Dr Phumla Sinxadi, South Africa

Dr Phumla Sinxadi, South Africa

Mentoring organization: GlaxoSmithKline, Oxbridge, United Kingdom

Dr Phumla Sinxadi has an ambitious - yet achievable - goal. She wants to be the first research scientist to run clinical trials from A to Z – meaning from Phase I through Phase IV – with fellow pharmacologists at the University of Cape Town. The mentors for her fellowship at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are striving to help her meet her goal.

“Today, there is a great deal of clinical research conducted in South Africa, but it is not often led by South Africans. We do not have all the capacities we need, in particular to lead phase I trials. I want to help the University of Cape Town become a leading institution in that field,” Sinxadi says. In a phase I trial, researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range and identify side effects.

Dr Justin Green, Sinxadi’s supervisor at GSK, says he and his team are making all efforts to tailor her fellowship to her objectives. “Phumla is trying to do something special – and we are giving her our support so she can go back with the skills necessary to serving as a senior clinical pharmacologist. That support includes coursework, but also practical application, actually trying out things she is developing,” he says.

Business ambitions yield to love of research

A native of the Eastern Cape, Sinxadi finished her medical studies in 2001 and went on to complete residencies in anaesthesia and medicine in South Africa and the United Kingdom. She then undertook a Master’s degree in clinical pharmacology. “My plan, in reality, was to then go for a Master’s in business administration and probably work for a big company,” she recalls.

But something happened during her Master’s studies. “I discovered I loved being a researcher, and I did not want to stop,” Sinxadi said. Thoughts of a high executive position vanished, and she instead entered a doctoral programme in clinical pharmacology.

Her attention turned immediately to the infectious diseases that most affect Africans, such as HIV and tuberculosis. She began publishing research in her newly discovered field – with subjects ranging from mitochondrial genomics and antiretroviral therapy-associated metabolic complications in HIV-positive South Africans to the effects of rifampicin-based anti-tuberculosis therapy on plasma ARV concentrations in children.

Encouragement from mentor at home university

Dr Karen Barnes, a professor of clinical pharmacology and department head at the University of Cape Town, saw early on that Sinxadi had the potential to bring her university’s research efforts to a new level. “One of our top priorities is expanding clinical trials capacity, and I could see that Phumla has potential to become a leader, not only at our university, but in South Africa,” she says.

Barnes encouraged Sinxadi to apply for the TDR Career Development fellowship she is now completing. Her work there mainly involves running GSK’s ongoing Phase III trial on tafenoquine, an 8-aminoquinoline drug that is being investigated as a potential treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria, a neglected tropical disease and a major cause of uncomplicated acute malaria. It has a significant public health and economic impact, primarily in South and South East Asia, Latin America and the horn of Africa.

The phase III clinical programme on the drug, which is being given in combination with chloroquine, involves sites in Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. In addition to her involvement with this programme, Sinxadi has regular interactions with drug development teams at GSK for leishmaniosis, dengue and other neglected diseases.

Future teaching role

In 2014, while working on her doctorate, Sinxadi took up the position of Senior Research Officer in the clinical pharmacology division of the University of Cape Town. On her return Sinxadi will be promoted to a permanent position as a consultant clinical pharmacologist and senior lecturer. “This is quite a senior position in our context and will let her play an important role in teaching and training,” Professor Barnes says.

It is a great fit for Sinxadi, because the university has now invested in infrastructure for conducting clinical trials. “I am lucky enough to work at a university that shares my vision,” she says.

Sinxadi is also excited about her future as a teacher and mentor. “We run a clinical pharmacology programme for our registrars – doctors in clinical training. We want them to learn about doing clinical trials,” she says. “My vision is to incorporate clinical trials expertise into the honours programme we have at the university. I hope this will make a major contribution.”