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What We Do

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.

We are a part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, a world class African University, and its largest Institute.

We are a Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) collaborating centre and a strategic partner to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Who We Serve

Our work is focused on populations that are most in need, marginalised, or hard to reach. These include:

  • Pregnant women and mother-infant pairs
  • Women and Men
  • Adults and children living with HIV and TB

Wits RHI in Numbers

Staff Members
2500+
Research and Implementation Sites
52
Current Active Grants
67
Published Academic Journals (2024)
102

Leadership

Latest Publications

Preferences for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis formulations and delivery among young African women: results of a discrete choice experiment

Authors

Dlamini WW, Mirembe BG, Krows ML, Peacock S, Kotze PL, Selepe P, Smit J, Mandona N, Louw C, Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha H, Omollo VO, Zwane Z, Panchia R, Mwelase N, Senne M, Naidoo L, Chihana R, Delany-Moretlwe S, Gill K, MacDonald P, van Heerden A, Bosman S, Peters RPH, du Preez P, Ward A, Celum C, Heffron R, Velloza J.(2025)

Abstract

Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective, but adherence is challenging for young women. Products centred around women’s preferences could address adherence barriers. Using a longitudinal discrete choice experiment (DCE), we examined young African women’s preferences around PrEP product formulation and delivery attributes before and after initiating oral PrEP.

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Preferences for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis formulations and delivery among young African women: results of a discrete choice experiment

Dlamini WW, Mirembe BG, Krows ML, Peacock S, Kotze PL, Selepe P, Smit J, Mandona N, Louw C, Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha H, Omollo VO, Zwane Z, Panchia R, Mwelase N, Senne M,…

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Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

Garcia-Prats AJ, Garcia-Cremades M, Cox V, Kredo T, Dunbar R, Schaaf HS, Seddon JA, Furin J, Achar J, Radke K, Sachs T, Abubakirov A, Ahmed S, Akkerman OW, Al Ani…

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Safety and immunogenicity of Ad26.COV2.S in adolescents: Phase 2 randomized clinical trial

Tica J, Rezelj VV, Benoit Baron, van Paassen V, Zaidman J, Fairlie L, Gert Scheper, Gars ML, Struyf F, Douoguih M, Ruiz-Guiñazú J, COV3006 study group. (2025)

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The effect of STI screening during pregnancy on vertical transmission of HIV and adverse pregnancy outcomes in South Africa: a modelling study

Nyemba DC, Joseph-Davey DL, Delany-Moretlwe S, Myer L, Johnson LF. (2025)

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Wits RHI in the News

On 14 February 2025, members of the Community Advisory Board…

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On 10 and 11 February 2025, the Wits RHI Climate…

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Wits-Alive is inviting applications for the African Advanced Vaccinology (Afro-ADVAC)…

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