iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🫁 The GRR-HTB is a collaborative platform of University of Alabama pathologists & scientists dedicated to transforming how TB is studied. We aim to accelerate global TB research through access to human TB tissue samples and advanced analytical services 🧵

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

📢 Congrats to Associate Prof Xanthe Hunt on being named a finalist in the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards. ✅ A well-deserved recognition of her outstanding contributions to mental health research & mentorship. We are proud! 🔗 www.ahri.org/ahris-associ...

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📢 “These results add some clarity to a challenge that has frustrated both doctors & patients for years: how to treat HIV effectively without causing significant weight gain” - AHRI's Prof Limakatso Lebina. More here ➡️ www.ahri.org/another-hiv-... #AIDS2026 @iasociety.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📢 Another HIV treatment option - but with less weight gain ✅ Results from the OPTI-DOR trial presented at #AIDS2026 today & published in JAMA show that a 1x a day, 3-drug regimen has been found to be as effective as DTG in suppressing HIV viral load.

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

LEN was nearly 100% effective in trials - but how will it work out in a 'real world' context? AHRI's Prof @maryamshj.bsky.social reflects on a session at #AIDS2026 focused on early learnings from LEN implementation studies in Zambia and South Africa to inform scale-up @iasociety.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The first results from the Mobile Men trial were presented today at #AIDS2026 @iasociety.bsky.social Mobile Men explored uptake & preference for long-acting injectable vs oral PrEP among men who travel for work in 🇺🇬 & 🇿🇦 with AHRI as a trial site Our Dr Merab Lusweti breaks down the results 📽️

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

1️⃣st results from the Mobile Men trial presented at #AIDS2026 by Dr Eugene Ruzagira from MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit for the Mobile Men Study Group Mobile Men explored uptake, persistence & preference for long-acting injectable vs oral PrEP among men who travel for work in Uganda & SA

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Today, on World Hepatitis Day, we join the global community in marking this year's theme: "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down." a call to remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing treatment services #WorldHepatitisDay #LetsBreakItDown #HepatitisB @pippa-matt.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

"It should not just be scientists driving this work" - AHRI director of science Prof Thumbi Ndung'u reflects on some of the HIV cure work underway at AHRI Our researchers are leading & involved in multiple HIV cure sessions at #AIDS2026 this week. #RethinkRebuildRise @aidsconference.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Early learnings from LEN implementation: ✅ Demand is strong ✅ Uptake has been high among men (in 🇿🇦) ✅ LEN is drawing new people into PrEP services At the 'From evidence to access' session at #AIDS2026 co-hosted by @unitaid.bsky.social @who.int & Gates Foundation @maryamshj.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

📢 "This is a very exciting time to be working on HIV cure" - AHRI's Prof Thumbi Ndung'u speaks on the groundswell of research into cure - reflected at #AIDS2026 ✅ At @iasociety.bsky.social? Catch the SANTHE session on advancing cure research in Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean today at 1pm

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

AHRI is at #AIDS2026 Today, in the @iasociety.bsky.social pre-conference session on HIV cure without borders, our Thumbi Ndung’u joins Sharon Lewin, Christian Gaebler, Pisci Bruja Garcia de Oliveira & Lydie Trautmann for a discussion on Latin America & Caribbean perspectives #RethinkRebuildRise

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Reflecting on 3️⃣ incredible days of learning & connection at the 3rd annual AHRI scientific retreat - hosted on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The meeting gathered over 60 of our trainees from masters to research associate level for scientific exchange, skills development & engagement with faculty

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

The IMPACT-BP clinical trial, led by AHRI's Prof Mark Siedner, UKZN's Prof Nombulelo Magula & Massachusetts General Hospital's Dr Thomas Gaziano showed bringing blood pressure care into people’s homes in rural South Africa significantly improved hypertension control rates ➡️ nejm.org/doi/full/10.10 🧵

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Today we mark #InternationalNursesDay and celebrate the incredible contribution nurses make to improving health around the world. At AHRI, our nurses' dedication, compassion and expertise are a vital component of our research. Happy International Nurses Day!

