Health: Boost for HIV cancer research

A multimillion-RAND biorepository where specimens for HIV-related cancers would be stored for research had been opened by Stellenbosch University, it said on Friday. The biorepository was opened at Tygerberg Hospital by the university’s division of anatomical pathology, the university’s spokeswoman, Mandi Barnard said. The new facility would process and store specimens and make them available free of charge to African researchers and their collaborators. “One of the goals of the biorepository is to build capacity in Africa and stimulate research on HIV-related cancers that will benefit Africa and its people,” said the university’s Professor Johann Schneider. Research on HIV-related cancers was on the increase, as people living with HIV were more prone to develop certain cancers. A grant of R12.5 million had been received from the National Cancer Institute for the installation and management of the sub-Saharan African Regional Biospecimen Repository. Professor Sylvia Silver of the George Washington University in the US oversaw the installation (of the biorepository) on behalf of the Aids and Cancer Specimen Resource. – Sapa