2022 Annual Research Report

YEARS

Wits Research at

2022 Annual Research Report

www.wits.ac.za/research/

2

Contents A Century of Research Excellence and Innovation

23

3

Professor Zeblon Vilakazi (FRS), Vice-Chancellor

25

ASSAf Gold Medal for Professor Achille Mbembe

and Principal

26

SHAP! The Soweto History and Archives Project

28

Faculty of Science

Wits Research and Innovation at 100 Years 4

Report from the Dean, Professor Garth Stevens

Report from the Dean, Professor Nithaya Chetty

Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation

Faculty of Humanities

31

Faculty of Science Research Stars

Overview of Wits Research in 2022

Enabling Research and Innovation

5

33

Dr Robin Drennan, Director: Research Development

Wits Commercial Enterprise Report from the Acting CEO, Andrew Hope-Jones

Wits, For Good. Towards the Sustainable Development Goals

33

BIORECOVER

33

FOCUS-AFRICA

9

Wits Research and the Sustainable Development

34

FOCUS-AFRICA Case Study: Food Security

Goals

35

Technology & the Future of Work:

10

Implications for Inequality in the Global South

The Sustainable Development Goals and Curios.ty Research Magazine 36

Research Across Faculties 12 13

Report from the Research Director, Dr June Fabian

Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management

36

The Rise and Rise of NCDs

Report from the Dean, Professor Jason Cohen

36

Key Findings in Oncology

37

Wits Health Consortium

The Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic: A Pathway to Addressing Youth Unemployment

14

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre

Report from the CEO, Alf Farrell

GRT-INSPIRED: A Gauteng HDSS Node and Powerful Research Resource

39

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

41

Indlela@HE2RO: Behavioural Insights for Better Health

15 17

Report from the Dean, Professor Thokozani Majozi

(Wits RHI)

Academics Engineering and Building Excellence in

• TB Vaccine • SAPRIN COVID Study

2022 42 18

Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute

Ezintsha • The ADVANCE and

Faculty of Health Sciences

CHARACTERISE Studies

Report from the Dean, Professor Shabir Madhi 43

SAMRC Wits Centre for Health Economics and

20

Faculty of Health Sciences Research Accolades

21

Mapping Genetic Diversity Across Africa to Improve

Decision Science: PRICELESS SA

Health

• ASSAf Gold Medal for Professor Karen Hofman

Transferability of Genetic Risk Scores in Africa

• Egon Jonsson Award for SA Ethics and Values

22

Framework 45

Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA) • Wits VIDA and the Sustainable Development Goals

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A Century of Research Excellence and Innovation Professor Zeblon Vilakazi (FRS) Vice-Chancellor and Principal Wits University celebrated 100 years of extraordinary achievement in 2022. Our research is inextricably linked to the development of Johannesburg, industry, and the advancement of South Africa. Yet, the impact of our research is immeasurable.

Wits was born out of the mining industry and 100 years later continues to work with the sector to make mining safer and more sustainable. It is at Wits where engineers developed and tested the first radar set, just as World War II broke out. Fast-forward 70 years and researchers are now testing the safe encryption and transmission of data through light in the same space. Wits was the first South African university to own an IBM mainframe computer.

Fast-forward to 2019 and Wits, in partnership with IBM, became the first African university to access a quantum computer – an area of strength, together with a focus on artificial intelligence, big data, innovation and new technologies.

With a legacy of social justice, Witsies took to the streets to oppose apartheid and other atrocities. Fastforward to the 21st Century and our academics continue to advocate for access to education, for an end to xenophobia, for measures to mitigate climate change, for the transformation of public health systems, for better HIV/ AIDS, TB, and malaria treatments, and for new policies to address non-communicable diseases.

Our comprehensive response to the Covid-19 pandemic reverberated locally and globally through our innovative research (including vaccine development and therapeutics), teaching and learning, outreach initiatives, and social activism.

Today, we are confronted with a myriad of complex planetary problems including global change and inequality, erratic power supply, crime, a lack of governance and ethics, the intersection of communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and pandemics. It is at Wits where we bring our best intellectual talent and resources to bear, across disciplines, institutions, sectors, and geographic boundaries, to find solutions to these challenges, some of which are still unknown.

I believe that we can continue to positively impact society through our research if we remain true to our values. We must search for and stand up for the truth, hold those in power to account, act with integrity, entrench proper governance systems, guard our academic freedom and institutional autonomy, tolerate differences of opinion, and stand up for democracy, justice, equality, and freedom.

We must continue to promote freedom of enquiry and the search for knowledge and truth, foster a culturally diverse, intellectually stimulating, and harmonious environment, within which there is vigorous critical exchange and communication, and encourage freedom of speech and public debate through facilitating dialogue and interaction between different parties – with the goal of increasing mutual respect and trust, amongst others.

