The SAMRC/NICD Antibody Immunity Research Unit conducts research on the development of new vaccines and new approaches to controlling infectious diseases. The Unit’s research seeks to establish a deeper understanding of antibody responses to infection in order to design better vaccines for the African region which bears the largest burden of infectious disease.

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We aim to counter viral infections that cause serious health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.   Our research unit is dedicated to driving molecular technologies from discovery to clinical application, advancing innovation through intellectual property (IP) generation, and fostering the next generation of scientific leaders. With strong support from South African and international funding agencies, our research addresses critical challenges in biomedical science and healthcare in general...

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At the heart of South Africa's HIV and TB crises, CHRU pioneers clinical research in infectious diseases like HIV, TB, HPV, Hepatitis B/C, and COVID-19. Dedicated scientists at CHRU strive to enhance treatments and improve the lives of affected communities...

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The MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU) is situated in the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) as an extramural research unit based at the University of the Witwatersrand. At Wits, DPHRU forms part of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the School of Clinical Medicine of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Addressing national priorities of increasing life expectancy, decreasing maternal and child mortality and strengthening health system effectiveness, DPHRU forms a unique research platform with substantial infrastructure and equipment, extensive longitudinal data from the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort, and well-established links with urban and rural South African communities.

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The Unit has sustained an active programme of randomized clinical trials to answer important intervention questions relating to maternal and perinatal health in low-resource settings.

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The Empilweni Services and Research Unit (ESRU), situated at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg - South Africa, is comprised of a research clinic as well as a clinic offering routine services. ESRU is made up of +-30 research staff including academic, administrative and technical staff. ESRU has been functioning as a research entity for the last 13 years, and have produced over 140 publications. Whilst the unit started out with a focus on HIV it has increasingly acquired the skills and appetite for research in other areas such as Tuberculosis. The unit will actively encourage research into other childhood infectious diseases and infectious diseases in pregnant women. 

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The Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) is a leading research institution located in the heart of Soweto, South Africa, and is at the forefront of clinical research related to HIV and TB. Our headquarters are in the campus of the world-renowned Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, with satellite research sites at Aeroton (Johannesburg South), Matlosana (North West Province), Botshabelo (Free State Province), and Vhembe and Polokwane (Limpopo Province).

Our vision is improving life through research and extends beyond the boundaries of traditional research. It encompasses research training, impacting on policy, and being advocates for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB).

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Project for Improving Neonatal Care undertakes research into quality improvement in neonatal care in three specific areas -perinatal asphyxia, extreme prematurity and prevention of infection.

PRICELESS SA undertakes research and provides evidence that demonstrates how to improve health and life expectancy in South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa. Our priority areas are: maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, nutrition in the first 1,000 days, preventing road traffic injuries and deaths, health-promoting polices, and health systems and health systems reform.

PRICELESS SA is the leading Southern African institution for formal, degreed postgraduate teaching in health economics and decision science. We also offer a series of short courses and workshops on vaccine economics targeted for policymakers, public health professionals and academics.

PRICELESS SA engages with policymakers, the public and the media to strengthen insight and expertise for setting priorities for South African health.

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The MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt) is a globally recognised health, population, and development research centre based in rural northeast South Africa, near the Mozambique border. It is jointly run by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).

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Named after Nobel Laureate and Wits University graduate, Sydney Brenner, the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) is a burgeoning multi-disciplinary research institute dedicated to investigating the molecular and genomic aetiology of diseases among African populations.

By creating a world-class research environment, where top scientific and clinical researchers can tackle the big scientific questions in biomedical molecular research areas, the SBIMB aims to enable the development of new and innovative solutions to some of Africa’s greatest health challenges.

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The WADDP is a world leading research entity established in 2007 with its Founding Director the Late Professor Viness Pillay (1970-2020). It vibrates with a team of exceptionally passionate, responsive and talented Pharmaceutical Scientists focused on researching and producing 21st century patient-centric pharmaceutical product innovations as neat solutions for the most challenging unmet therapeutic needs globally. The WADDP is a formally recognised research entity at Wits University within the Faculty of Health Sciences and consistently produces high quality research for over two decades. It provides the largest postgraduate and postdoctoral training and research platform of its kind in South Africa for candidates with a specific passion to undertake cutting-edge research in the pharmaceutical sciences.

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Under the leadership of Prof. Wendy Stevens, the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub is a formally recognised Innovation Hub of the University of the Witwatersrand, hosted within the Faculty of Health Sciences, and its governance is managed by the Health Sciences Research Office and Wits Health Consortium. Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub is also linked to the Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) and the new Infectious Diseases and Cancer Institute (IDORI).

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The Wits Donald Gordon Medical Research Institute (WDGMRI) is a research-focused arm of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, created to strengthen clinical research within South Africa’s private healthcare sector. It began as the WDGMC Research Unit in 2014—the first such unit in a private hospital—and was designed to help private clinicians conduct high‑quality clinical research. Its work centres on mentoring and supporting practitioners in developing research questions, designing studies, and producing evidence that improves patient care.

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The Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is dedicated to advancing health science through transdisciplinary collaboration in infectious diseases and cancer research. This strategic document outlines IDORI's vision, mission, core values, governance structure, financial sustainability models, and key strategic objectives. It aims to foster an ecosystem of research excellence, drive innovation, and translate scientific discoveries into clinical and societal impact. This updated version expands on the funding strategies and strategic objectives to provide greater detail, including actionable steps, rationale, and potential outcomes for each point.

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Wits Sport and Health (WiSH) aims to enhance the lives of athletes and communities by offering sport and exercise medicine programmes, sourced from high calibre, internationally-recognised training programmes, to facilitate peak performance and rehabilitation.  Furthermore, it aims to unify public and private services for the benefit of Sports Science and Sports Medicine in the Greater Johannesburg region. WiSH is founded on three pillars, namely: Sport and Exercise Medicine Services, Academic Programmes and Research.

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WITS MRU, based in Durban is a Research Unit  of the Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. WITS MRU aims to answer priority research questions that will translate into improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes through expanding access to appropriate and acceptable contraceptive, HIV prevention and related health technologies, policies and services.

Using a range of methodologies, we conduct behavioural, operations and clinical research, actively partnering and involving communities and local structures. We also provide technical assistance, partnering with various stakeholders including the Department of Health and other NGOs to affect policy change and enhance best practice. We work with diverse partners, collaborators and donors, including local and internationally based universities and research centres.

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Wits VIDA Research Unit conducts cutting-edge scientific research. Our aim is to continue to save lives across Africa and low and middle-income countries (LMIC) through translational research that informs local and global policy recommendations on infectious diseases and the use of next-generation and novel vaccines.

Formerly known as the Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU) and founded in 1995, the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand is an internationally recognised, African-led research unit in the field of epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, and clinical development of life-saving vaccines.

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Wits RHI is a research and implementation Institute that is dynamic, progressive, and responsive to global and local health emergencies. We pioneer cutting-edge science and innovation in the fields of infectious and vaccine preventable diseases; maternal and family health; antimicrobial resistance, climate change and emerging crises.

Our strength lies in our multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to improving health outcomes at a local and global level through research, technical assistance, advocacy, policy development, implementation science and health systems strengthening. We identify health problems through sound epidemiological methods and qualitative research, and use a range of analytic and research methods to generate evidence and test and evaluate interventions in a real word setting.

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