Nompumelelo Sigcu

Nompumelelo (Mpumie) Sigcu is a young South African woman born and raised in Port Elizabeth. Her academic training to date includes a Bachelor of Technology degree in Medical Technology. Nompumelelo is also a Golden Key international honors society member. She is a skilled Medical Technologist who has written her board exam in Clinical Pathology (Microbiology, Chemistry, Haematology) and has been practicing in the diagnostic and research field for the past 7 years. She joined Wits RHI as a Medical Technologist but was soon recognized for her attention to detail and sterling work ethic and was promoted to the role of Laboratory Coordinator at the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute Research Centre Lab in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her current position entails coordination, implementation, and oversight of all activities within the site lab which runs validated point of care tests for timely HIV and STI diagnoses. Nompumelelo ensures that all study related procedures which will require lab testing are set-up timeously and with the highest level of attention to detail to ensure readiness and skilled lab personnel when study activations are priming. She oversees the quality management implementation as well as personnel training and manages the lab team who comprise of Medical Technicians, Technologists, and an Intern. She also oversees and chairs the Clinical trials Unit Laboratory Oversight Group at Wits RHI. She is involved in several studies which highlight the most important challenges faced by young women and men in South Africa. Nompumelelo has been involved in studies related to vaginal pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the dapivirine vaginal ring formulation. She has also been involved in several other ongoing PrEP trials related to oral and injectable PrEP interventions as well as a HIV treatment study. Nompumelelo wants to further her studies in the future and plans to grow in the research field.