REDCap Africa Symposium 2023

Paul A. Harris, PhD serves as Director for the Vanderbilt Office of Research Informatics and in this capacity oversee research data warehousing, data and information management platforms, patient recruitment services, and other enterprise-wide informatics resources. He is founder and faculty lead for REDCap and ResearchMatch.  Dr. Harris is PI for the All of Us Data and Research Center and PI for the Trial Innovation Network Recruitment Innovation Center housed at Vanderbilt, both housed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Irma Maré has more than 10 years experience as a REDCap Administrator and IT project manager. She served as Biomedical Informatics Manager and REDCap Admin at the University of the Witwatersrand from 2012-2022, before moving over to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, to work as senior IT Project Manager and REDCap Admin. Irma has a Masters Degree in Community Health (UP) and another in Biomedical Informatics and Translational Medicine (Wits). She has in-depth knowledge of the REDCap application and project design tools, user support and training strategies, as well as implementation of institutional and regional REDCap Administrator support communities.

Jaco Dreyer is a Senior Research Data Manager at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) - a HIV and TB research organisation based in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Jaco has more than 20 years’ experience in Data Management spanning from clinical- database programming and data management, research data systems design and study management, managing teams of Data Managers and Database Programmers and Regulatory Quality Assurance activities in various Contract Research Organizations (Quintiles, PAREXEL, Quanticate), Pharmaceutical Institutions (Novartis, GSK) and Non-Government Organizations (Perinatal HIV Research Unit). Jaco joined AHRI in 2015 and has been responsible for population-based studies: Population Intervention Programme, DREAMS evaluation-, Multilevel HIV Prevention- and STAR projects. It is while working in these projects that Jaco has extensively used REDCap for data collection. He has been using REDCap for data collection since 2017 and is the current chair of the REDCap Africa regional consortium.

Brendan Gilbert is the Head of Information Technology at Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) and has over 17 years’ experience in Enterprise IT of which 6 years is supporting REDCap as system administrator. Brendan joined AHRI in 2015 and responsible for managing and support all AHRI IT infrastructure requirements across their various campuses and satellite sites. He is an active REDCap consortium forum member and aids LMIC institutions with technical advice.

Suresh is a techie at heart. His experience spans system and network administration as well as designing and developing ICT infrastructure. Suresh joined the Computational Biology Group in 2013 as a systems administrator and is actively involved with infrastructure and HPC development within groups such as H3ABioNet, H3Afirca, eLwazi, DSI-Africa, AfricaBP and PHA4GE. In addition to system administration, his technology interests include system automation and system security.

Annemie Stewart is an MPH (Epidemiology) graduate and has worked at UCT since 2012. She was a Data Manager in pharmacovigilance and later clinical trials, before being appointed as the Operations Manager of the UCT Clinical Research Centre in 2020.

Floris Swanepoel is the DataLab Head at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) - a division of WHC. Collaborating closely with researchers and having a solution driven approach has allowed him to better understand business needs and to find innovative ways of improving current strategies through several unique and bespoke data solutions. He’s the administrator for PHRU REDCap, and part of the administrator group servicing the instance for Faculties of Health Sciences and Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand. His background is in software engineering through UNISA.

Viktoriya Babicheva is the Research Implementation Specialist and a REDCap Administrator at the Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing. After 8 years of clinical experience, she went on to complete a Masters in Public Health at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Harvard Catalyst Applied Biostatistics program in hopes of sustainably reducing systemically driven health disparities and ever widening health equity gaps via well designed and rigorous research. Now working with over 20 faculty and their research interests, she facilitates project planning, implementation, and data analytics to produce exceptional results and findings to best inform health decisions at all levels of care.

Jackie Kleynhans, MPH, PhD (Public Health), has been a part of the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) since 2018, where she serves as an epidemiologist and supports the development and implementation of epidemiological studies. Amongst other responsibilities, she manages databases for special studies within the centre, including development of REDCap databases, and ensuring data quality using of both REDCap's built-in features and external functionalities.

Born in Kwazulu Natal where he was schooled, he later attended the University of Stellenbosch and Pretoria University. Following numerous courses both locally and abroad, he enjoyed a successful work life where he filled the following major roles:

Executive Director, Human Resources (BIZA)

International Training Manager (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma - BIZA)

Senior Researcher in heat physiology (Chamber of Mines)

He has travelled extensively as an internal and external consultant, providing management training in Sales, Marketing, Organization Development, Management, Leadership and Transformation.
He is now a public speaker in his retirement from formal employment, and also runs a small logistics company.
He is a Thalidomide survivor.

Vuyokazi Sharon Jezile has more than 16 years of Data Management experience working on Phase I to IV clinical trials in the treatment of HIV , HIV coinfections, COVID-19 and TB at Clinical HIV Research Unit(CHRU). She is Data Operations Manager at CHRU. She completed her Master’s degree in Epidemiology Research Data Management in 2018 at the University of Witwatersrand. She has been using REDCap since 2013, helping the Clinical Research site in developing databases, supporting operations, and ensuring data quality.

Temweka Chirwa is a Civil Engineer turned Data Scientist. She currently works as a data scientist for the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, a medical research unit of Wits University at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. She is currently working towards her PhD at the University of Johannesburg, focusing on different applications of data science and artificial intelligence in medical research and diagnostics. Her interests include computer vision, image based analysis and natural language processing.