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Gabriele Pollara @gpollara.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Great progress on vaccines & host-directed therapies (HDT) in TB. Our review on IL-17👇 🎯protective early on & post-vaccine in animal models 👉desirable for vaccines? 🎯Drive pathology in TB disease👉target for HDT to limit post-TB lung damage? With @ahri-news.bsky.social @plos.org #TBSky #ImmunoSky

journals.plos.org

Context-specific roles for IL-17 in tuberculosis

The number 17 is considered unlucky by some Italians as its Roman numerals – XVII – can be rearranged as Vixi, a Latin expression that can be interpreted as “my life is over”. In other contexts, the n...

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Exciting milestone for the #ATTIS study. The first 6 volunteers were screened for TB in KZN, South Africa! This marks the culmination of a huge amount of work to obtain this grant and set-up the study. It’s also just the beginning. 6 participants enrolled and 89,9994 to go! 1/2

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

#WorldHepatitisSummit poster - our team shared #CommunityEngagement experience from our 'EVOLVE' #HBV project in #SouthAfrica to enhance interventions for #hepatitis #elimination. 🧪 👏 #WHS2026 #NoHep #MedSky #LiverSky @ahri-news.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk doi.org/10.6084/m9.f...

Photo of team members Busangani and Luthando at the World Hepatitis Summit 2026, Bangkok

Photo of team members presenting our poster - you can view it on line here: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.32143867

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

🫁 The GRR-HTB is a collaborative platform of pathologists & scientists dedicated to transforming how TB is studied. We aim to accelerate global TB research through access to human TB tissue samples and advanced analytical services 🧵 1/3 #TBsky #IDsky

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

📢 AHRI has co-launched a new working group to tackle #HPV with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, CAPRISA, the Department of Health & the NHLS ✅ It aims to build a network of experts to advance HPV knowledge, improve patient care & support evidence-informed policy & practice. 📽️ youtu.be/ZjRNFUzx0A0

youtu.be

New KwaZulu-Natal HPV working group to tackle leading cause of cervical cancer

YouTube video by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

AHRI Executive Director Prof Willem Hanekom is delivering the Annual Stephen Lawn Memorial Lecture today at the University of Cape Town. 💉New vaccines to dramatically interrupt the TB epidemic 🗓 31 March | ⏰ 17:00 (SAST) 💻 Watch live: us02web.zoom.us/j/8360578402...

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

We were honoured to host the @wellcometrust.bsky.social Board of Governors and senior leadership this week. Wellcome is a key partner in supporting AHRI’s work and the visit was a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of our work and identify new areas for collaboration.

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Very proud to release this work! - huge collaboration to assess #HBV #epidemiology ( #infection & #immunity) in a large population study in #SouthAfrica. High prevalence, high #treatment need, low #vaccine mediated protection. @crick.ac.uk @uclnews.bsky.social @ahri-news.bsky.social 🧪 #MedSky

Schematic cartoon to show the domains of the #EVOLVE study of HBV in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, (1) Social sciences and public engagement, (2) epidemiology (the topic of this paper), (2) Clinical characteristics, (4) Lab studies (look out for more papers), (5) Informing pathways to clinical care.

Photograph of some members of the HBV EVOLVE study team meeting in Mtubatuba, South Africa

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

✅ As we mark #WorldTBDay 2026, we're celebrating a milestone for one of our major studies: screening has started in South Africa to investigate asymptomatic TB transmission. @emilybethwong.bsky.social explains how & why the ATTIS study is exploring asymptomatic TB www.youtube.com/watch?v=M053...

youtube.com

Could symptom-free people be unknowingly passing TB to others?

YouTube video by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Journal of Experimental Medicine @jem.org · 19/03/2026

Single-cell and spatial profiling highlights #TB-induced myofibroblasts as drivers of lung pathology. From Ian Mbano and colleagues @ahri-news.bsky.social rupress.org/jem/article/... 📘 Updates on the Immune Responses to #Tuberculosis and #HIV: rupress.org/jem/collecti... #KSTB26 #KSHIVVax26

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

New from AHRI in @jem.org AND on the cover! 📸 shows a human TB granuloma in lung tissue. The red, green & yellow cells shown, for example, are all different type of macrophage - immune cells that fight infection by engulfing & killing microbes like Mtb #TBSky #IDSky 🔗 rupress.org/jem/article/...

