The Aurum Institute

31/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who visited the Aurum and DNDi IMPAACT4HIV exhibition stand, joined our satellite session, engaged with our community partners and connected with us throughout .

From scientific presentations and knowledge sharing to conversations with communities, policymakers and partners, the week reinforced a shared commitment to strengthening advanced HIV disease care across Africa.

continues to work with governments, communities and partners to improve access to diagnostics, treatment and person-centred care, while generating the evidence needed to strengthen health systems and reduce preventable deaths from advanced HIV disease. For more on this project please visit: https://advancedhivhub.org/

Thank you to our consortium partners Unitaid, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Market Access Africa, Paediatric - Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA), Solthis and Cihpng, and to everyone who joined us in Rio.

IAS - International AIDS Society

28/07/2026

is underway!

The Aurum and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) exhibition stand is open throughout the week. Visit us to learn more about how communities and partners are working together to strengthen advanced HIV disease care across Africa.

The opening session set a tone for the week ahead. As Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, reminded delegates, "The mission to end AIDS has not changed. It remains a threat. Let us finish the job!"

Claudia Cortés echoed the importance of putting communities at the centre of the response: "The HIV response must remain inclusive of those who are affected the most. Nothing about us without us… Let us rise together with community and science."

Those messages carried through to discussions on advanced HIV disease. At the Sustaining Gains in Advanced HIV Disease side event, co-hosted by CHAI, Integral Global and Aurum, Remilekun Peregrino, IMPAACT4HIV Programme Director, highlighted that sustaining AHD programmes beyond funding disruptions depends on strengthening guidelines, investment, implementation and innovation.

Partners reinforced the importance of collaboration. Afrocab Treatment Access Partnership, through the THRIVE Project, highlighted community leadership, engagement and demand creation as central to the AHD response, while Integral Global, through the Zero CM Deaths Initiative, emphasised the need for sustained country support and mentorship to eliminate cryptococcal meningitis deaths.

International AIDS Conference

07/07/2026

👏👏👏

Congratulations to Prof Geoffrey Setswe, CEO of Aurum South Africa, on his appointment to the Advisory Council of the Office of Kgosana Koketso Rakhudu.

This appointment reflects Prof Setswe's longstanding contribution to public health, implementation research, and health systems strengthening. Through this role, he will support evidence-informed decision-making and contribute to initiatives that promote healthier, more resilient communities.

We congratulate Prof Setswe on this well-deserved appointment and wish him every success in this important advisory role.

Bammisho

25/06/2026

Happy Independence Day Mozambique!

Hoje, a Fundação Aurum junta-se ao povo moçambicano para celebrar o Dia da Independência Nacional.

Esta data assinala um momento marcante na história do país, comemorando a proclamação da independência de Moçambique a 25 de junho de 1975 e homenageando a resiliência, a coragem e os sacrifícios de todos aqueles que lutaram pela liberdade.

Enquanto comunidades de todo o país celebram esta importante ocasião, reconhecemos a rica herança de Moçambique e reafirmamos o nosso compromisso de apoiar comunidades mais saudáveis e resilientes através da parceria e da colaboração.

Feliz Dia da Independência, Moçambique!
The Aurum Institute

11/06/2026

As comes to a close, we leave with a renewed call to act together to end TB.

In his closing keynote, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile reflected on the conference theme and called for a united response that confronts the realities of South Africa’s TB burden, embraces innovation in diagnostics and technologies, protects households, saves lives, and recognises that TB control is everyone’s responsibility.

The closing plenary also reflected the importance of translating innovation into impact. Mthokozisi Dube, Aurum Study Coordinator and conference rapporteur for Track 3: Harnessing AI, highlighted a key takeaway from the discussions that technology alone is not enough. Stronger health systems, quality data, and improving the overall patient experience remain essential to realising the potential of AI in TB care.

We also saw Dr Lindiwe Tsope, Aurum Project Coordinator participation in the SAMRC “The Race to a TB-Free World” campaign, helping keep momentum for collective action beyond the conference.

