Dr Russell Raath
Dr. Russell Raath is a specialist anaesthesiologist who is very well known in the Pretoria area. He also commands a Chronic Pain Management Centre. About 15 % of the world’s population is battling with chronic pain. Dr. Raath acknowledges his patient’s existence of chronic pain and has done extensive research on this subject to develop treatment protocols to help people with ALL types of chronic pain. This research has included clinical trials as well as literature research. Dr. Raath’s motto; “there IS a better way to do this – we must just find it” is the driving force behind his research.
With his extensive database of patients, he has become very well known to his patients in treating them successfully for their pain. Along with treating their pain and his research, he has developed a keen interest in the colon/gut and believes that many other illnesses stem from it.
Dr. Raath has keen interests in the following disease areas:
- Chronic Pain of every kind.
- The role inflammation plays in almost every medical condition
- Diet and its role in inflammation.
- Gut health
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Alzheimer’s
- Auto-Immune Conditions
Dr VALERIE THANDI ALCANTARA
Valerie Thandi Alcantara is a Medical Microbiologist with an interest in infectious pathogens in emergency and international health settings.
She studied medicine in Zambia, completed her studies and specialization in Pretoria; a post-doctoral fellowship in Vaccinology and Epidemiology in Washington DC and London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene respectively.
Subsequent to serving at UNAIDS, WHO, and Global Fund in Geneva, Switzerland, she returned to South Africa to lead a US-led HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials Initiative in Southern Africa with IAVI.
Her interests have recently taken her to Sierra Leone as an _Ebola-Fighter_ and as we all face COVID-19 today, her work continues here in South Africa with JDJ Diagnostics Laboratory.
Valerie has recently joined LEAD Research as a sub Investigator and she will endeavor to be at the forefront of all of our trials with her vast experience in many fields.
Hilary Pike
Sister Esther Nkoadi (Rn)
Sr. Esther is a very experienced nursing sister and has qualified in Midwifery and General Nursing for many years. She has previously been in charge of a Renal Unit at one of our public hospitals. Sr. Esther completed her first GCP course in 2017 as a beginner in the research industry. Since 2017, she has been very active in working with HIV, HBV, and HCV along with general community-acquired pathogen studies. Her position in these studies has been a study nurse and on these minimal risk studies, she has also been approved as a Sub-Investigator to consent participants.
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Eunice Zulu
Eunice has previously completed a home-based care course and first aid. She is a very enthusiastic and quick learner. She first completed her Beginners GCP in 2019. Her strong points are administrative work and she copes very well under pressure. Eunice has been working as a Study-Co-ordinator since 2019 and has since been approved as an administrative Sub-Investigator for minimal risk studies.
Michael Boitomelo Maluleka
Michael has previously completed a home-based care course and has worked with youth. He completed his beginners GCP course in 2019. Michael’s interests are in Technology and he excels at it. Michael has been working as a Study Co-Ordinator since 2019 where he has worked well under pressure. He has excellent problem-solving skills and has been approved by Ethics as an administrative Sub- Investigator in minimal risk studies.