This is our moonshot moment. Wits remains a beacon of hope in society, and one that is rising to the challenge.

We will continue to create and apply new knowledge, and to foster innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the challenges of our time. Our invigorated teaching and learning programmes must enable the next generation of skilled, ethical research leaders and active social citizens who will advance society. We must bring our best talent and resources to bear, across sectors and disciplines, for Africa, for the world, for future generations, for good.

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“The act and ethos of innovation is more strongly encouraged now than ever before.”

Wits Research and Innovation at 100 Years Professor Lynn Morris Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation Since its inception in 1922, Wits has been a social and intellectual leader tackling key issues in society, standing up for justice and leading from the front.

Members of the Wits community demonstrated their continued impact on society in our centennial year, 2022, through their research, innovation, teaching, and civic engagement. To build on this fine history and reputation, we enhanced our focus on innovation in 2022. This is not to say that the University has not been innovative, but the act and ethos of innovation is more strongly encouraged now than ever before.

Our concept of innovation is extremely broad. It embraces the use of knowledge created through research to benefit communities, government, NGOs, and commercial enterprises. The challenge we began addressing in 2022 was how to shape the support for such broad-based innovation. This led to various organisational changes, the creation of new entities – funded by a contribution from Dr David Fine, an alumnus of the University – and the rearrangement and refocusing of existing entities.

As Wits embarks on its centennial year, I am comfortable that the University has the basics in place to take its impact – through innovation – to the next level of success.

In the more traditional sense of research, 2022 has been highly productive, despite the multiple issues that research-active staff and students were grappling with as life returned to normal post the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 2,207 units of research were awarded by the Department of Higher Education and Training for all approved publication types. Although not quite matching the 2021 bumper year, it is well above our target of 2,000 units.

I am also pleased to report that, in 2022, Wits developed a standalone postgraduate strategy. We now have a clear course plotted for how to support our large cohort of postgraduate students. The elements of this plan include a pathing system used to guide students and monitor their progress. It includes the preparation of postgraduate students for the rigors of research through specialist and well-thought through processes, including cohort models.

This will not only boost the confidence of our students but also ease the burden on the supervision capacity.

I believe we are in a good space to leverage our tradition of engagement, and our history of high-quality research by staff and students, to make a difference to our various communities in the future. I am confident that Wits is prepared to fulfil its role as a research-intensive public university and to act as a reservoir of knowledge that can help our country to move forward for the benefit of all its people. This gives real meaning to our sobriquet: Wits, for good.

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Overview of Wits Research in 2022 Dr Robin Drennan Director: Research Development Working as a research manager at Wits has always been a pleasure. Why? Because one gets to work with talented academics, gifted postdoctoral fellows, and exciting postgraduate students – all of them pursuing their scholarship in a determined, collaborative, and collegiate manner. The following indicators characterised this talent base in 2022:

South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chairs: Professors on the Distinguished Professors Programme: University Research and Innovation Committee (UR&IC)-recognised research entities: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)-National Research Foundation (NRF) Centres of Excellence:

Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Fellows:

Active Postdoctoral Fellows:

National Research Foundation-rated researchers (including joint appointees):

26 30 60 6 83 193 400

National Research Foundation A-rated

researchers (included in 400 total): 27

Postgraduate students:

16,470

“The average growth over 11 years has been 196 journal articles per year.”

The brief notes below reflect just a portion of the contributions made by these wonderful people. Consider, firstly, the contribution to the body of global knowledge made by our academics through research publications: Wits authors published 4,073 items, which were indexed by the Clarivate Web of Science. These publications attracted 20,987 citations, at the time of reporting, giving an average citation count of 5.15 citations per publication. The larger Scopus index recorded 4,611 publications by Wits authors.

How do these numbers compare with the 2021 record, which was a stellar year, enabled at least in part by the extra time allocated to writing during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions of 2020? The number of Web of Science journal articles was down by 4.7% but remained well above the 3,000 level. However, this performance may be explained by a shift of publications trends, rather than a decline of productivity – using the Scopus index, Wits authors recorded a 5.0% growth of journal articles (3,467 journal articles).

The growth over time of journal articles published by Wits authors in the Scopus index is recorded in Figure 1. Using a linear regression with a high level of confidence shows that the average growth over 11 years has been 196 journal articles per year.

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Number of publications

4000

y = 196,48x + 1206,7 R² = 0,9758

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

2012

2013 2014 2015

2016 2017

2018

2019 2020 2021

2022

Figure 1: Number of journal articles published by Wits authors recorded in the Scopus index

These numbers of publications are reflected in the annual submission of research output units to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). This counting system is based on fractional author counts. In 2022, Wits submitted 2,274 units, which is expected to realise 2,207 approved units of research, given the average success rate of converting submissions into approved units of 96.7%.

