Top

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.

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
2000+
Research Appointments in 2024
59
Grants (2024)
75
Published Academic Journals (2024)
102

Leadership

Latest Publications

Motivations for Starting and Stopping PrEP: Experiences of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in the HPTN 082 Trial

Authors

Mills L, Ndimande-Khoza MN, Velloza J, Atujuna M, Chitukuta M, Hosek S, Chauke H, Musara P, Mangxilana N, Mutero P, Makhale LM, Tauya T, Celum C, Delany-Moretlwe S, HPTN 082 study team. (2025)

Abstract

Oral PrEP effectiveness depends on consistent use during periods of potential HIV exposure, but adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) find this challenging. Data on PrEP use decision-making and alignment with risk among AGYW are limited. From 2016 to 2018, we conducted in-depth interviews with participants in HPTN 082, an open-label PrEP study in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to explore reasons for PrEP starts, stops, and restarts. Of 60 PrEP acceptors, 12 delayed acceptance, 15 used PrEP intermittently, 18 paused and restarted PrEP, and 13 permanently discontinued PrEP during 12-month follow-up.

View more

Motivations for Starting and Stopping PrEP: Experiences of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in the HPTN 082 Trial

Mills L, Ndimande-Khoza MN, Velloza J, Atujuna M, Chitukuta M, Hosek S, Chauke H, Musara P, Mangxilana N, Mutero P, Makhale LM, Tauya T, Celum C, Delany-Moretlwe S, HPTN 082…

View more

Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Dispersible and Immediate Release Abacavir/Dolutegravir/Lamivudine Tablets in Children With HIV: IMPAACT 2019 Week 48 Results

Rabie H, Yin DE, Ward S, Rani Y, Ziemba L, Brooks KM, Cressey TR, Masheto GR, Cassim H, Deville JG, Ponatshego PL, Patel F, Aurpibul L, Barnabas SL, Mustich I,…

View more

Risk of tuberculosis infection in young children exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the TB-CHAMP multi-site randomised controlled trial

Purchase SE, Brigden J, Seddon JA, Martinson NA, Fairlie L, Staples S, Wilkinson T, Duong T, Schaaf HS, Anneke C Hesseling AC. (2025)

View more

Acceptability and Feasibility of Remote PrEP Visits for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa

Ndimande-Khoza MN, Velloza J, Chauke H, Mills L, Poovan N, Ndlovu N, Concepcion T, Hosek S, Celum C, Delany-Moretlwe S. (2025)

View more

Wits RHI in the News

South Africa’s Professor Helen Rees was one of six global…

Read article

Wits RHI’s Executive Director, Professor Helen Rees, was recently recognised…

Read article

In an interview with eNCA, Professor Rees called for bold,…

Read article

Our Donors and Partners