School of Pathology The School contributes to public health in South Africa through the provision of cost-effective, high quality diagnostic laboratory services to the public sector. Contact the School
School of Pathology The School contributes to public health in South Africa through the provision of cost-effective, high quality diagnostic laboratory services to the public sector. Contact the School
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IDORI Seminar presented by Prof. Bavesh Kana
Into the World of Hidden Microbes: Closing the Diagnostic Gap in TB


Tuesday, 14 April 2026 | 15h00 – 16h30 | CPD points available | Venue details and RSVP →

For 140 years, we've trusted Robert Koch's culture methods to detect tuberculosis. But what if the bacteria not detectable by conventional approaches are the most dangerous - invisible to diagnostics, unchecked in communities? Prof. Kana's research reveals a hidden world of differentially culturable tubercle bacteria (DCTB): viable TB organisms that standard diagnostics simply cannot see. In a prospective study of nearly 1,000 people, DCTB assays uncovered 79 completely missed infections and 18% more transmission events.

Prof. Bavesh Kana

Prof. Kana directs a research and innovation unit at Wits. His work focuses on developing TB drugs that reduce treatment duration, advancing vaccine development, and establishing clinical cohorts to understand disease transmission and treatment responses. His research has produced diagnostic quality assurance products used in over 50 countries and spawned a biotech spinout. Recognised as an Early Career Scientist of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he has received the SAMRC Merit Award and the NRF Societal Impact Award.

 

Divisions

Anatomical Pathology
Chemical Pathology
Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Human Genetics
Immunology
Molecular Medicine & Haematology
Virology

 

Research Units

WITS Mycology Wits Mycology improves outcomes for people affected by life-threatening or disabling fungal diseases through clinical trials, observational studies, social science research, and laboratory research and innovation.
IDORI The Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute is a transdisciplinary African collaboration that is building a research ecosystem that drives innovation and translates scientific discovery into real-world clinical and social impact.
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WITS Alive Wits-Alive partners at Wits are internationally recognised scientists with expertise across the breadth of vaccinology research, from basic science to translational science, clinical research and implementation studies.
Antibody Immunity Research Unit (AIRU) The SAMRC/NICD Antibody Immunity Research Unit investigates antibody responses to infection to design better vaccines and disease control strategies for Africa, where the burden of infectious disease is greatest.
Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Wits VIDA conducts translational research on infectious diseases and vaccines, informing local and global health policy to save lives across Africa and low- and middle-income countries
Wits Research Institute for Malaria (WRIM) The Wits Research Institute for Malaria conducts research, education, and innovation to reduce the burden of malaria in Africa, developing the next generation of researchers and informing policy change.
HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit (HPRU) The HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit develops innovative basic science and translational research strategies to reduce new HIV-1 infections and AIDS deaths in South Africa, while training the next generation of postgraduate and postdoctoral scientists.