A second consideration is the matter of quality. As the University strives for excellence in everything it does, the growth of publications numbers must be achieved without a decline in quality – and preferably an increase.

There are two bibliometric indicators that reflect the quality of publications, and which are convenient to use.

One is the Category Normalised Citation Impact (CNCI).

This indicator is normalised across global publications by knowledge field, publication type, and publication year.

Scores above one indicates an impact greater than the

global average. The Clarivate tool, called InCites, shows that Wits publications had an average CNCI of 1.39 ± 0.04 over the last five years. This indicates an impact 39% greater than the global norm.

A second indicator of quality is provided by a closer examination of the journals in which Wits authors publish.

The Web of Science classifies journals into four quartiles based on the average number of citations over the last five years. Quartile 1 are the most impactful journals.

Figure 2 is a plot of the fraction, expressed as a percentage, of the number of Wits authored journal publications in each quartile. Despite consistent growth over these five years, the fraction of quartile 1 journals has remained constant at 41%. Quartile 2 journals increased by 5% points in 2022, and quartiles 3 and 4 journals have shown a decreasing tendency. In general, a pleasing result.

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2018

2019

2020

2021

% Documents in Q1 Journals

% Documents in Q2 Journals

% Documents in Q3 Journals

% Documents in Q4 Journals

2022

Figure 2: Wits authored journal articles in the Web of Science index by journal quartile: 2018 – 2022

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18% A third consideration is the knowledge fields in which these quality journal articles are published. Over 100 years, Wits has developed a reputation of strong scholarship in areas such as mining, physical sciences, and medicine, with a strong focus on social justice. The five knowledge fields with the most publications in 2022 are shown in Figure 3 and confirm this century-old reputation.

8%

38%

9% 9%

18%

Other subject areas

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Social Sciences

Environmental Science

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Medicine

Figure 3: Top 5 fields of research based on number of publications indexed by Scopus: 2022

“Over 100 years, Wits has developed a reputation of strong scholarship in areas such as mining, physical sciences, and medicine, with a strong focus on social justice.”

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Wits, For Good.

Towards the Sustainable Development Goals Wits Research and the Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 are an urgent call for action by all countries. Although the SDGs aren’t focused on higher education, Wits University has heeded the call to action and actively contributes to several SDGs at an institutional level. Specifically, these include SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Click here to read the details of each at Wits.

Within a research context and in line with its ‘for good’ positioning, Wits University has since at least 2018 aligned and tracked its research publication and impact with the SDGs. The following table shows the number of Wits Web of Science Publications, over five years, that relate to specific SDGs. Note that the following table excludes SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), which is depicted in a separate graph, due to the volume of research initiatives at Wits and the Faculty of Health Sciences that align with SDG 3.

Furthermore, several Faculty research highlights included in this report explicitly specify the SDGs addressed. This provides institutional evidence of how our research aligns with, positively impacts, and advances the SDGs, and demonstrates ‘for good’ in practice.

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In our centenary year, Wits authors published some 3,911 Web of Science documents (see table below).

In 2022, the most extensive of this research dealt with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Number of WoS publications in SDGs (bar SDG3 Good Health) 500

400

300

200

100

0

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Good Health and Well-being 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2018

2019

2020

2021

Web of Science Documents

Publication Year

Times Cited

01 No Poverty

129

2022

02 Zero Hunger

73

2022

03 Good Health and Well-being

1988

2022

Sustainable Development Goal

2022

% Docs Cited

Category Normalized Citation Impact

313

58.14

1.089663566

188

64.38

1.025990411

13184

63.98

1.948029175

04 Quality Education

149

2022

134

44.97

0.817343624

05 Gender Equality

220

2022

401

59.55

1.158792727

06 Clean Water and Sanitation

67

2022

256

73.13

0.846129851

07 Affordable and Clean Energy

79

2022

351

78.48

0.873570886

08 Decent Work and Economic Growth

66

2022

105

56.06

0.720192424

09 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

77

2022

507

63.64

1.657271429

10 Reduced Inequality

60

2022

54

43.33

0.67168

11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

171

2022

866

77.78

1.277566667

12 Responsible Consumption and Production

55

2022

299

78.18

1.235212727

13 Climate Action

400

2022

1362

71.5

1.2292335

14 Life Below Water

63

2022

185

76.19

1.18465873

15 Life on Land

276

2022

1002

69.57

1.430898913

16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

38

2022

40

39.47

0.935976316

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The Sustainable Development Goals and Curios.ty research magazine These SDGs have also informed themes in Wits’ research magazine, Curios.ty (see QR code below) in the #MOOD, #CLIMATE EMERGENCY, and #GENDER issues respectively, while the #WITS100 issue, published in 2022, showcases Wits’ research and researchers across the range and diversity of our expertise in public health, palaeo-archaeology, climate, social justice and more – all of which address several SDGs.

