Dr. Chidawanyika is a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences and has the background knowledge and expertise to be involved in this proposed program. Her first encounter with doing research was as a medical officer in the Microbicides Trial Network studies (MTN 003,003B, 016, and 017). She was involved in the write up, recruitment and follow up of participants recruited in a major study. Following this she enrolled into the MMed Medicine programme with University of Zimbabwe. As part of the fulfillment of the programme she produced a thesis and conducted her own study independently. During this time, she was awarded a fellowship with International Clinical Operational and Health Services Research Training Award for AIDS and Tuberculosis Programme (ICOHRTA-AIDS/TB) for a period of two years, during which time she also received extra training on research methodology, research ethics and conduct. Her initial experience in the microbicides trial study was also very useful in determining the conduct of my study.
Dr. Chidawanyika was also awarded the NIH MEPI Junior faculty fellowship to conduct research in pregnant women with Kaposi’s Sarcoma. This research work should be completed by mid-2020. She is also a junior investigator in an AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) study which awaits approval on their site. As a result of her experience, she has mastered the importance of good clinical practice and conduct when carrying out a research project. She has also been enlightened on the importance of publishing results of relevant research work for the advancement of science and medical knowledge. She has presented her thesis at two conferences and has published one case report to date. Her keen interest is on medical oncology, in particular, targeted cancer therapy. She is currently working in the Kaposi’s Sarcoma clinic at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. The time she has spent at the clinic has encouraged her to strive for better treatment of this common condition in our setting. This will be through further research and publishing of clinical case reports.