There are about 190 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Zimbabwe. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast gaining reputation as a highly promising solution for cervical cancer screening. AI-based detection of cervical neoplasias is named automated visual exam (AVE) by the National Cancer Institute, USA. The investigators propose to develop and evaluate the performance characteristics of a novel AI system to both screen and triage women as well as help in treatment decision making. AI will analyse infrared spectroscopic signals derived from urine samples of unscreened women for the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV). Our preliminary study has shown that spectroscopy can detect hr-HPV in urine. For screen-positive women the AI will interpret a set of cervical images captured with a high-quality devoted camera to detect high grade cervical precancers and cancers and to determine the type of transformation zone (TZ) (helps in treatment decision). The prototype device for image capture and the AI algorithms are already developed by us. The technologies will be further improved in part 1 (initial 2 years) and validated in part 2 (subsequent 3 years). During Part 1, the investigators will analyse urine samples collected from 1100 women at multiple screening clinics in Zimbabwe for the presence of hr-HPV using spectroscopy and use the signals generated to improve the AI algorithm. In this part the investigators will also assess the concordance between hr-HPV detection in urine samples using spectroscopy and cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) detection using a validated HPV test. The cervical image recognition device and the AI algorithm will be further improved during part 1 by collecting more images from hr-HPV positive and negative women. AI will also be trained to interpret the cervical images to determine the TZ type. In part 2 total 2100 women will be screened in Zimbabwe with AI-supported spectroscopic analysis of urine to detect hr-HPV and a validated HPV test to evaluate and compare their sensitivity and specificity to detect histology-proved high grade cervical precancers and cancers. The sensitivity and specificity of AI-supported detection of cervical neoplasias on cervical images will be evaluated to triage the HPV positive women. The accuracy of AI to determine TZ type will be compared with expert opinion. During the field validation part (part 2), the investigators will also conduct a cost analysis and compare cost of our approach to current standard Zimbabwean practice. The International Agency for Research on Cancer- World Health Organization WHO (IARC-WHO) has partnered with The Neo Sense Vector Company (NSV), Delaware, USA (industry), The Engineering Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK and The University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe to implement this study focusing on innovation that will greatly contribute to the global elimination of cervical cancer, a WHO priority.
Although psychotic disorders typically affect less than 1% of the population, they are a significant cause of disability worldwide. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and suicidal ideation can be profoundly disturbing, and negatively impact daily living. However, the social consequences of psychosis are often even more troubling than the symptoms. For example, people with psychosis have a high risk of experiencing violence, poverty, homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment, among other adverse outcomes. There is a need for a range of accessible, appropriate interventions for people with psychosis to be delivered to those in the most vulnerable situations, including in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review recently carried out as part of the formative research for SUCCEED identified 10 studies evaluating the impact of interventions for people with psychosis in Africa, most of which had a strongly clinical focus. The review concluded that there was a need for further research involving people with lived experience of psychosis in designing and evaluating holistic interventions that meet their diverse needs, within and beyond the health sector. SUCCEED Africa is a six-year Health Research Programme Consortium (RPC) that has brought together people with lived experience of psychosis and people with professional experience (researchers, clinicians) from four African countries (Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe) to co-produce a community-based intervention for psychosis, using a Theory of Change-driven approach. The SUCCEED intervention takes the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) CBR Matrix as a point of departure to consider the multifaceted needs of people living with psychosis and other psychosocial disabilities, and how best to meet these needs by mobilising the resources of individuals and families affected, as well as their broader communities. This protocol describes a pilot study in which the SUCCEED intervention will be delivered and evaluated on a small scale, in preparation for a larger multi-country research evaluation using more rigorous methods, including randomised controlled trials in Nigeria and Zimbabwe and observational studies in Malawi and Sierra Leone, respectively. The main outcome of interest is change in subjective quality of life among participants with lived experience of psychosis who are offered the intervention over a four-month follow up period.
The CATALYST study is an implementation study that will characterize and assess the implementation of an enhanced service delivery package providing informed choice of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) products among women at PEPFAR sites in Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
A clinical study of propranolol for the treatment of Kaposi Sarcoma in children and adults. This study will be an open-label single armed treatment trial that will test the effectiveness and the safety of treating Kaposi Sarcoma with propranolol.
INSIGHT is a Prospective, Observational, open-label cohort study on women in Sub-Saharan Africa on PrEP screening, informed choice, and compliance. There are no specific intervention arms or comparative treatment plans. We will follow and observe participants taking PrEP, not taking PrEP, as well as those who begin or end PrEP during the course of the observational period.
1. To evaluate the performance of a lateral flow POC test, namely the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT), for identifying women with inflammatory STIs and BV, who are at higher risk of HIV infection and reproductive complications; 2. To evaluate how the GIFT device can be integrated in a feasible, acceptable, and cost-effective way into routine care.
The study aims to assess safety and tolerability of oral toll-like receptor (TLR) 8 agonist Selgantolimod (SLGN) administered for 24 weeks in participants with both CHB and HIV who have been receiving suppressive antiviral therapy for both viruses for ≥5 years and have qHBsAg level >1000 (3 log10) IU/mL at screening. The study will also evaluate if TLR8 stimulation with SLGN will reduce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) titers in the blood.
A prospective interventional study to evaluate a strategy of point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, syphilis, and Hepatitis B with comprehensive case management including partner notification in antenatal settings in Harare province, Zimbabwe.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether uncorrected or corrected long-sightedness (hyperopia) has an impact on reading skills, in Grade 2 or Grade 4 school-aged children from Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe, compared to age-, gender- and school-matched children with no refractive error (emmetropia), measured by the Happy Readers V4 reading tool over six months.
In order to influence COVID-19 treatment guidelines, evidence on disease progression and clinical outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly those receiving innovative COVID-19 medications in an African setting is critical. This study will be conducted by EGPAF to describe patient characteristics, COVID-19 illness progression, and clinical outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Parirenyatwa General and Harare Teaching Hospitals, COVID Centers of Excellence at in Zimbabwe.