Africa Health Research Institute

The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is an independent, transdisciplinary scientific research institute based across two campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa.

AHRI’s research combines population, basic, social, and medical sciences to understand and intervene in the health and well-being of South African communities.

AHRI works in partnership with local communities and South African academic, governmental and other policy stakeholders. We emphasise training of the next generation of African scientists. AHRI collaborates with over 60 institutions globally.

The work lives of AHRI’s ~500 scientists, students and staff members are driven by our values: ubuntu, transformation, leadership, innovation, excellence and collaboration.

The Africa Health Research Institute’s executive director leads the institute and oversees its scientific programmes, assisted by four directors who lead AHRI’s broad research areas: basic and translational science, clinical science, population science, and social science. AHRI’s COO, CFO and other members of the executive assist with strategic oversight of operations.

The AHRI Somkhele community advisory board (CAB) is a vital component of this, and acts as a ‘bridge’ to our research communities.

The CAB partners with AHRI’s public engagement department to address our research community on our studies. It has an ongoing, open dialogue with the community, allowing people to express any questions or concerns regarding the institute’s research. The CAB contributes to the ethical and scientific quality, relevance and acceptability of proposed research in several ways, including:

• Educating the research teams on cultural, traditional, community norms and protocol that may impact on research – for example community entry, recruitment, informed consent and other processes.
• Informing the community on the phases of the research, as well as ethical rights of the participants.
• Advising the research team on important issues such as potential risks and burdens for participants or host communities that may be hidden from researchers – and how to minimise them.
• Contributing to discussions on the research agenda to safeguard a community voice in the research process.
• Assisting in ensuring that the research conduct complies with human rights and ethical standards.

A new CAB is elected every three years. Each election is followed by an induction programme where members get trained and orientated on AHRI’s research activities.