Limakatso Lebina
Director for Clinical Trials, Africa Health Research Institute
Honorary Associate Professor, Universe College London
Dr. Limakatso Lebina is the Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) with over 22 years of experience as a medical doctor, including 17 years managing clinical research. She has led multiple clinical trials and observational studies on HIV, TB, and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, funded by organizations such as PEPFAR, NIH, MRC, and the Global Fund. Her recent work as Principal Investigator includes the Gilead Purpose-1 trial, which proved that Lenacapavir is 100% effective in reducing HIV risk in cisgender women, and a pilot study on Liraglutide for managing obesity in people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based therapy.
Her completed studies include the cluster randomized TUTT study, which showed that the WHO four-symptom screen is insufficient for TB detection, findings that will inform revised national guidelines. She also led an HIV self-testing demonstration project that shaped South Africa’s HIV self-screening policies. Limakatso has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers, is an editor at PLOS ONE, and serves on the South African TB Think Tank and BRICS TB Research Network Committee. She was also lead writer for South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB, and STIs 2023–2028.
What are the major challenges you and your scientific communities have faced in leading African science that responds to the needs of the communities you serve?
“Rural communities are often excluded from clinical research due to limited infrastructure, logistical barriers, and workforce shortages, leading to inequities in access and less representative trial results.”
Why is now the time to pursue the GLISTEN initiative?
“African communities represent about a 20% of the world population, 25% of the disease burden and only less than 5% of clinical trials are conducted in Africa. There is a need to increase the ecosystem for clinical research within the African continent.”
If you could tell a funding organization one thing about GLISTEN and its potential to change the way we do science, what would it be?
“GLISTEN collaborators have come together to establish a mechanism to conduct clinical trials that are relevant for the African continent. Contextualized clinical trials bridge the gap between global research and local realities, making findings more reliable, ethical, and impactful for the populations that need them most.”
A message from Limakatso
“Together we begin, together we go far.”