And as one conference closes, we look ahead with pride. We are pleased to share that Aurum’s TB Technical Specialist, Dr Mamothe Makgabo Makgabo, together with AHRI’s Prof Limakatso Lebina, will chair the 2028 conference, an exciting opportunity to help shape the next chapter of South Africa’s TB response.

Until 2028. Vuka!

National Department of Health (South Africa) FPD Conferences and Special Events SA Medical Research Council Africa Health Research Institute

10/06/2026

Today at , Aurum researchers and experts shared evidence and insights across prevention, paediatric TB, post-TB lung disease, and and community engagement in vaccine trials.

In Session 3: Preventing TB in Close Contacts, Jeniffer Nagudi, Statistician, presented findings on determinants of tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) uptake and completion amongst caregivers of child contacts across three high TB burden countries. Her presentation highlighted how understanding the importance of TPT encouraged caregivers to initiate treatment for children, while also noting the need to explore less invasive TB testing methods for children.

Dr Juli Switala, Senior Technical Specialist: Paediatric HIV and TB, presented in Session 1: Clinical & Programmatic DR-TB on the impact of stool-based TB testing on TPT initiation among child contacts of TB patients in Ekurhuleni. Findings from the CUT TB Stool Sub Study showed that home-based sample collection offers a more convenient option for TB testing in children by reducing facility visits and referrals.

In Session 5: Host Response & Treatment Biology, Dr Pholo Maenetje, Senior Scientist, shared findings from the INFIN-TB and Cytokine Sub Study, which identified inflammatory pathways associated with distinct post-tuberculosis lung disease outcomes.

Aurum also contributed scientific leadership, with Dr Priashni Subrayen, Technical Director: TB, chairing Session 5: From Paper to Practice: Delivering TB Impact at Scale - Facility and Community.

The day also featured a poster presentation by John Mdluli, Head of Department: Community, on enhancing the acceptability of a phase three TB vaccine trial in the Matlosana subdistrict, contributing to ongoing conversations on community engagement in TB vaccine research.

FPD Conferences and Special Events SA Medical Research Council National Department of Health (South Africa)

10/06/2026

Innovation Across the TB Care Continuum

Aurum’s satellite session, co-chaired by Clinton Health Access Initiative Country Director Dr Gugulethu Ngubane Ngubane and Gaurang Tanna, Snr Programme Officer at the Gates Foundation at , explored how innovation can strengthen every stage of the TB care continuum, from early detection and diagnosis through treatment and prevention.

Dr Priashni Pundit-Subrayen, Aurum Technical Director for TB highlighted how Accelerate1 has evolved into the more targeted PROTB initiative following the US funding shutdown. Designed to sustain momentum in TB case finding, the programme combines multiple approaches, including digital chest X-rays, mobile units, household contact management and community outreach to identify people with TB earlier and closer to where they live. Through these efforts, 581 people with TB have been identified and initiated on treatment since February 2026.

Dr Anura David from the Wits Diagnostics Impact Hub shared findings on the Pluslife MiniDock, a novel molecular platform designed for swab-based TB detection, while Zweli Ngubo, Aurum Programme Manager outlined how the RADxAR-TB project is supporting the rollout and scale-up of near point-of-care molecular diagnostics across 13 countries.

Turning to treatment innovation, Don Mudzengi, Aurum Health Economist presented an overview of the PanTB study, which aligns with the World Health Organization’s Pan-TB strategy to develop simpler, shorter and more effective treatment regimens.

Closing the session, Trevor Beattie, Aurum Technical Director for Clinical Research highlighted the importance of TB preventive therapy (TPT), emphasising that expanding access to shorter, effective preventive treatment regimens remains one of the most powerful tools available to reduce TB incidence.

FPD Conferences and Special Events SA Medical Research Council National Department of Health (South Africa)

10/06/2026

How do we close the TB detection gap when too many people are still being missed across the TB care cascade?

Today at Plenary Session 3, Prof Violet Chihota , Aurum Group Chief Scientific Officer, challenged us to think differently about finding people with TB and ensuring they are linked to care earlier.