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure Curios.ty Theme: Solutions

Since its first publication in 2017, Curios.ty has dealt with, for example, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) in the #HUNGER GAMESthemed issue, SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation) in #WATERSHED, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) in #SOLUTIONS, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in the #CITIES issue:

SDG 2

SDG 11

Zero Hunger Curios.ty Theme: Hunger Games

Sustainable Cities and Communities Curios.ty Theme: Cities

SDG 6

SDG 11

Water And Sanitation Curios.ty Theme: Watershed

Climate Action Curios.ty Theme: Climate Emergency

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Research Across Faculties

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“The Faculty’s research footprint in 2022 included an all-time high of close to 300 journal articles.”

Faculty of Commerce, Law, And Management Report from the Dean, Professor Jason Cohen The year 2022 marked new beginnings for the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (CLM). As the University moved out of lockdown, CLM staff could finally begin exciting new initiatives. In line with the Faculty’s focus on research with policy relevance and social impact, three new research initiatives were implemented in 2022, including the Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic in the School of Business Sciences, the TAYARISHA Centre for Digital Governance in the School of Governance, and the GRT-INSPIRED research triangle hosted by Professor David Everatt.

These new initiatives complement the Faculty’s focus on the practical value of its applied and professional research.

Our flagship research entities – including the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the Mandela Institute, and the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results – provide invaluable services to practitioners and intellectual guidance to policy makers.

The Faculty hosts numerous public lectures, debates and workshops such as the Wits Business School Leadership Dialogues and the Wits Inter-Faculty Symposium on Climate, Sustainability and Inequality. In this way, CLM academics continue to contribute to the public discourse.

Most importantly, the Faculty’s engagement with policy makers and the public is embedded in a culture of rigorous

academic research. We increasingly grow Wits’ reputation and collaborative networks in areas of economics, finance, business, law, governance, and public administration, through partnerships with leading international institutions.

The Faculty’s research footprint in 2022 included an alltime high of close to 300 journal articles with a strong emphasis on ensuring international visibility. Publications in internationally accredited journals account for 80% of all journal articles while individual Schools cement their positions as knowledge hubs in their respective disciplines.

Across the Schools, the Faculty boasts a National Research Foundation (NRF) SARChI Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice, over 56 NRF-rated researchers, and 11 research Chairs.

Additionally, the Faculty confirmed its outstanding contribution to the skills base in South Africa and in 2022 graduated a total of 574 Master’s degrees, 49 PhDs, 240 Honours degrees, and 1,306 Postgraduate Diplomas.

The Faculty strengthened its research profile successfully in 2022. We continue to draw on our unique combination of expertise to grapple with and contribute solutions to the economic and social challenges facing South Africa and, more broadly, the developing world.

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A pathway to addressing youth unemployment

Launched on 20 May 2022, the WEC took several steps, in conjunction with its partners, to contribute to the redress of not only South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, but its flagging entrepreneurial ecosystem too. In the first instance, it has developed a clinic programme for Wits students that is focused on experiential learning as well as evidenced-based management. This programme enables student clinicians to develop their business acumen by helping entrepreneurs to solve real-world business problems through a professional and quality business advisory service. In so doing, they increase their own overall employability through the knowledge gained.

In 2021, in response to the alarmingly high levels of youth unemployment together with South Africa’s poor entrepreneurial track record, the School of Business Sciences responded to a call for proposals from the British Council as part of its Innovation for African Universities (IAU) project. In recognising the burgeoning unemployment crisis on the African continent, as well as limited job opportunities coupled with largely underperforming economies, the IAU project sought to support the development of different pro-entrepreneurship initiatives through African-UK Higher Education Institution partnerships. The intention of the project was to strengthen engagement with our sponsors and contribute to local entrepreneurial ecosystems while developing skills amongst African youth to become net job creators, rather than job seekers.

The proposed initiative by the School of Business Sciences involved the creation of an entrepreneurship clinic to provide entrepreneurial support to on- and off-campus youth entrepreneurs. The Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic (WEC) was one of 24 initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa that received funding from the IAU. Its partners included the University of Edinburgh (through Edinburgh Innovations) as its UK partner, and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, as well as the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN) as its local partners.

Left to right: School of Business Sciences Sikhumbuzo Maisela; Dr Suvera Boodhoo; Dr Khosi Radebe; Dr Eleanor Chipeta; the British Council’s Meekness Lunga-Ayidu; and School of Business Sciences’ Dr Robert Venter.

Top left: Faith Mokgalaka (Puno). Top Right: Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation. Bottom left: Professor Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, the University of Edinburgh. Bottom right: Mr Mfundo Nkosi (Hydro Kicks) at the launch of the Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic in May 2022.

Two further important benefits of the clinic programme are envisaged: The first is its role in developing a culture of and appreciation for entrepreneurship as not only a viable alternative to employment, but also as a mechanism to address many of the grand challenges confronting South African society. The second is as a platform to encourage and support research that not only deepens theoretical insight into entrepreneurship under adverse conditions, but indeed, supports the growth and development of new enterprises.

