Unit | Clinical Research

Participant in paediatric TB diagnostic trial, Bagamoyo, Tanzania

The aim of the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is to design, conduct, analyse and report clinical research studies at Swiss TPH and partner institutions and to provide support for Swiss TPH scientists for clinical questions. The CRU has a focus on clinical trials in phase I to III.

Research

The CRU aims to strengthen high standard clinical research at Swiss TPH. The CRU conducts clinical research in the areas of malaria, febrile illnesses, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, and emerging non-communicable chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries in collaboration with numerous partner institutes. Key CRU research areas are found under "Main CRU Activities".

Support

The members of the CRU, who have a wide range of expertise in clinical research, provide scientific support with regard to clinical and methodological aspects during the development of research proposals and protocols. The clinical support is part of the Project and Grant Unit at Swiss TPH. All proposals and protocols for clinical trials are reviewed by the CRU. Observational clinical studies may also be reviewed if desired by the investigators.

Research Clinic at IHI, Kingani, Tanzania

Main CRU Activities

Latest Publications

All Publications

Amstutz A et al. Engagement in care, viral suppression, drug resistance and reasons for non-engagement after home-based same-day ART initiation in Lesotho: a two-year follow-up of the CASCADE trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(10):2608-2614. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz1126

Amstutz A et al. "If it is left, it becomes easy for me to get tested": use of oral self-tests and community health workers to maximize the potential of home-based HIV testing among adolescents in Lesotho. J Int AIDS Soc. 2020;23(Suppl 5):e25563. DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25563

Amstutz A et al. Home-based oral self-testing for absent and declining individuals during a door-to-door HIV testing campaign in rural Lesotho (HOSENG): a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet HIV. 2020;7(11):e752-e761. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3018(20)30233-2

Amstutz A et al. Switch to second-line versus continued first-line antiretroviral therapy for patients with low-level HIV-1 viremia: an open-label randomized controlled trial in Lesotho. PLoS Med. 2020;17(9):e1003325. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003325

Arpagaus A et al. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients in rural Tanzania: the prospective Kilombero and Ulanga antiretroviral cohort. PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0229875. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229875