The Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa) fosters investigator-led approaches via the overarching scientific objective of combatting infection, especially HIV-1 and tuberculosis and LRTI, through clinical and laboratory research. CIDRI-Africa is also expanding its portfolio to include support for research on the interaction between communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially where the latter impact susceptibility to infection, or arise as a consequence of infection. In addition, CIDRI-Africa has a major interest in evaluation of novel drug regimens for tuberculosis and HIV and in management of their interactions and adverse effects.
CIDRI-Africa was established at the University of Cape Town in 2008 to augment acknowledged strengths in the basic and clinical aspects of infectious diseases research in the Faculty of Health Sciences. In 2024 the support stream for CIDRI-Africa changed from competing via Wellcome's UK Centres scheme to become one of the inaugural Discovery Research Platforms in Science. Three interlinked platforms support clinical studies in the community (Clinical Research), improve the depth of laboratory investigations for infected materials (Basic Science) and advance cutting-edge integration of high-dimensional, big data (Biomedical Data Integration). Each platform is led by an established internationally recognised investigator based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, supported by a Platform Academic.
CIDRI-Africa Director, Professor Robert J Wilkinson, is supported and advised by a Steering Group consisting of the Platform Leads—Professors Warner, Mulder, Boulle, Associate Professors Rangaka and Wasserman—other senior academics in Infectious Diseases, and faculty representatives. In turn, the Steering Group is advised on scientific direction and strategy by an Expert Advisory Board of senior scientists with experience of the African research context.