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UCT RESEARCH REPORT 2012
The Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine
(IIDMM) is the largest research entity at the University
of Cape Town. As a trans-faculty postgraduate research
institute, its focus is on infectious diseases, particularly HIV/
AIDS and tuberculosis; non-communicable diseases, such as
prevalent cancers; genetic medicine; and molecular medicine,
including drug discovery. In 2012, the IIDMM was home to
27 full members, nine associate, 12 affiliate (early/mid-career
researchers) and nine adjunct members. 150 master’s and
PhD students were hosted, as were 76 postdoctoral research
fellows and 140 research-funded staff.
T
he goals of the institute are focused on high-quality, internationally
competitive research, relevant to Africa. Additionally, the institute aims to
influence health policy and practice, and to be a major training hub in Africa for
biomedical, clinical and public health researchers. It is particularly important
that the work of the institute is translational – that the discoveries and pursuits
are taken from the laboratories and
applied in our communities.
Importantly,
the IIDMM’s research themes, which are determined by members’ specific
interests, align closely with national health priorities.
Consistent with its established reputation, the IIDMM has continued to grow in research
excellence and output. Journal publications for the institute at the end of 2012 totalled
over 200, and included papers published in
Nature Medicine
(impact factor 22.5),
Lancet
(impact factor 38) and
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
(impact factor 11). Collaborative research continued with colleagues based at 15 South
African institutions, 17 African institutions in 12 other countries, and 122 institutions in 27
countries further afield, and included 42 consortia.
The vision of the IIDMM is to be a centre of excellence where researchers work
together to tackle diseases of major importance in Africa. As a postgraduate research
institute that fosters world-class research at the intersection of the basic, clinical
and public health sciences, the IIDMM has become home to some rising stars
whose work is attracting major attention in the global arena.
The Institute of Infectious Disease and
Molecular Medicine