The Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine was established in 2004 as a cross-faculty postgraduate research institute based within the University of Cape Town (UCT). It is physically and administratively located within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Our Vision is to be an international centre of excellence where world-class scientists work together to tackle diseases of major importance in Africa.
Our Mission is:
To conduct basic, clinical and public health research that is leading-edge and relevant to the needs of African people
To develop indigenous scientific capacity in the biomedical sciences
To influence health policy and practice by translating scientific discoveries and applying them in our communities
To build partnerships with other research centres in South Africa and elsewhere
Our Valuesare:
Excellence
Collaboration
Transformation
Our Membership is comprised of 33 Full and 14 Associate Members, with 16 Affiliate Members from departments across UCT, and 17 Adjunct Members from other institutions. Working within our Members' laboratories and clinical research sites are approximately 300 scientific, technical and administrative staff, 80 postdoctoral fellows and 270 postgraduate students.
Our research efforts are focused on:
Infectious diseases, with emphasis on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis
Non-communicable diseases, including prevalent cancers
Genomic medicine
Molecular medicine, including early-stage drug discovery
The IDM conducts research at the laboratory-clinic-community interface by engaging a wide range of scientific and clinical disciplines. Collaborative research is an important focus for the IDM, with collaborators being based at 26 South African institutions, 32 African institutions in 22 African countries, and 126 institutions in 24 countries internationally. The IDM also has links to other institutions through 27 research consortia and 20 industrial partners.
