Wits Research Institute for Malaria

Wits Research Institute for Malaria is a university-based research institute located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established within the University of the Witwatersrand, it is a public academic research institution dedicated to advancing malaria science in southern Africa and beyond. The institute supports national and regional elimination goals through integrated laboratory, field, and translational research.

Its research spans vector biology, genomic surveillance, drug resistance, and diagnostic innovation. Studies on Anopheles ecology, insecticide resistance, and environmental adaptation strengthen vector control strategies. Genomic tools for Plasmodium falciparum and analyses of resistance markers guide chemoprevention and treatment policy, while work on rapid diagnostics informs elimination surveillance.

The institute also explores gene drives, multistage antimalarial compounds, and host parasite interactions, reflecting strength in translational and molecular science. By linking entomology, genomics, and clinical research, it delivers evidence that shapes public health interventions and supports sustainable malaria elimination across endemic settings.