RESEARCH:
Biofuels: biomining for novel, thermophilic enzymes for lignocelluloses metabolism. Cloning in heterologous hosts, enzyme characterization. Construction of lignocelluloses-metabolizing and ethanol fermenting strains. Construction OF consortia for lignocelluloses bioconversion to ethanol.
Biopulping: Assessment of seasonal microflora variation and their physical and chemical effects on wood chips for the pulping industry
JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Selebano, E.T., R. Govinden, D. Pillay, B. Pillay, A.S. Gupthar. 1993. Genomic comparisons among parental and fusant strains of Candida shehatae and Pichia stipitis. Current Genetics 23:468-471.
Govinden, R., B. Pillay, W.H. van Zyl, D. Pillay. 2001. Xylitol production by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing Pichia stipitis and Candida shehatae XYL1 genes. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 55:76-80.
Hoosman, Z., R. Govinden, K. Permaul, B. Odhav. 2001. Analysis of backflushing of ultrafiltration membranes during potable water production. Proceedings of the 4th WISA-MTD Symposium, p. 43.
Juglal, S., R. Govinden, B. Odhav. 2002. Spice oils for the control of co-occurring mycotoxin-producing fungi. Journal of Food Protection. 65(4), 683-687.
Moodley, R.M., R. Govinden, B. Odhav. 2002. The effect of modified atmospheres and packaging on patulin production in apples. Journal of Food Protection 65(5), 867-871.
Govinden, R., K.D. Bhoola. 2003. Genealogy, expression, and cellular function of transforming growth factor-β. Pharmacology and Therapeutics 98: (2003) 257-265.
Beekrum S, R Govinden and B Odhav. 2003. Naturally occurring phenols: A detoxification strategy for Fumonisin B1. Journal of Food Additives and contaminants 20: 490-493.
Ramjee G, Govinden R., Morar N.S., Mbewu A. 2007. South Africa’s Experience of the Closure of the Cellulose Sulphate Microbicide Trial. PLos Medcine, 4: 1167-1173.
Lut Van Damme, Roshini Govinden, Florence M. Mirembe, Fernand Guédou, Suniti Solomon, Marissa L. Becker, B.S. Pradeep, A.K. Krishnan, Michel Alary, Bina Pande, Gita Ramjee, Jennifer Deese, Tania Crucitti, Doug Taylor. 2008. Lack of Effectiveness of Cellulose Sulfate Gel for the Prevention of Vaginal HIV Transmission New England Journal of Medical Science.359: 463-472.
Mngadi PT, Govinden R, Odhav B. 2008. Co-occurring mycotoxins in animal feeds. African Journal of Biotechnology 7 (13): 2239-2243.
Ramjee G, Coumi N, Dladla-Qwabe N, Ganesh S, Gappoo S, Govinden R, Guddera V, Maharaj R, Moodley J, Morar N, Naidoo S, Palanee T. 2010. Experiences in conducting multiple community-based HIV prevention trials among women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AIDS Research and Therapy 7:10
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
CHAIRING OF CONFERENCE SESSIONS
Chaired Session Two of the 6th Annual Symposium of the Natal Branch of the South African Society for Microbiology, University of Durban-Westville, 15 October 1993.
Track A Chair for session on In Vitro and Animal Models: Current status, latest Data. Microbicides 2006, Cape Town ICC, 23-26 April 2006.
Track B Chair for session on Recruitment, Retention and Adherence, Ashok Hotel, New Delhi, 26 February 2008.
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW PANEL – CONFERENCES
Track A Scientific review Panel member - Microbicides 2006, Cape Town ICC, 23-26 April 2006.
Track B Co-chair Microbicides and scientific review panel co-chair 2008, New Delhi, 25-27 February 2008.
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS
AIDS and Behaviour
INVITED SPEAKER
Validation of HIV Testing Algorithm, HPTN Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 16-20 February 2004.
AIDS Awareness Talk to Senior Citizen Group, Verulam. 6 October 2005.
CS Investigators Meeting. Title: “Site update for Study”, Amsterdam, 12-14 October 2005.
CADPAA World AIDS Day Celebration. Title: “World Aids Day”, Chatsworth, 22 December 2005
Site Preparedness, IPM Investigators Meeting, Cape Town, 20 April 2006.