This programme enables student clinicians to develop their business acumen by helping entrepreneurs to solve real-world business problems through a professional and quality business advisory service.

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GRT-INSPIRED: A Gauteng HDSS node and powerful research resource The Gauteng Research Triangle (GRT) is a partnership between Wits, the University of Johannesburg (UJ), and the University of Pretoria (UP), reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three ViceChancellors.

Its first major project is GRTINSPIRED, a health and demographic surveillance site (HDSS) and one of the nodes of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), hosted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

“The GRT is committed to changing the Gauteng space to improve the lives of the poor.”

the main urban typologies in which the poor and working class live.

What Our Success Will Look Like Ä Ä

Ä

Ä

Cities and settlements are safe, liveable, and smart The economy is vibrant, Gauteng is the unrivalled engine of the South African and African continent’s economies Innovation abounds in a virtuous cycle of learning and success - coupled with a transition to skilled and knowledge work Gauteng is a clear reflection of sustainability and resilence

GRT-INSPIRED initiated an ‘urban module’ as a flexible instrument to allow academics at Wits, UP and UJ to add their own questions. Thus far, these cover climate change, substance use, migration, well-being, transport, and other variables. Academics from the Wits Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management have been particularly active in providing their own research questions. The node is also a dynamic platform for other research: the Centre for Health Policy, for example, will commission a survey of mental health in the node in 2025.

UJ colleagues are now analysing sewerage, water, and water storage across the entire node, both looking for pathogens and training people in safety and hygiene. UP recently launched their One Health initiative, and GRTINSPIRED will be their urban site (Mnisi is their rural site).

Fieldwork is almost continuous, running for 48 weeks of every year. The node is a remarkable platform for students – in terms of exposure to fieldwork, understanding informed consent, participating in the community engagement that underpins everything we do – and for academics. The GRT Data Science group, for example, will soon be testing our geo-coded data to see what magic they can do with the data, while others receive remarkable, longitudinal data generated either by our standard protocols, or via the urban module. GRT-INSPIRED is a powerful and dynamic research tool nestled in three major universities in Gauteng and seeking to serve them all.

An HDSS is an extremely labour-intensive research undertaking. Every building in a chosen site is geo-coded, all its internal dwelling units coded, and data gathered on all inhabitants, up to a population of 100,000. Verbal autopsies are conducted on premature deaths, migrants are tracked to their final destination, and every household is interviewed three times a year – once in person and twice via the GRT call centre (donated by Wits).

The GRT-INSPIRED footprint covers the whole Hillbrow sub-place, as well as Atteridgeville in Tshwane (an established township, including backyard dwellings and a large informal settlement), and Melusi in Pretoria West, a relatively informal settlement. The node thus covers all

David Everatt, Professor of Urban Governance at Wits and GRTINSPIRED Principal Investigator.

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“Web of Science data show that 2.69% of the Faculty’s research outputs were contained in the top 1% of the publications based on citations by category, year, and document type.”

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Report from the Dean, Professor Thokozani Majozi

Engineering and Building for Sustainable Development The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at Wits is unique in that it brings together engineers and built environment specialists, without which modern society is inconceivable. Engineering serves mankind by improving living standards, while the built environment is the spaces conceptualized, created, and maintained by humans. Without the built environment specialists, the achievement of sustainable development is a fantasy.

The FEBE acknowledges the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and in 2022 identified three critical areas of research to pursue with more coordinated vigour and purpose. These are water resource management, just energy transition, and digitalization. These research areas fall squarely on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), respectively.

In 2022, Professor Mitchell Gohnert, in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, published his book Shell Structures: Theory and Application, while Dr Tanya Zack, in the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning, published Wake Up! This Is Joburg.

Research Publication Impact The Faculty conducts both basic and applied research and its research output grew by 2.3% in 2022 compared to 2021, i.e., research outputs stood at 235.88 units in 2022 compared with the 2021 figure of 230.63 units.

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The FEBE achieved the strategic objective of research with impact in 2022 through the efforts of academic staff who are leaders in their fields and who execute internationally recognised pure and applied research. For example, Professor Turgay Celik in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering published 16 journal papers, while Professor David Dorell, in the same School, coauthored the paper titled A data-driven method for battery charging capacity abnormality diagnosis in electric vehicle applications. This paper generated 69 citations – the most in the Faculty.

Funding an Innovative Environment

In addition, more than half of the research published in the Faculty appeared in journals with high impact factors: 28% in quartile 1 and 31% in quartile 2. Furthermore, Web of Science data show that 2.69% of the Faculty’s research outputs were contained in the top 1% of the publications based on citations by category, year, and document type.