Tinotenda Muzambi is a passionate web developer based in Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a BSc Honours in Computer Science from the University of Cape Town and currently works as a Web Developer at the DS-I Africa Coordinating Center. Tinotenda's work revolves around creating data-driven web solutions. He aspires to explore the synergy between web development and data science, utilising data-driven insights to enhance user experiences and drive business success.

Halalisile is a data coordinator in the Data Lab for PHRU. She is part of the data management team and is responsible for database designs and data analysis in various projects.
Her background is in Software development obtained through DUT and recently obtained a higher certificate in data analysis through UCT.

Tendayi joined H3aBionet in June 2022 as a REDCap Database Developer. Prior to joining UCT, he worked for an NGO for 7 years as an implementation specialist, deploying REDCap, OpenMRS, DHIS2, and other digital health systems across Africa. He has extensive REDCap, eHealth, and digital health systems implementation, deployment, training, and support experience. He earned a BSc (Hons) in Information Systems from Midlands State University and an MComm in Information Management (Health) from the University of the Western Cape. His research interests include Digital health, Artificial intelligence (AI) for health, Health Data Analytics, eHealth, and Health Information Systems (HIS) systems with a focus on mobile health (mHealth) apps for pregnant women.

Mapule Nhlapho is a Biomedical Informatics Manager at Wits Biomedical Informatics and Translational Science (WitsBITS) a division of Wits Health Consortium in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Mapule joined the Biomedical Informatics team in 2016 and currently leads a team of Biomedical Informaticists in supporting active REDCap users with their REDCap projects. Mapule is the current treasurer and leads the training portfolio in the REDCap Africa regional consortium.

A Senior Research Technician/Data Collector at South African Medical Research Council, I will be presenting on the use of REDCap and the pivotal role it played in efficiently capturing data for a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) study involving pregnant and postpartum women.

I work at South African Medical Research Council in Durban offices. I am part of a team that designs database systems and provide data management  assistance on different projects at the SAMRC and collaborators. I have worked for organizations such as Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), MatCH Research Unit(MRU) and Centre for AIDS Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).

Attie Stadler is a research medical officer at the Wellcome Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town. He is co-investigator and data manager on several observational and interventional studies focused on optimizing care for people affected by tuberculosis. He is a self-taught REDCap enthusiast and extensively employs REDCap in combination with other data management tools to optimise study implementation and data quality. When not working, he enjoys fishing, surfing and spending time with his family.

Tony is an integral member of the NGS Academy team at UCT. His mission is to disrupt conventional thinking by seamlessly merging education and technology to elevate students to the pinnacle of academic achievement. His work aims to create a foundation for African scientists to implement pathogen surveillance, and effectively analyze and interpret the data to better inform policy, while including essential elements such as ethical, legal, and social implications of the work.

Ernest M. KIAZOLU Jr.
Director, ULCHS Data Systems
University of Liberia College of Health Sciences / BRIDGE-U: Liberia Project
 
Ernest is the director of data systems at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences BRIDGE-U: Liberia project, where he specializes in Data Systems Solutions and MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning). He holds a Master in Official Statistics from the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre and has almost two decades of experience in data analysis, data systems solutions, and MEL. Ernest is passionate about finding innovative solutions to data use and management and is dedicated to advancing innovative ways of improving processes and procedures.
Ernest is thrilled to participate in this year's REDCap Africa symposium, where he will be sharing his insights and experience on the innovative and effective use of REDCap to transform organizational processes at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences.

Khanya Mohlabi is a REDCap Project Administrator at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). She is currently based within the HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU) and works across various unit projects. She has recently completed a Masters in Health Sciences and hopes to pursue a career as a research scientist.

Natasha Titus is an Applications Support Specialist and REDCap Programme Specialist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). She is proficient in REDCap with extensive expertise in project development and data management and is currently based at the Information Technology Division where she provides support to research application users in various Units/Divisions, across regions, within SAMRC to staff, and external clients. Her interests are in Research Database Application development and management, and she is currently pursuing a career as a Business Analysist.

There will be an optional dinner at 18:00 on the 19th October 2023. This will be a Celebration Buffet at the Moyo Restaurant.
This will be an additional cost of R500 for the buffet including one non-alcoholic drink (when you go to checkout, there will be an option to add on the dinner). Transport from the symposium venue to the restaurant and back will be provided.

Less than 10 minutes to the City Bowl and V&A Waterfront, and just 15 minutes to the airport, the Garden Court Nelson Mandela Boulevard hotel offers guests comfortable rooms, great amenities, and excellent rates in one of Cape Town’s most popular neighbourhoods.

Woodstock hotel’s 292 rooms are well appointed with free uncapped WiFi, air-conditioning, DStv, views of Signal Hill or the harbour, and a choice of bed configurations for solo, family and group travel. Room rates include a buffet breakfast, and up to two kids under 18 can stay free when sharing with adults in one of our Family Rooms.

Enjoy buffet dining variety at the hotel’s Harbour View restaurant, cool off in the pool and garden, and explore the best of the city and surrounds from the Woodstock location. Business guests can stay productive with free fast WiFi, self-service workstations and six adaptable meeting and event venues.
 

Accommodation Booking Instructions:
If you are intending to stay at the Garden Court hotel, please opt to email Ms Roshaan Hartley  with the following details rather than making an online booking:

Group Rates: Standard Single Room : R1825 per room per night (bed and breakfast)
Email: Garden Court Nelson Mandela Boulevard: Ms Roshaan Hartley [email protected]
Email Subject Line: 4517052 (Booking Code)

Please note airport transfers at an additional cost can also be booked via the above process.