Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa)

We will create a centre for infectious diseases research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) that conducts high-quality translational infectious disease research in a setting of tremendous disease burden. The juxtaposition of infection burden with sophisticated research laboratories offers unique advantage. We will foster investigator-led approaches via an overarching scientific theme: 1. To combat infection, especially HIV-1 and tuberculosis, via clinical and laboratory research Specific subthemes within this are: 2. To understand overlap between infections and non-communicable diseases of poverty, especially where the latter impact susceptibility to, or arise as a consequence of, infection 3. To understand and tackle the challenges (e.g. metabolic complications, resistance) of large-scale antiretroviral therapy. We will enable this by strengthening existing, and creating new, shared research platforms: 1. Developing the clinical research platform via increased integration with UCT’s Clinical Research Centre to grow phase II/III clinical trials scope with particular emphasis on Experimental Medicine. 2. Improving ability to bring cutting-edge analysis to infected materials by equipping and administering expanded tuberculosis Biosafety Level III facilities. 3. Enhancing ability to manage, integrate and analyse multidimensional population-based, clinical research, and laboratory data via a cross-cutting biomedical data integration platform.