This is more than the global baseline of 1.1% and leads other similar faculties at the top five universities in South Africa.

Ä Ä Ä

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment in 2022 NRF A-Rated NRF B-Rated NRF C-Rated NRF Y-Rated

Number of Researchers

2 10 32 8

Innovative Discovery and Translational Research Discovery research contributes significantly to our understanding in a discipline, changes the direction of the discipline, or opens a new field of investigation and thought. Its relevance lies predominantly in knowledge dissemination through publication. Research, generally, is most useful if its products can lead to economic development through industrialization, job creation and poverty reduction. This is innovation and translational research.

In 2022, the Faculty both generated discovery research and vigorously engaged in innovation and/or translational research. We generated eight innovation disclosures, 26 active innovations and two spin-out companies, with one awaiting incorporation.

During 2022, the Faculty hosted four SARChI Chairs in: Ä Ä Ä Ä

Hydrometallurgy and Sustainable Development Spatial Analysis and City Planning.

Sustainable Process Engineering Clean Coal Technology

In 2022, the Faculty housed the Wits Mining Institute, which hosts several laboratories and/or centres, as well as three externally funded centres: Joburg Centre for Software Engineering Transnet Centre for Systems Engineering Transnet Matlafatšo Centre.

In addition, the Mineral Governance Research Group, hosted by the School of Mining Engineering, is a University Research and Innovation Committee (UR&IC)-recognised research group.

Funding is essential for research and influences the volume of research activities as well as productivity. In 2022, researchers in the Faculty successfully secured external funding to the value of R16.2 million – despite a significant reduction in external funding in the past couple of years.

This reduction is the result of a shrinkage in industrial activities due to unstable power supply and the global economic downturn following the pandemic. Furthermore, in recent years, the respective levels of funding from state enterprises such as ESKOM and PRASA have shifted significantly. Historically, state enterprises provided a far greater share of funding than industry. For example, the Faculty had hosted some research entities funded by ESKOM and PRASA in the past.

Graduate Throughput The Faculty enrolled 2,112 postgraduate students (including honours and postgraduate diplomas) across the seven schools in 2022.

Number of Qualified Postgraduates in 2022 PhD MSc by Dissertation MSc by Course Work and Research

47 66 279

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Academics Engineering and Building Excellence In 2022 Professor Turgay Celik, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, is ranked 6th among the top computer scientists in South Africa and listed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as one of the Access Outstanding Associate Editors in 2022.

Professor David Limebeer, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, receives a National Research Foundation A-rating for the first time. His research is in the field of engineering dynamics and control theory.

Mitchell Gohnert, Professor of Structural Engineering, is admitted into the South African Academy of Engineering.

Dr Nandi Malumbazo, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, wins the Energy Professional Development Award (Sub-Saharan Africa Region), an international accolade awarded by the Association of Energy Engineers.

Professor Philip Harrison, the South African Research Chair in Spatial Analysis and City Planning, receives funding from the Urban Studies Foundation for a study of vulnerability and pandemic governance across three cities – Johannesburg, Chicago, and Toronto.

Professor Cuthbert Musingwini, Head of the School of Mining Engineering, is appointed to the Editorial Board of the Resources Policy journal.

Professor Sehliselo Ndlovu, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, receives the 2022 National Science and Technology ForumSouth32 Award for Engineering Research Capacity Development.

Final-year students Ashley Randall and Liam McGregor win the 2022 South African Institution of Civil Engineering National IP Showdown, for their research, “The Effect of Vermicompost on the Water Holding Capacity of Soil.”

Professor Herman Potgieter, who leads the Gold Research Group in the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, finalises a second five-year (2022-2026) research and support agreement with DRD Gold. He also secures an agreement with Afritin for five years’ funded research.

Professor Claudia Polese, School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, secures a Research and Testing contract with Airbus Germany on the use of “Cold Spray as Repair Solution” for aeronautical aluminium structures. She also lands a new Collaborative Programme on Additive Manufacturing contract for the “Engineering of Metal Additive Manufacturing for Aeronautical and Biomedical Applications” project, worth R 347 576.

Professor Bryan Watson, School of Mining Engineering, receives the Gold Medal from the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) for his paper published in the SAIMM journal.

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“The 2022 Times Higher Education World University rankings placed the Faculty at 151-175 for clinical, preclinical, and health subjects.”

Faculty of Health Sciences Report from the Dean, Professor Shabir Madhi The University’s centenary in 2022 stood as a remarkable year for the Faculty of Health Sciences, accentuating our enduring legacy in scholarship, education, and research. Our relentless dedication to unravelling complex health issues has yielded substantial global and local impact.

In fulfilling this mandate, several researchers in the Faculty were honoured widely for their outstanding

research and career accomplishments in 2022. These accolades are outlined in the Faculty research highlights in the following pages.

