FAMCRU Facilities and other resources
The filing rooms are access controlled. CRFs are stored in stainless steel (fire resistant), shelved, lockable cupboards in locked, access-controlled rooms, as per DAIDS standards. In the event of power failure, the CRS has uninterrupted power supply through access to the Tygerberg Hospital Emergency Generator system.
Neuropsychology developmental team
The team for performing neurodevelopmental and cognitive assessments has three dedicated offices in FAMCRU [23m2 (248ft?) in total] and is headed by developmental paediatrician Dr Barbara Laughton (MD). One office is for administrative use and two child-friendly rooms are in a quiet area for assessments. Other team members comprise of Dr Sharon Kruger (PhD Educational Psychologist), Ms Kaylee van Wyhe (PHD candidate neuropsychology), Mrs Thandiwe Hamana (Administrative Assistant), Busi Fanga (Research Assistant) and Filicity Landani (Research Assistant with Psychology honors degree). All are trained and experienced testers in a range of the proposed neurocognitive and behavioral assessments battery and have contributed to the translation of the tests into the local languages isiXhosa and Afrikaans (translated under research licenses from the copyright holders): Pearson for the KABC-II and PPVT-IV, ASEBA for the CBCL, PAR including for the BRIEF. These have been piloted on 6-year-old HIV-negative children. The KABC-II, TOVA and BRIEF are currently being implemented in a new neurodevelopmental sub-study for the IMPAACT P1060 cohort. Dr Laughton is currently PI on an RO1 HD085813 which assesses and compares the outcomes of infants exposed to antiretroviral therapy from pre-conception with those exposed from 12 weeks of gestation.
Community advisory boards
The FAMCRU team has established strong relationships with the HIV-infected and -affected families they serve, leading to strong support of our work by local communities. FAMCRU's large adult community advisory board, which consists of patients, caregivers, family members and community leaders, assisted by scientific advisors, meets monthly to review new studies and give recommendations about appropriateness of each research question, fair recruitment and culturally acceptable conduct of studies. There is also an active adolescent community advisory board which meets regularly and an adolescent support group which helps the HIV positive adolescents deal with the diagnosis and management of their condition.
?Satellite clinics
FAMCRU has 3 satellite clinics.
- The first was established in 2007 in at the Michael Mapongwana Community Clinic in Harare, Khayelitsha, a densely populated town within the Cape Town metropole. The facility occupies 83m2 (893ft?) and has 3 offices and an administration centre for 2 counsellors, 1 medical officer, 1 registered nurse, 1 staff nurse, 1 recruiter and 1 janitor. There are 2 fridges, 1 -20°C (-4°F) freezer, 1 -70°C (-94°F) freezer, 1 computer, 1 printer, 1 telephone and a centrifuge.
- The second, established next to the Kraaifontein Community Clinic in 2013, has 82m2 (883ft?) with 2 counsellors. The site has 4 telephones, 2 computers, 1 fridge, 1 -70°C freezer, a printer and a centrifuge.
- Finally, the newest site was established in Worcester in 2018. Worcester is 62 miles from FAMCRU, connected by the N1 highway. This site is staffed by 4 counsellors, 3 registered nurses, 2 medical officers, 1 study coordinator, 2 lab technician, 2 data capturer, 1 staff nurse, 2 driver, I administrative officer and 1 janitor. The site is equipped with 10 computers, 4 telephones, 2 fridges, 1 -80°C freezer, 1 centrifuge, 1 printer and a laminar flow cabinet. Dr Hennie Geldenhuys is the site head.
