Madibeng Centre for Research

Experience

The Madibeng Centre for Research (MCR) has conducted various clinical trials. MCR has also conducted various behavioural and social science research studies and 2 epidemiological studies since its inception in 2001.

MCR has conducted clinical trials in the following areas: Influenza, oral candidiasis, Rotavirus vaccine, meningococ meningitis vaccine, sexually transmitted infections, hypertension, TB and HIV prevention, contraception and diabetes mellitus.

Amongst these studies MCR has conducted 7 Phase III studies and 6 Phase II studies.

Social science research and behavioural science has been conducted in the following fields: Knowledge of and practices towards HIV and AIDS, Health surveys, use of health facilities, absenteeism and much more.

The epidemiological studies were to ascertain burden of disease of Rotavirus in the district and the HIV incidence in young women in the district.

Research interests

MCR has collaborated with various partners since its inception:
Wits Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, DPRU (Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit of MEDUNSA), WHO, PATH, GSK, Novartis, IPM, Global TB Alliance, Aspen, FHI360. Currently MCR is not part of a formal research network.

Disease areas

• HIV
• Newborn Health
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
• TB

Other information

The Madibeng Centre for Research was established in 2001 to be a community based research centre that would help guide health decisions in the community through research and be a centre of employment.

MCR aims to be a community based centre that conducts high quality comprehensive health research for the local community and our business, scientific and administrative partners.

The vision of MCR is to be sustainable, community-based health research centre of international repute.

MCR has certainly met its mission statement and vision. The MCR has grown into a significant role player in clinical research working on various significant multi-centre, multi-national trials in South Africa across a wide range of general medical disciplines. MCR conducts high quality research and is a good recruitment centre with a good retention track record.

MCR has focussed on employing local community based people and training them in research. As such MCR has also played a key role in capacity building of the community and its members.

MCR has a good relationship with the local Department of Health and the municipal Department of Health. MCR has a district memorandum of understanding to recruit from the government health clinics for its trials and also to refer participants back to these clinics for management of non-trial related conditions.

MCR clinical trial staff are fluent in a wide range of languages, enabling MCR to recruit from the total spectrum of the district population.

MCR is currently developing and training a quality data management team as it is requiring a more experienced core group of data capturers and data clerks. They are working under an experienced and dedicated data manager.

MCR is primarily interested in conducting research in the following fields: paediatric health and preventative health, maternal health, sexually transmitted infections, HIV prevention and treatment, TB, hypertension, diabetes, and general medical practice conditions.

MCR has proven itself to be a responsible administrator of donor funds in its research work. MCR has the capacity to set up budgets and administer them appropriately and give the required accountability for those funds.

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