Collaboration and Partnerships Collaboration has been pivotal to our success, demonstrated by the numerous accolades our Faculty received, which highlight the outstanding results achieved through team efforts. These joint endeavours exemplify our commitment to innovation, enhancing research quality and global impact, while promoting a culture of knowledge transfer.

The Wits Agincourt Data Sciences and Innovation Hub at the Wits Rural Campus launches at Agincourt’s 30th in November 2022.

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A notable highlight was the 30th anniversary of the SA Medical Research Council/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (MRC/Wits-Agincourt), exemplifying the significant impact of multidisciplinary teamwork in complex health research.

The Faculty’s collegiality was further celebrated with the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) receiving the National Research Foundation (NRF) Science Team Award for their influential research in Africa. Additionally, the SBIMB’s Network for Genomics Surveillance Team in South Africa was honoured with the 2022 NSTF-South32 Data for Research Award for their pioneering work on SARS-CoV-2.

NRF-rated researchers in 2022

97

UR&IC-recognised entities

27

DSI-NRF SARChI Chairs

8

SAMRC Research Units

5

Centres of Excellence

4

The national Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) allocated a total of 1154,09 research output units to the Faculty in 2022.

Through our efforts, we contributed 750,09 verified DHET publication units from 1678 publications (journal articles, books, book chapters).

The Faculty noted a decrease in publication outputs, but an increase in postgraduate completions during 2022, as compared to 2021.

Graduate Throughput

The Senior Research Team at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience win the 2022 National Research Foundation 2022 Science Team Award. They are (from left) Professor Chris Mathew, Dr Ananyo Choudhury, Professor Michèle Ramsay (Director), Distinguished Research Professor Collen Masimirembwa, and Professor Scott Hazelhurst.

Our Faculty’s financial strength, evidenced by securing more than R3.2 billion in research grants, has been instrumental in advancing significant studies, particularly in areas such as genetic diversity, oncology, infectious diseases, and Covid-19 research. This substantial funding has also enabled us to address the increasing impact of environmental factors on human health in the African context. Our research delves into the complexities of climate change and its impact on health, along with the unique genetic predispositions prevalent in African populations, highlighting the continent’s vulnerability to disease and the need for tailored health data.

Rated Researchers and Publication Output Nine newly and re-rated A-rated academics from the Faculty received high-ranking distinctions from the NRF for their research output in the year under review.

Total Number of Qualified Postgraduates in 2022

886

PhD

102

DSc

2

Master’s by Coursework or by Coursework and Research Report Postgraduate Diplomas BHSc

557 46 179

The Faculty retains its reputation as the largest health sciences training body in South Africa. On a global scale and based on the Academic Ranking of World Universities’ Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022, our global ranking was reinforced by the School of Public Health and the School of Clinical Medicine’s rankings in the top 150 and 200 respectively.

The 2022 Times Higher Education World University rankings placed the Faculty at 151-175 for clinical, preclinical, and health subjects. This is as the Faculty continues to significantly contribute high calibre ressearch, which appraises its stature internationally.

Looking ahead, we stay committed to advancing health sciences, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring that our research endeavours have a lasting and meaningful global impact.

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Faculty of Health Sciences Research Accolades

Professor Yahya Choonara demonstrates the Faculty’s global footprint in pharmaceutical sciences by winning the Distinguished Pharmaceutical Science Award.

Shabir Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology and Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, wins the National Science and Technology (NSTF)South32 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Two decades’ work by biological anthropologist Professor Maryna Steyn, School of Anatomical Sciences, is recognised by the Anatomical Society of South Africa, which confers its Lifetime Distinguished Member Award.

The Academy of Science of South Africa awards Professor Karen Hofman its Gold Medal.

Professor Helen Rees’ commitment to improving global health earns her a DSc Medicine honoris causa degree from the University of London. Rees is also lauded here in SA at the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards, winning the prestigious Ministerial Covid-19 Special Award in the Platinum Category in recognition of her contributions to combatting the Covid-19 pandemic. She also receives the L’ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit) French President Emmanuel Macron, in recognition of her groundbreaking and outstanding medical career, and Harvard lists Rees as one of the 25 Standout Voices in Public Health in Africa.

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Mapping Genetic Diversity Across Africa to Improve Health The contribution of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) to the field of human genomics is rewriting history on the African continent.

The SBIMB has made enormous progress in shedding light on African genomes. The partnership between SBIMB and the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for genomics studies in Africans has resulted in the collection of data and stored samples of approximately 12,000 people across four African countries. Although the grant for this has come to an end, its work has prompted another study of at least 1,000 whole human genomes from under-investigated African populations.

These studies look at the effect of genetic variants in African individuals and develop algorithms to predict where a person falls on a spectrum of risk for a particular disease.