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Proud to be part of this inspiring team delivering #research & implementation for #hepatitisB #HBV in the lab, in #clinic and for #PublicHealth across disciplines & continents. #WomenInSTEM #STEM #science #MedSky 🧪 @crick.ac.uk @ahri-news.bsky.social #InternationalDayofWomenAndGirlsinScience

Collage of pictures showing our team activities in clinic, comms and education

Collage of pictures showing our team building activities and meetings

Collage of photos showing team members in the UK, South Africa and Ghana

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

🎉 We’re proud to share that AHRI postdoc Dr Afrah Khairallah has been named one of 30 recipients of the 2025 L’Oréal -UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Awards. Her research aims to inform HIV vaccine & treatment design. Huge congratulations, Afrah!

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

How close are we to an HIV cure❓ Earlier in 2025 we announced results from a groundbreaking HIV cure trial led by our Prof Thumbi Ndung'u. 📽️ Watch this video reflecting on his journey from rural Kenya to eminent HIV scientist &what the trial results mean www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVl1... #WorldAidsDay

youtube.com

How close are we to an HIV cure? Results and insights from the first HIV cure trial in Africa

YouTube video by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

❓ Could symptom-free people be unknowingly passing TB to others? ✅ A major study has launched in South Africa & Indonesia to try to answer this critical gap in our #TB knowledge. AHRI faculty member & study co-lead @emilybethwong.bsky.social explains #endTB #WCLH2025 📽️ youtu.be/M053QPGZaac

youtu.be

Could symptom-free people be unknowingly passing TB to others?

YouTube video by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

📢 AHRI at #WCLH2025 When new #TB vaccines arrive, we must be ready! AHRI's Prof Limakatso Lebina was part of a panel on engaging & preparing communities for new TB vaccines at a @stoptb.bsky.social side event 'Innovate, Integrate, Impact: a symposium on new tools to END TB' @theunion.org

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Three years after the KwaZulu-Natal floods, families are still living in “the falling-down place.” @bhekisisa.org 's story shows how extreme weather erodes both homes and mental health. 📷 Delwyn Verasamy bhekisisa.org/special-repo...

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

25 years ago, AHRI’s HDSS was born in rural KZN to help confront HIV & build lasting science. Today, it follows over 150,000 people, generating vital insights. Join us for a public lecture on its past & future: 🔊 Prof Geoff Solarsh 🗓️ 16 Oct at 5.30pm, SAST 🔗 RSVP: forms.office.com/r/0MB44x4fjN

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism @bhekisisa.org · 22/09/2025

"Some languages don't have certain mental health diagnoses. Like, how do you say post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Zulu?" — @ahri-news.bsky.social researcher, Collins Iwuji, on #MentalHealth and #ClimateChange. bhekisisa.org/special-repo...

bhekisisa.org

The falling down place - Bhekisisa

The scars left by the April 2022 flash floods aren’t obvious to visitors to this part of Inanda, the township just northwest of Durban. The earth seems to have healed itself, roads are passable and…

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

We are hiring! Please circulate in your networks. Join us in beautiful warm and wonderful KZN to answer some important questions about asymptomatic / subclinical TB. #TBsky #IDsky 🧪

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

📢 AHRI is #hiring for 2️⃣ key roles for an exciting new study on asymptomatic TB transmission. Successful candidates will join the leadership of the study, working closely with our director for clinical trials Limakatso Lebina & @emilybethwong.bsky.social More ➡️ ahri.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/AHRI1

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

🥳 Celebrating 🔟 years of the DELTAS Africa Programme! It's been a packed 3 days at the DELTAS Africa Scientific Meeting, featuring cutting-edge research in health, climate & social sciences; strengthening partnerships & reflecting on a decade of impact in building Africa’s research capacity

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

It’s #WorldHepatitisDay! We work all through the year with amazing international and interdisciplinary partners to improve awareness, advocacy, training and access to interventions. Thanks to an amazing team! @crick.ac.uk @ahri-news.bsky.social @cnwl.nhs.uk #KWTRP #UVRI #NoHep #HBV 🧪🌍🦠💉🏥