Prof Chihota highlighted the urgent need for innovative diagnostic approaches that bring testing closer to communities. Through Aurum-led initiatives such as the RADxAR-TB project, including Plus Life swab-based molecular testing using sputum and tongue swabs are helping to make TB diagnosis more accessible and patient-friendly.

She also shared insights from studies such as SWAB IMPACT and CHAPTER, which are generating evidence to support the next generation of TB diagnostics. While the diagnostics landscape continues to evolve, Prof Chihota emphasised that more tools, more options, and smarter implementation strategies are still needed.

Through the DriveDx4TB TOO project, Aurum and partners are evaluating three new diagnostic technologies to help address persistent gaps in TB detection and move us closer to finding the people who remain missed.

Braden van Breda, from AI Diagnostics highlighted the potential of AI-powered diagnostics to support community-based screening, while recognising the importance of partnerships to make these solutions affordable and scalable.

Dr Boitumelo Seepamore, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) reminded delegates that compassionate, patient-centred care remains essential to successful TB programmes. From nurses and social workers to multidisciplinary care teams, meeting patients where they are and addressing social barriers can transform outcomes. "Better patient care, leads to better outcomes. "

Closing the session, Dr. Elias Ramarumo, (PhD in Development Studies), National Department of Health (South Africa) stressed the need for sustainable domestic funding, stronger demand creation and the exploration of portable digital chest X-ray solutions to expand access to screening.

*This session was co-chaired by Aurum's Dr Mamothe Makgabo and Prof Limakatso Lebina from AHRI.

FPD Conferences and Special Events SA Medical Research Council,

09/06/2026

Day 2 at continued important conversations on strengthening TB care, advancing technology, and ensuring communities remain at the centre of the response.

During Plenary Session 1, “From Bench to Community: Diagnostic Advances to End TB,” Russell Rensburg, Director of the Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP), highlighted the urgent need for more inclusive TB responses, noting that mortality remains high among men and calling for approaches that better address their needs.

Aurum researchers also contributed to discussions on digital innovation and implementation in TB care.

In Session 1: Harnessing AI Across the Cascade, Tanyaradzwa Nicolette Dube, Junior Research Manager, shared early experiences from implementing the AI-powered digital treatment supporter (AIDA) in Ekurhuleni and Bojanala districts, highlighting the importance of support beyond clinic visits, including side effect monitoring and emotional support for people living with TB.

In the same session, Farzana Sathar, Scientist at the TB Think Tank, presented evidence on optimising digital chest x-ray screening for TB, emphasising the importance of integrated planning with district TB and primary healthcare teams for successful implementation.

At the Strengthening Africa's Health Technologies Advocacy Coalition (SAHTAC) session on “Investment for TB Innovation: Aligning Sustainable Financing with High-Impact TB Programme Strategies in South Africa,” Zweli Ngubo, Programme Manager, highlighted the need to consider supply chains, infrastructure, and geographic realities when introducing new diagnostics and technologies.

The day also featured several poster presentations from Aurum staff across behavioural science, vaccines, clinical trials, and health systems research, contributing evidence and insights to strengthen TB prevention, care, and resilience.

FPD Conferences and Special Events SA Medical Research Council National Department of Health (South Africa)

08/06/2026

The is officially underway!

In his keynote address for the opening plenary session, Minister of Health Dr Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi reminded us that TB remains a leading cause of death in South Africa and called for a bolder, collective response.

"Progress is not enough if people are still dying from a disease that is preventable. The fight to end TB cannot belong only to the health sector – it must belong to all of us."

Adding to the call for collective action, Prof Mosa Moshabela, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Cape Town, emphasised that ending the TB pandemic will require greater collaboration across sectors and institutions.

"To end the TB pandemic, we need to start collaborating more and competing less."

We were also proud to see our colleagues Dr Priashni Subrayen, Technical Director: TB, and Dr Mamothe Makgabo, Senior Technical Specialist take the stage, serving as Chairs for Track 3, helping to facilitate discussions and knowledge-sharing that will shape the future of TB prevention, diagnosis and care.



FPD Conferences and Special Events National Department of Health (South Africa)