Microbicides: The latest developments - utilizing research findings to inform localised prevention strategies. AIDS Foundation Learning and Sharing Conference, Durban, 27-29 June 2006
HIV/AIDS Awareness and MRC studies, Chatsworth Child Welfare, Day World AIDS Day, Chatsworth, December 2006
Prevention Strategies: The latest developments. Durban University of Technology, 13 February 2007.
Symposium on "Microbicide Safety Monitoring in Clinical Trials", Durban, 28 May 2007.
Gender AIDS Forum: Microbicides: Where are we at in South Africa? Durban, 23-24 August 2007.
Microbicide Clinical Trials In South Africa, KZN Department of Health, Pietermaritzburg, 27 February 2007.
HIV and AIDS in the Workplace, Durban, 21 May 2008.
Provincial Health Research Meeting, Pietermaritzburg, 30 June 2008.
HIV and AIDS, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 19 September 2008.
Biotechnology, Gateway Science Centre, April, 2010.
Community Involvement
CONFERENCES
1992-2007
Local: 25 Poster and 1 Oral
International: 39 Poster and 13 Oral
2008-current
Local
Poster
Richards J, Arulappan N, Naidoo K, Govinden R, Charls P, Parathnandh R, Ramjee G, Abdool Karim Q. Preventing co-enrolment between pre-trial cohort studies and HIV intervention trials within and between organisations: lessons learned in APRISA and the South African Medical Research Council. 4th Southern African AIDS Conference Durban South Africa. 31 March – 3 April 2009
International
Poster
*Coumi, N., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. Prevalence of HIV and STI’s among Women
Who Screened for participation in HPTN 035, Durban. Microbicides 2008, New
Delhi, India, 14-27 February 2008 (Poster).
*Pather, A., Reddy, S., Moodley, J., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. A Novel Tool Designed To Track And Follow Participant Contraceptive Use In A Phase II/IIb Clinical Trial. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 14-27 February 2008 (Poster).
*Miya, M., Simelane, S., Coumi, N., Govinden, R., Ramjee. Ensuring High Retention Rates in a Clinical Trial with a long term follow up. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Poster).
*Maphumulo, B., Nhlumayo, V., Mthethwa, Z., Pather, A., Coumi, N., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. Barriers to Injectable Contraceptives as reported by participants enrolled in HPTN 035, Durban. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Poster).
*Maharaj, R., Barnett, K., Ntikinca, F., Pillay, L., Kekane, E., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. A Western Blot Validation and Proficiency for HPTN 035 S.A. sites. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Poster).
*Raju, E., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G., Taylor, D., van Dame, L. Acceptability of an investigational microbicide, 6% Cellulose Sulphate, among high risk women in a phase III Trial in Durban. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008.
*Raju, E., Khumalo, N., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. Challenges in Recruiting and Retaining High Risk Women in a Phase III randomized controlled trial of cellulose sulphate: experiekces from Durban. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008.
*Govinden, R., Ramjee, G., Edward, V. Clinical Trials – Negative Publicity: Perspectives from the Durban Site. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008.
*Maharaj, R., Mnqonywa, N., Ndabezitha, S., Reddy, K., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G., Discordant HIV Rapid test rates across clinical trials under HPRU. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Poster).
Oral
*Dladla-Qwabe, N., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G. Factors affecting Product Adherence among HPTN 035 participants in Hlabisa. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Oral).
*Raju, E., Govinden, R., Ramjee, G., Taylor, D., Caraway-Dees, J., van Dame, L. Impact of Behavioural Change on the Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections among High Risk Women in the cellulose sulphate trial in Durban. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Oral).
*Govinden, R., Edward, V., Ramjee, G., Dees, J., Taylor, D., van Dame, L. The effect of randomized controlled trial of 6% Cellulose sulphate gel on vaginal HIV transmission: Durban site. Microbicides 2008, New Delhi, India, 24-27 February 2008 (Oral).
Halpern, V., Lie, C., Guédou F., Mirembe F., Mauck C., Govinden R., McCarraher, Obunge, D., Ogunsola, F. Predictors of Pregnancy in Microbicide Trials, International Conference on Family Planning: Research and Best Methods, Kampala Uganda, 17 November 2009 (Oral).