Postgrad Research

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES:

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

  • Post-Doctoral Thesis (M.D) on “Impaired Glucose Tolerance in South African Indians”, Under supervision from Professor MAK Omar (1985-1990).
  • Clinical Research Associate – University of Newcastle Upon Tyne: Research into Epidemiology of Diabetes in Migrant Chinese in Newcastle; studies on hepatic glucose output and glycerol gluconeogenesis in NIDDM (1991 – 1992).
  • Epidemiology and pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus and its complications in South African Indians- cross-sectional and prospective studies (1984-1994)
  • Epidemiology of diabetes in rural South Africans of Zulu (1999-2000)
CURRENT RESEARCH:

Current research includes studies on epidemiology of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africans, including a genome wide association study of type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci, through the African Partnership for chronic disease research (APCDR) (https://www.apcdr.org), as well as being Lead Principal Investigator for a multi-country African study on epidemiology and genetics of type 2 diabetes (H3Africa Diabetes study), and through supervision of Masters and PhD students, on clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes.

Self-Initiated
  • Epidemiology of diabetes in urban South Africans Blacks – the Durban Diabetes Study (DDS)- a collaborative study with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (UK)
  • A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility loci in African subjects of Zulu descent in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, a collaborative study with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford

(UK)

  • H3A Africa: Burden, spectrum and aetiology of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan
  • Discover Me South Africa (DMSA): vide infra
POST GRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION
  • PhD Students Graduated Students:
    1. S. Saloojee: Metabolic syndrome and severe mental illness in the EThekwini district of KwaZulu – Natal, South Africa. Graduated March 2017
    2. N.C. Magula: Metabolic Complications of HAART in a South African Black Population.- PhD awarded March 15
    3. Tshidi Thaane: Effects of high and moderate intensity exercise on

inflammation and endothelial function in insulin resistance. PhD awarded June 2019

Current Students:

  1. Dr Sifiso T Mtshali: An impact and cost analysis of management of diabetes

at quaternary level-the case of Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (Registered 2017)

  1. Dr Rudo Gwini: Diabetes mellitus and complications in a Zimbabwean hospital population in Bulawayo. (Registered 2018)
  • MMed/MMed Sci Students Graduated Students:
    1. N. Narsai (2012): Radio-active Iodine in the management of Thyrotoxicosis (2012)
    2. K. El Mezughi (2017): Pituitary tumours: A retrospective study of surgically treated patients attending the Endocrinology Clinic, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) between 2008 – 2012 – 2017
    3. Dr VG Naidoo. (MMedSci) (2017): Quality aspects of colonoscopy.
    4. A. Zorgani (2018): A retrospective study of patients with Phaeochromocytoma attending the Endocrinology Clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH). Co-supervisor:
    5. Dr A Elbueshi(2018): A retrospective study of patients with Acromegaly attending the Endocrinology Clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) between 2003 -2013.
    6. Dr P Govender (2018): Characteristics of subjects with diabetes mellitus diagnosed before 35 years of age presenting to a tertiary Diabetes clinic in Durban, South Africa, from 2003 to 2016.
    7. Dr IM Paruk (MMedSci) (2018): Prevalence of low serum testosterone levels among men with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending two outpatient diabetes clinics in Durban, South Africa
    8. Dr MZ Hoosen (2020): A retrospective study of glycaemic control, morbidity and mortality in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the Diabetes Clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Current Students:

  1. Dr V Koonjah: Diabetic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending the Diabetes clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital between January 2018

– December 2019 – A retrospective chart review

  1. Dr D Perumal: Dysglycaemia and HIV infection: analysis from a population study in urban black South Africans (Durban Diabetes Study).
  2. Dr K Govind: Clinical Characteristics, Management and Outcomes of Primary Hyperparathyroidism at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital from 2009 to 2020.

 

(iii)          Non-Degree Supervision
  1. Dr M. Paruk: Prevalence of coeliac disease and anti-thyroid peroxidase seropositivity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
  2. I.M.Paruk: A retrospective study of adult patients with spontaneous hypoglycaemia referred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital: aetiology, characteristics and treatment outcome
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMMES- CURRENT
  • Human Health Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Burden, spectrum and aetiology of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. Lead PI of study at10

sites in 7 SSA countries.

  • Durban Diabetes Study (DDS) and DDS Extension: Epidemiology of diabetes in urban South Africans Blacks, a collaborative study with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (Dr. Manj Sandhu, Prof. Mark McCarthy and teams)
  • A genome wide association study (GWAS) of type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci in African subjects of Zulu descent in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal: in collaboration with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (Dr. Manj Sandhu, Prof. Mark McCarthy and teams)
  • African Partnership for chronic disease research (APCDR)– in collaboration with Dr. Manj Sandhu and team at Cambridge University and includes the African Genome variation Project, HIV genomics, Hepatitis C and Diabetes
  • The impact of diabetes on tuberculosis incidence and mortality in HIV- positive adults: in collaboration with the University of Washington (Drs. Paul Drain and Rachel Kubiak)
  • Discover Me South Africa (DMSA) – in collaboration with Professor Manjinder Sandhu, Omnigen Biodata (UK), Imperial College, London, UK