#

This instrument has great potential in translational research and will be key to driving our precision medicine program. 

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