UZ-CTRC

Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and unity that define our nation. As a health research organisation, we honour the progress Zimbabwe has made in advancing science, improving healthcare, and building a healthier future for all.

Last week, the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre (UZ-CTRC) met with Dr. Sharon Achilles @sharonachilles, Deputy Director for Reproductive Health Technologies at the Gates Foundation. The meeting aimed to highlight UZ-CTRC's research capacity and explore collaborative opportunities in advancing reproductive health innovation.

Zimbabwe has marked a major milestone in HIV prevention with the rollout of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable administered every six months. The introduction of this innovative prevention option represents a significant step forward in expanding choice and improving access to effective HIV prevention services. Commenting on this achievement, Dr Alan Smith, Senior Director for HIV Prevention TA Strategy, Medical Affairs at Gilead Patient Solutions, commended the Government of Zimbabwe: “It’s been truly inspiring to follow the recent news about advancements in HIV prevention in Zimbabwe—what an incredible achievement for the community and for everyone involved.” Dr Smith made these remarks during a recent Gilead familiarization visit hosted by @UZCTRC , where he engaged with key national stakeholders including Dr Owen Mugurungi, Director of AIDS and TB Programmes at the @MoHCCZim Ministry of Health and Child Care Zimbabwe, alongside @dr_Nyaradzo Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi and @Stranchi2 Dr Lynda Stranix-Chibanda from UZ-CTRC, and Dr Emmanuel Tachiwenyika of the Zimbabwe Health Interventions. Gilead Sciences is s the innovator, manufacturer, and regulatory sponsor of lenacapavir. Discussions during the visit focused on next steps to accelerate the scale-up of pre-exposure prophylaxis, including lenacapavir, and to strengthen comprehensive HIV prevention efforts across Zimbabwe. The engagement underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government, research institutions, and global partners to sustain progress toward ending HIV.

#FPCALiftOff2025 #WomenShapingGlobalHealth UZ-CTRC - Family Planning and Contraceptive Access Leadership Journey We’re thrilled to celebrate Dr Teacler Nematadzira, the St Marys CRS Leader on Lifting-Off from the WomenLift Health 2025 Family Planning and Contraceptive Access Leadership Journey! Dr Teacler has completed a year-long intensive leadership program designed for women leaders advancing reproductive health equity across Africa. The program connected her with a network of peers across the continent and provided coaching focused on authentic leadership and systems' influence in family planning. We're proud to have supported her through this journey and grateful to WomenLift Health for their commitment to developing women leaders who are shaping the future of Global Health. #fpcaliftoff2025 #womenshapingglobalhealth

UZ-CTRC congratulates the Ministry of Health and Child Care @MoHCCZim on the successful launch of Lenacapavir injection into Zimbabwe's National HIV Prevention Programme. This historic milestone, not only marks the introduction of a new biomedical intervention, it represents significant progress, innovation and collaborative commitment to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030. #MOHCC #NAC

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – Systems replication and backup services & Virtualization services - University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Center uz-ctrc.org/job/1696

This #WorldAIDSDay, we honour women leading the shift from disruption to transformation. Dr. Flavia Matovu Kiweewa and Dr. Teacler Nematadzira are driving an HIV response rooted in dignity, agency, and the lived realities of women & children across Africa.

The UZ-CTRC Principal Investigator, took time to share a thought for the longest serving cadre, Eunice Chifura, who went into retirement last week after serving the organisation for 27 years

Today we celebrate the incredible journeys of Eunice Chifura and Runyararo Chirume as they retire after years of dedicated service. Your hard work, wisdom, and commitment have left an indelible mark on our team and the organization. While we will miss your presence and guidance, we are excited for the new chapter ahead for you both. May your retirement be filled with joy, relaxation, and all the things you love most. Thank you for everything!” Yesterday was their last day! We invite you to share your fondest memories of the two retirees in the comment section!

Congratulations to Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi @NMgodi and her Zengeza team for their latest publication on the Dual Prevention Pill for HIV and Pregnancy Prevention. Their dedication to improving women's sexual and reproductive health is truly commendable. rdcu.be/eRxsC

Befitting recognition for stellar performances & dedication. Maud is a true advocate for evidence based interventions for women, peads & adolescents. She joined the IMPAACT CAB in 2007 representing the legal sector in our research community. She has contributed immensely to community engagement & scientific out, presenting oral papers at various local & international conferences. She is currently the local IMPAACT CAB Secretary, the International CAB (ICAB) representative, a member of the ICAB Leadership Group & a member of the IMPAACT Network Evaluation Committee.

Dr Teacler Nematadzira @tgnc76219 attended the just ended 12th Edition of the Zimbabwe Uniformed Forces Annual Conference on Health. The meeting brought together high-ranking officials and health professionals from the Uniformed Forces departments across Zimbabwe as well as delegates from SADC , East and West Africa. The focus of the conference was on ‘Addressing HIV/AIDS and Contemporary Health Threats’. Dr Nematadzira shared with the attendees the innovative work that @UZCTRC is doing to address HIV prevention and treatment thus contributing to the National HIV treatment and Prevention Guidelines, National Health Policies and safeguarding the health of the uniformed forces and their families.

Dr Nyaradzo M Mgodi @NMgodi of UZ-CTRC interacting with other members of the HIV Prevention Partners’ Forum convened by @MoHCCZim to share lessons learned from our research @NMgodi @gomo_doc @DrMushavi

Our very own, Dr Allen Matubu @allenmatubu1 has made it to the shortlist of finalists for the African Health Research Excellence awards for the year 2025. Dr Allen Matubu is the UZ-CTRC Laboratory Director and Principal Investigator for CDC/PEPFAR funded Laboratory Systems Strengthening Program. He has served the organization in different capacities for the past 21 years.

"Bright Future," a psychological treatment tailored for adolescents living with HIV and trauma, is being showcased at IAS 2025 by IMPAACT 2016 protocol chairs, Geri Donenberg and Dorothy Dow, seen here by their poster with Zimbabwe study team co-Principal Investigator, Tarisai Bere #hivawareness #endthestigma

UZ-CTRC exhibited at the just ended SADC Joint Meeting of SADC Senior Officials Responsible for Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation. The meeting was held from 17-20 June 2025 and served as a platform to align strategies and initiatives across the SADC region, aiming for sustainable development through education and innovation.

Today, we honor the rich heritage, diverse cultures, and remarkable achievements of Africa. Together, let's continue to build a brighter future for Africa, fostering innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity. Happy Africa Day!

Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi, the UZ-CTRC Zengeza Clinical Research Site Leader, has been honored with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network Service Award for the role she played, leading the AMP study. A big congratulations to Dr Mgodi for this special recognition for her leadership.

Appreciation Clip, for the dedicated staff...

Appreciating our dedicated staff that make it happen...