Meet the ESR and Translational Group

The 'Evidence Synthesis Research and Translation' research group focuses on methods of synthesising evidence from published studies to answer research questions in all fields of research. We develop, advance, apply and disseminate methodology for different types of systematic reviews and scoping reviews. Follow this link to watch the ongoing ESR webinars.
 
Our transdisciplinary team has long-standing expertise in the following evidence synthesis methods: meta-analysis; meta-synthesis and scoping reviews.
 

Prof Tivani Phosa Mashamba-Thompson is a Professor of Diagnostics Research and a Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies for the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria. Mashamba-Thompson is an NRF-rated Medical Biological Scientist (Molecular Biology) registered by the Health Profession Council South Africa. Mashamba-Thompson’s research revolves around the implementation of point-of-care diagnostics for underserved populations and resource-limited settings and evidence synthesis research. As an evidence synthesis expert, Tivani advocates for the use of evidence synthesis research methods by raising knowledge and awareness of these methods through workshops for academics and researchers at all levels and disciplines. Her expertise in evidence synthesis research is also evident in more than 20 evidence synthesis articles which are mostly published in quantile one ‘glocal’ journals.

Find out more about Prof Mashamba-Thompson via the link below: https://www.up.ac.za/faculty-of-health-sciences-research/article/3020793/about-prof-tivani-mashamba-thompson

Responsibilities:

  • Conceptualising of ESR (scoping, systematic reviews)
  • Developing a protocol for scoping and systematic reviews
  • Translation of ESR 

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4193-2416

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tivani-Mashamba-Thompson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tivani-mashamba-thompson-a882b720b/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=mashamba-thompson&oq=mas

 

Prof Alfred Musekiwa is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria. He has published over 60 journal articles in international, high impact, peer-reviewed journals (Google Scholar H-index of 24, over 2,400 citations). His main research focus area is evidence synthesis research and he has published over 30 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Recent developments in evidence synthesis research include scoping reviews, used to map evidence on a topic of interest, usually new areas of research. To this end, he has recently co-authored two scoping reviews which resulted from his co-supervision of two PhD Public Health students working on Diagnostics projects where Prof Tivani Mashamba-Thompson, is the Main Supervisor. One scoping review is on supply chain management on COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostic tests and the other is on TB diagnostic services during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently a Co-PI for the Evidence Synthesis research group as well as the UNICEF grant that supports postgraduate women completing projects in evidence synthesis research, working with the main PI (Prof Mashamba-Thompson). He is also currently supervising Masters, PhD, and Post-Docs in Public Health and Epidemiology, many of whom are doing systematic reviews and scoping reviews.

Responsibilities:

  • Statistical support (statistical analysis including meta-analysis)

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5880-3680

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alfred-Musekiwa

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UJdQFUIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

 

 

 

 

Ms Kabelo Kgarosi is the Assistant Director and Faculty Library Manager for the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria. She is also the Coordinator for the User Experience Unit of the Department of Library Services. Kabelo has nearly 14 years of experience as a Health Sciences Information Scientist.

As part of the evidence synthesis team, Kabelo develops search strategies and runs searches for the systematic review projects. She also provides training and advice on systematic literature searching on bibliographic databases as well as searching for grey literature. Her expertise in evidence synthesis research is also evident in more than 5 evidence synthesis articles published in accredited journals

Responsibilities:

  • Developing search strategies
  • Guidance on conducting database searches 

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-3339

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kabelo-Kgarosi

 

Dr Kuhlula Maluleke is a Research Assistant at the School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria. She holds an MSc degree in Epidemiology from Stellenbosch University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health at the University of Pretoria.

Her research interests are Evidence Synthesis Research. She is a junior researcher with 3 publications of which 2 are scoping reviews. She currently coordinates ongoing Evidence Synthesis projects by linking Principal Investigators to TURF Screeners. She also provides training and advice on the screening process.

Responsibilities:

  • Linking PIs with screeners
  • Screening using Google Forms
  • Data extraction 

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0002-4697

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kuhlula-Maluleke

 

 

Ms Maureen Moyo Chilufya holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Zambia and an MSc in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

She is currently pursuing PhD studies in Public Health at the University of Pretoria. Her first objective involves conducting a systematic review and she has submitted her respective protocol for publication and is currently working on her results paper.

In 2021, she joined the Evidence Synthesis Research Women’s Peer Mentorship project that is supported by UNICEF, Future Africa and the University of Pretoria as a mentee and project coordinator. She previously worked on HIV and Tuberculosis research work with Zambart Project, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU).

Responsibilities:

  • Screening using Rayyan software
  • Data extraction 

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-0972

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maureen-Moyo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-moyo-chilufya-36102a40/

 

Ms Estelle Grobler is an Information specialist in the Health Sciences faculty library, University of Pretoria. She is also part of the Teaching and Learning focus group of the Department of Library Services. Estelle has more than 30 years of experience as a Health Sciences Information Scientist /Librarian.

As part of the evidence synthesis team, Estelle develops search strategies and runs searches for the systematic review projects. She also provides training and advice on systematic literature searching on bibliographic databases as well as searching for grey literature. Estelle is a co-author of 3 evidence synthesis articles published in accredited journals, and run searches on almost a daily basis. Estelle is also competent in Rayyan software, Endnote Referencing tool and screening of articles.

 

 

Responsibilities:

  • Developing search strategies
  • Guidance on conducting database searches

Email address: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2992-312X

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Estelle-Grobler

LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/estelle-grobler-a2b14a22

Mr Sagren Naidoo is the Senior Information Specialist at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, with more than 30 years of experience. As part of the evidence synthesis team, he assists with developing search strategies, provides training and advice on systematic literature searching. Mr Naidoo also provides  Endnote Referencing management tools and Rayyan software training.

 

Responsibilities:

  • Developing  search strategies
  • Guidance on conducting database searches
  • Endnote Referencing 
  • Rayyan Software

Email: [email protected]

ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3343-8861

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sagren-Naidoo

 

 

 

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