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

The Department of Health & @who.int are hosting 🇿🇦 's 1st national TB Vaccine Preparedness Workshop, bringing together policymakers, scientists, civil society & community leaders to ensure our systems are ready to deliver when a new TB 💉 becomes available. AHRI's Prof Willem Hanekom is there 👇🏾

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Big #lenacapavir news this week: 1. @who.int recommends 2x yearly injectable LEN as PrEP 2. @bhekisisa.org reports SA has accepted an offer of +- R520-million from the Global Fund to buy the jab AHRI is proud to have contributed to the landmark LEN results 📽️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHRV...

youtube.com

Breakthrough in HIV prevention with lenacapavir

YouTube video by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Our interdisciplinary team for the EVOLVE project tackling #HBV #hepatitisB met with the Community Advisory Board in #SouthAfrica to exchange feedback & ideas. Lots of food for thought: #vaccines #treatment #diagnosis & much needed care pathways. #NoHep #HepSky 🧪 @ahri-news.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk

Photos showing team meeting, information flyers, and community discussion in action at AHRI Somkele site.

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

📢 It's a big day for African health research: the African Population Cohorts Consortium has formally launched! Hosted by the Science for Africa Foundation & funded by @wellcometrust.bsky.social APCC brings together 40+ cohorts across 16 countries in Africa to drive health research & policy. 🧵(1/2)

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Poster by Gloria Sukali & team at #EASLCongress, showing measurement of #tenofovir levels in people living with #HIV ± #HBV in South Africa. Viraemic suppression more reliable in HIV; even with high levels HBV can persist. 🧪🌍🇿🇦🦠💊 @ahri-news.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk @ucl.ac.uk @easlnews.bsky.social

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

It’s #WorldImmunisationWeek - a moment to spotlight the research we are doing on vaccines 💉 At AHRI, Prof Limakatso Lebina leads our clinical trials: ✅ We’re currently testing 2️⃣ novel TB vaccines for adolescents and adults, and we are preparing for an HIV vaccine study A short 🧵:

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

As we mark #WorldImmunizationWeek we stand at an historic moment: the development of a new TB vaccine that holds the greatest promise since the invention of BCG over a century ago. Read how science is bringing us closer to a future free of TB ➡️ dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025... #VaccinesWork

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

In the past 50 years immunization has ⬇️ infant mortality by 40%. That means more children now reach their 5th birthday than ever before in human history. Celebrate & protect this incredible achievement. Fund immunization! A healthier world is #HumanlyPossible #vaccineswork

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Access to liver health - a priority for everyone... everywhere. While cuts bite hard, we will push for ongoing training, research, funding, employment, advocacy and access. 🧪 #MASLD #HBV #HCV #NoHep #LiverSky @worldhepalliance.bsky.social @ahri-news.bsky.social @hepbcompanion.bsky.social

A photo of a clinical researcher using a Fibroscan to measure liver stiffness

A photo of a clinical researcher using a Fibroscan to measure liver stiffness - training event at the Africa Health Research Institute.

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Reposted by Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)

Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

#WorldLiverDay We live with a huge & neglected burden of disease from viral #hepatitis. We have the tools for prevention, diagnosis & treatment... now we must fight to keep using them. @crick.ac.uk @ahri-news.bsky.social @cnwlnhs.bsky.social @uclhresearch.bsky.social #CDC #PEPFAR #NoHep #HBV 🧪🌍

Photo collage showing teams at the Crick, and collaborators AHRI (South Africa), KWTRP (Kenya), UVRI (Uganda) working on hepatitis B elimination projects.

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Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

We're proud to share that AHRI's head of clinical trials, Prof Limakatso Lebina, has been awarded the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship. ✅ The fellowship brings together accomplished innovators to form a community of global health opinion shapers & influencers Congrats, Limakatso!

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Philippa Matthews @pippa-matt.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Powerful words from @emilybethwong.bsky.social @ahri-news.bsky.social As precious and powerful resources are cut, we have to stand together, we have to keep going, & keep our eyes on the goals. We mourn, but we also mobilise. #worldTBday #TB #HIV #StandUpForScience #MedSky #IDSky #SouthAfrica

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