Francesca Little

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Bio-Statistics, specifically medical statistics
 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Academic Qualifications:
University of Cape Town, South Africa.
2003: Ph.D Statistics
1983: M.Sc. Operations Research
1981: B.Sc.(Hons.) Operations Research
1980: B.Sc. Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics

Professional Qualifications:
1993 C.Stat (Chartered Statistician,The Royal Statistical Society, London)

Experience and Research Interests:
I am currently an associate professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences at UCT. I am responsible for lecturing undergraduate courses in Statistics to Science students and post-graduate courses in Bio-statistics to students in both the Science and Health Sciences Faculties.
I am involved in the statistical analysis of infectious diseases and consult in general to the Health Sciences Faculty and other medical researchers.
My theoretical research interests are in generalized linear and nonlinear mixed effect models.
Previously, I worked in England for eight years where I was a statistician for a consulting company to the Pharmaceutical Industry. I was responsible for the statistical analysis of clinical trials. I have also worked for the South African Medical Research Council as a Biometrician.

Publications:

1. Lawn SD, Little F, Bekker LG, Kaplan R, Campbel E, Orrell C, Wood R. “Changing mortality risk associated with CD4 cell response to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa”. AIDS 23:335-342, 2009.

2. Sharma TS, Hughes J, Murillo A, Riley J, Soares A, Little F, Mitchell CD, Hanekom WA. “ CD8+ T-cell Interleukin-7 Receptor Alpha Expression as a Potential Indicator of Disease Status in HIV-infected Children.”  PLoS One 2008. In press.

3. Mansoor N, Scriba TJ, De Kock M, Tameris M, Keyser A, Abel B, Little F, Soares A, Gelderbloem S, Mlenjeni S, Denation L, Hawkridge A, Boom H, Kaplan G, Hussey G, Hanekom WA. “Infant HIV-1 infection Severely Impairs the Bacille Calmette-Guerin Vaccine-Induced Immune Response”. Accepted for publication in Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2008.

4. Abel B, Mansoor N, Scriba T, Hughes J, De Kock M, Tameris M, Mlenjeni S, Denation L, Little F, Gelderbloem S, HAwkridge A, Boom H, Kaplan G, Hussey G, Hanekom W. “Significantly skewed memory CD8+ T cell subsets in HIV-1 infected infants during the first year of life. Accepted for publication in Clinical Epidemiology, 2008.

5. Hawkridge T, Hatherill M, Little F, Goetz MA; Barker L, Mahomed H, Sadoff J,  Hanekom W, Geiter L, Hussey G. “A randomized trial comparing the efficacy of percutaneous versus intradermal BCG in the prevention of tuberculosis disease in infants and young children”. Accepted for publication in BMJ, 2008.

6. Orrell C, Little F, Smith P, Folb P, Taylor W,  Olliaro P, Barnes K. “Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of artesunate and amodiaquine alone and in combination in healthy volunteers”  European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2008

7. Barnes KI , Little F, Mabuza A, Mngomezulu N,  Govere J, Durrheim D, Roper C, Watkins W, White  NJ .“Increasing post-treatment gametocytemia: an early parasitological indicator of emerging sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance in falciparum malaria.” The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 197, 1603-1613,2008

8. Ward CL, Mertens JR,Flisher AJ, Bresick GF, Sterling SA, Little F, Weisner CM. ”Prevalence and correlates of substance use among South African primary care clinic patients.” Substance Use and Misuse,43,1395-1410, 2008

9. Rawoot A, Little F, Heckmann JM, “Risk of malignancies in myasthenia gravis patients on Azathioprine treatment.” S Afr Med J December 2006.

10. Barnes KI, Little F, Smith PJ, Evans A, Watkins WM, White NJ, “Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine pharmacokinetics in malaria: pediatric dosing implications.” Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 80 (6),582-596,2006.

11. Mahomed H, Hughes EJ, Hawkridge T, Little F, Simon E, Geiter L, Hanekom W, Hussey G. “Comparison of Mantoux skin test with three generations of a whole blood IFN-gamma assay for tuberculosis infection.” International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 10, 310-316, 2006.

12. Barnes KI, Durrheim DN, Little F, Jackson A, Mehta U, Allen E, Dlamini SS, Tsoka J, Bredenkamp B, Mthembu DJ, White N, Sharp BL. “Effect of Artemether-Lumefantrine policy and improved vector control on malaria burden in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.” PLOS Medicine 2(11), 1123-1134, 2005.

13. Heckmann J.M., Lambson E.M.T., Little F, Owen E.P. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) heterozygosity and enzyme activity as predictive tests for the development of azathioprine-related adverse events. Journal of Neurological Sciences 231,71–80, 2005.

14. NKM van Kooten Niekerk, MM Knies, J Howard, H Rabie, M Zeier, A van Rensburg, N Frans, HS Schaaf, G Fatti, F Little and MF Cotton. The first 5 years of the family clinic for HIV at Tygerberg hospital: Family demographics, of children and early impact of antiretroviral therapy. Journal of Tropical Paediatrics 52,12-18, 2006.

15. Barnes KI, Mwenechanya J, Tembo M, McIlleron H, Folb PI, Ribeiro I, Little F, Gomes M, Molyneux ME., 2004. Efficacy of rectal artesunate compared with parenteral quinine in initial treatment of moderately severe malaria in African children and adults: a randomised study. The Lancet Vol. 363, No 9421.

16. Myer L, Matthews C, Little F, Accepted. Dual method use among South African condom procurers. International Family Planning Perspectives.

17. Myer L, Matthews C, Little F, 2001. Condom gap in Africa wider than study suggests. BMJ, 323:937.

18. Myer L, Matthews L, Little F, Barriers to Accessing Free Condoms at Public Health Facilities across South Africa. Submitted to SA Medical Journal.

19. Myer L, Matthews C, Little F, Karim SSA, 2001. The fate of free male condoms distributed to the public in South Africa. AIDS,15:789-793

20. Myer L, Matthews C, Little F, 2001. Tracing condom fates: Design and Pilot Results of a Study Investigating the Use and Wastage of Public Sector Condoms. Afr J Reprod Health, 5(1):66-74

21. B.M. Mayosi, F. Little, R.N. Scott Millar, 1999. Long-term Survival After Permanent Pacemaker implantation in children and young adults: initial 30-year experience, PACE, 22:407-412.

22. P.C. Potter, M McCaldin, E.B. Dowdle, F. Little, J. Juritz, Clustering of Allergen Specific IgE Antibody responses in Allergic responses in Allergic Subjects, The Journal of Clinical Investigation of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immuniology, 1987/88.

23. S.M Kibel, M.A. Kibel, F. Little, F.H. Pocock, Blood Lead Levels in Young Newspaper Vendors, S.Afr. Medical Journal.

24. F. Visser, J.F. Affleck-Graves, An Analysis of the Comovement of Shares Listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Journal for Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Bureau for Economic Research, University of Stellenbosch, No17,July 1983.