The Emavundleni Clinical Research Site (CRS) is an internationally-recognised site for HIV prevention trials that include vaccines, long-acting antiretroviral-based injectables, microbicides, sexually transmitted infection (STI) vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Positioned in the heart of the Crossroads township community, the centre not only conducts cutting-edge research into strategies to prevent HIV and HIV related diseases, but also provides essential health services to the community in the surrounding Nyanga district.
Since its inception in 2006, the research team at Emavundleni has focused on prevention as a critical step to help address the HIV epidemic in South Africa. The team is guided by the core belief that excellent research leads to effective evidence-based clinical guidelines, which lead to better patient outcomes and more effective health policies. Emavundleni was one of 15 national sites selected for the groundbreaking HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) 702 trial, a large efficacy study that is testing a combination of two experimental vaccines against HIV.
The commitment to find effective HIV prevention strategies has led to the expansion of the upper floor of the building to create more working space. The centre is fully equipped with a pharmacy and laboratory facilities. The site’s location in Crossroads, Nyanga has been selected specifically to facilitate the testing of new biomedical technologies to international standards among well-informed, educated and healthy volunteers. The centre provides essential services to the Nyanga community, including provision of HIV counselling and testing, STI screening, and contraception services.