The IDM - a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary postgraduate health research institute
Based on the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences campus in a 7,100 sqm state-of-the-art facility, we operate in the fields of infectious diseases and molecular medicine.
Clinical research relevant to the needs of Africa's people
The IDM influences health policy and practice by translating our scientific discoveries and applying them in various communities; community relationships and trust are critical.
Capacity building in the IDM
The largest research entity at UCT, the IDM is a national leader in research and health sciences human capital development.
IDM driving world class research
We conduct research at the laboratory-clinic-community interface by engaging a wide range of scientific and clinical disciplines; with 62 consortia linking us with 183 institutions in 22 African countries and 24 countries beyond.
University accredited research institute - Tackling diseases of importance in Africa - Developing people - Impacting health policy and practice
Epilepsy – a disorder that causes abnormal electrical brain activity leading to recurring seizures – can affect anyone. Although daily medication can treat the condition, doctors are increasingly recommending surgery as a cure for patients who don’t respond to medical treatment. A multidisciplinary team of specialists from the University of Cape Town (UCT) is making sure that more and more patients with drug-resistant epilepsy are cured.
Two researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are among 20 women scientists recognised by the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme for their excellent contributions to science in sub-Saharan Africa.
“I see molecules everywhere – in hair, in clothes, in everything. It fascinates me that you can look at a molecule’s chemical structure and modify the bonds and structures to modify the properties of molecules. Then those new structures can be used for something terrible, like bombs, or for something wonderful, like foods and medicines.”
A new report charting global trends in HIV/AIDS research has identified South Africa as one of the global leaders in the field. The University of Cape Town (UCT) was also revealed to be the most influential institution, based on its global field-weighted citation impact.
