Administration

UZ-CTRC is managed by a sophisticated and centralized Administrative Core, composed of administrative teams operating dually in Harare, Zimbabwe and San Francisco, California. The Administrative Core’s trained and experienced professionals oversee daily and ongoing operational and fiscal activities to ensure uninterrupted protocol execution at Clinical Research Sites (CRS) in and around Harare. Administrative Core members communicate multiple times daily, via email and telephone, and at regularly scheduled meetings in San Francisco and Harare to manage operational and financial tasks, allowing CRS personnel to devote their efforts to the scientific enterprise.

Senior Administrative Core personnel are detailed below, however the ongoing management of UZ-CTRC requires an extended group of experienced professionals to ensure uninterrupted research operations and support.

UZ-CTRC Senior Management Team

The Senior Management Team (SMT) based in Harare, is comprised of the UZ-CTRC Administrative Director and the Finance Manager. They meet twice monthly to review day-to-day operations and cashflow levels; track expenditure against allocated budgets per protocol; and institute measures for cost containment and economies of scale by sharing resources across the programme.

Margaret Mukoki, [Certified Research Administrator, Member of the Society for Research Administrators International (SRAI), bachelor’s degree in accounting Honours (ZOU), LCCI Executive Secretary’s Diploma.]

Margaret is the Research Administrative Director at UZ-CTRC since 2022, with more than 20 years of grants and financial management experience in the fiscal administration of highly complex clinical trials, managing funds from U.S. funders (National Institutes of Health (NIH), FHI, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID and PEPFAR.)

She has a proven track record of driving growth and delivering results in Clinical Trials Research Financial and Grants management. She is a visionary leader, an expert in generating matrices and is the primary point of contact for all pre- and post-award administration processes for all annual federal awards managed by the CTRC.

She is responsible for the CTU’s overall objective to maintain and utilize an efficient, centralized administrative and financial system to support the timely, innovative, and uninterrupted execution of clinical trials, including continuous performance evaluation and quality improvement to drive compliance.

As a Director, Margaret is passionate about inspiring and empowering teams to achieve their full potential. With a keen eye for identifying untapped opportunities and a talent for creative problem-solving, Margaret has been instrumental in leading several high-profile projects that have transformed the CTU.

Margaret is also known for her exceptional communication skills and ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels. Whether collaborating with internal teams or engaging with external partners, Margaret is committed to fostering a culture of trust, respect, and excellence.

She is a member of Senior Management Team (SMT) to oversee both current and planned research finance matters, including strategic plans and daily operational activities such as cash flow levels and expenditure against approved budgets, efficient utilization of resources and infrastructure, and measures for cost containment and economies of scale.

She has direct oversight of the centralized admin departments and has implemented robust mechanisms for monitoring and adjusting resource utilization to address unmet critical needs, increase efficiencies, and contain costs.

Margaret ensures there is increased efficiency on all administrative and financial functions that directly support operations at each of the CTUs 7 CRSs, Central and Site Laboratories, Central and Site Pharmacies, and Community Engagement Department, across the lifecycle of protocol execution.

With her deep expertise, strategic mindset and unwavering commitment to success, Margaret is a true asset to the CTU. We are proud to have her as our Director and look forward to all the great things we will achieve together.

Diana Shone, Finance Manager [M.Com Forensic Accounting & Auditing, Certified Internal Auditor-IIA Global, B.Acc (Hons)], has 7 years’ work experience in Audit, Risk, Advisory, Compliance and Financial Accounting within the CTU.

She has in-depth knowledge of academic and practice in Accounting and Auditing with computerized accounting systems.

She is a member of the SRA International and she attended trainings in NIAID Post Award Grants Policy and Management and USAID/CDC Financial Management and Compliance.

Reporting to the Research Administrative Director and a member of the Senior Management Team, she oversees all fiscal matters, maintains an efficient, centralized administrative and financial system to support the timely, innovative, and uninterrupted execution of highly complex clinical trials, including continuous performance evaluation and quality improvement to drive compliance.

She supervises all the US Government funded accounting processes including invoicing, expenditure summary reports and production of financial management monthly, quarterly and annual reports.

Daily operational activities include cash flow management and expenditure monitoring against approved budgets, efficient utilization of resources and infrastructure, and measures for cost containment and economies of scale.

UCSF Team

The UCSF administrative team includes the CTU PI, Senior Administrative Investigator, International Program Manager, CTU Project Manager, and two support staff. UCSF subcontracts the majority of research activities to UZ-CTRC and other collaborating institutions. Subcontract agreements are utilized to formalize commitments and responsibilities, with subcontractors accountable to UCSF for programmatic outcomes and compliance matters.

UCSF works cooperatively with UZ-CTRC to build capacity in the following areas: 1) financial and grant administration, including A133 compliance; 2) research compliance, including regulatory and human subjects compliance; 3) clinical trial management; 4) performance evaluation; 5) laboratory administrative support; and 6) information systems support.

Z. Mike Chirenje, MD, FRCOG (see Scientific Leadership)

Joelle Brown, MPH, PhD (see Scientific Leadership)

Jennifer Tuveson McElroy, BA, is the International Program Manager at UCSF, has 10 years of clinical trial experience and is the critical and key link between UZ-CTRC scientific investigators and UCSF administrative management. She serves as primary liaison to NIH and network leadership for CTU administrative issues. She also assists the CTU PI with ensuring compliance by all CTU components with UCSF, NIH, and NIAID policies and procedures. She is responsible for communication with CTU subcontractors and facilitates solutions for administrative issues pertaining to the CTU to ensure smooth overall operations.