Staff
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Professor Anna Kramvis |
As a molecular virologist, the impetus of Professor Kramvis' research has been to characterize the genome of the African strains of HBV and to determine whether there are mutations or variations in the isolates from Africans with and without disease, which may contribute to disease progression. She has been involved in the comparative analysis of hepatitis virus strains from various geographic regions of the world, in order to shed light on the origin, transmission and pathogenesis of viral-induced disease. This is important in diagnostics and in custom-designing molecular antiviral and anti-tumour therapies. The progress in sequencing techniques and in computer and information technology has provided powerful tools in the analysis of the molecular evolution of viruses. The study of hepadnaviral sequence variation, its functional characterization and role in disease progression is her major field of interest.
Professor Kramvis, who has worked in the field of viral hepatitis for 20 years, has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and regularly serves as an ad hoc reviewer for scientific journals. Over the years, she has supervised Honours, Masters and Doctorate students. She has been responsible for mentoring and supervising junior staff members. The HVDRU provides a platform for the training of research scientists and clinicians in scientific planning, methodology and interpretation in a molecular biology environment. The extensive and ongoing national and international collaborative networks established with laboratories in South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe, India, Kenya, United States of America, Japan, China, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Greece and Australia is proof of the importance of hepatitis virus research and its relevance both nationally and internationally.
Dr Chien Chen
Senior Researcher
Tel: +27 (11) 717 2673
Email: Chien.Chen@wits.ac.za
Dr Aurelie Deroubaix
Research Associate
Tel: +27 (11) 717 2673
Email: Aurelie.Deroubaix@wits.ac.za
Boipelo Kgosinkwe
Finance Officer
Tel: +27 (11) 717 2397
Email: Boipelo.Kgosinkwe@wits.ac.za