Alison Grant

Biography

I trained initially as a physician specialising in infectious and tropical diseases and HIV medicine, and continue to work in HIV medicine in London. I studied epidemiology at LSHTM with particular interests in care for people with HIV in developing countries.

Research Interest

My main research interest is improving care for people with HIV in developing countries, and preventing TB. Major projects include a cluster randomised trial investigating a point-of-care TB test and treat algorithm for people with advanced HIV disease in South Africa; evaluation of South African national roll-out of Xpert MTB/RIF, a new TB diagnostic test replacing smear microscopy; investigation of how best to use Xpert MTB/RIF among people attending clinics for HIV care; linkage to care after a rifampicin-resistant Xpert MTB/RIF result in South Africa; and a trial comparing a single round of weekly isoniazid/rifapentine to periodic treatment. In collaboration with colleagues in South Africa, I have been involved with the design, implementation and evaluation of an HIV care programme in workplace and community settings. As the programme lead, I am developing a programme of tuberculosis research at the Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. I supervise research degree students working on use of Xpert MTB/RIF in South Africa and Botswana; determinants of TB infection among young people in South Africa; and pathways to TB care in Ghana.