The SBIMB runs similar parallel studies on active cancer genomics and pharmacogenomics programmes. Eight years after its inception in 2014, SBIMB today has data and stored samples on over 17,000 Africans and 200 whole African genomes – taking up close to two petabytes of storage. The samples stored in the biobank are a resource for future generations, as mining the data for interesting findings will form the basis for their study.

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Transferability of Genetic Risk Scores in Africa A study by researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences, with colleagues in Uganda and the UK, set out to understand how compiling genetic information into genetic risk scores from African Americans, Europeans, and multiple ancestries (Asians, Europeans and African Americans) could help identify people who are likely to have high and low lipid levels in African populations.

This study gives insights into genetic information that can be compiled into genetic risk scores to identify African people with high and low lipid levels, which identifies people who have higher chances of heart and blood vessel-related diseases in the future. These individuals would then benefit from early interventions.

The findings concluded that constructing genetic risk scores using information from African Americans led to predictions that were 5.1 times less accurate compared to those from Europeans, and 1.3 times better than combining genetic information from multiple ancestries in Africa for blood cholesterol levels. However, genetic prediction varies in Africa, performing well in urban South African people compared with those in rural Uganda, due to differences in age, lifestyle, environment, and genetics.

This means that increasing the proportion of Africans in global genetic studies will ensure that more accurate genetic risk scores can be constructed for disease prediction in Africa.

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“During the period under review, we emphasised supporting the research of early- and midcareer researchers.”

Faculty of Humanities Report from the Dean, Professor Garth Stevens In 2022, the Faculty of Humanities remained committed to producing high quality research as well to creating an enabling experience for our postgraduate students. This is in alignment with the Faculty’s Strategic Plan 20182022, which supports the research goals and aims of the University. As such we have continued to address the indispensable intellectual questions posed in these challenging times. While our work in 2022 was less affected by the pandemic than in 2021, we still had to deal with the long-term consequences of Covid-19.

Our research in 2022 continued to focus on high-impact articles, book publishing, and creative research, with catalytic funding to support staff research outputs. During the year under review, we emphasised supporting the research projects of early- and mid-career researchers particularly, and provided these researchers with special support. We continued to include our postgraduate students in research and to producing a pipeline of highly skilled and innovative graduates for the country and region.

Our scholars are innovating at the leading edge of research across a range of fields: African art, area studies, cities and housing, human migration, diversity and difference, critical race studies, violence, gender and sexuality, cultural

studies, translanguaging, narrative, and labour feature among our key collective strengths. Many of these foci are anchored in our prestigious research institutes including the: Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä

African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL) History Workshop Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP) Wits Centre for Diversity Studies (WiCDS) Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER).

Faculty of Humanities in 2022

Number of Researchers / Research Chairs

NRF A-Rated

6 16 44 11 7 7

NRF B-Rated NRF C-Rated NRF Y-Rated SARChI Chairs Research Chairs

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This work is also being done in our Schools – Social Sciences, Wits School of Arts, Wits School of Education, the School of Human and Community Development, and the School of Language, Literature and Media – and responds to the Sustainable Development Goals to alleviate poverty (SDG 1), quality of education (SDG 4), and achieve gender equality (SDG 5), amongst others.

The Faculty drives its intellectual strengths and develops future knowledge through a multi-pronged strategy aligned with the University’s mission to increasingly produce research with impact and enable a swift, secure and stimulating postgraduate experience. The Faculty operationalised these objectives in 2022 through five interlocking objectives: Ä Ä Ä

Ensure that postdoctoral students are included in the research culture of the Faculty Publication is inseparable from the postgraduate experience in the Faculty Permanent staff are provided with more time to pursue publications in impactful outlets such as leading journals and books

Ä Ä

The value of book publishing is better leveraged Postgraduate students are more formally embedded in a networked or team structure

Towards these objectives, the following interventions were conceptualised and implemented in 2022: Ä Ä Ä

Consistent, high-impact publishing facilitated Postgraduate student publication encouraged Investment in postdoctoral culture

These interventions not only meet the Faculty and University’s goals towards a research-intensive and leading intellectual institution but respond to the national and global macroeconomic changes (and to the SDGs), which have resulted in fewer subsidies, strained funding environments, and overall economic downturn, making tertiary institutions less accessible to young people seeking higher education.

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ASSAf Gold Medal for Professor Achille Mbembe The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) awarded its highest honour, the Science for Society Gold Medal, to Professor Achille Mbembe, at ASSAf’s annual awards ceremony held in Pretoria on Thursday, 19 October 2022.

ASSAf annually awards ASSAf Science for Society Gold Medals in recognition of outstanding achievements by individuals. Up to two Gold Medals are awarded per annum for outstanding achievement in scientific thinking for the benefit of society.

The Postcolony and Necropolitics Achille Mbembe is a Professor in the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER) in the Faculty of Humanities at Wits University, which he joined in 2001.

Mbembe’s work has played a role in shaping the scholarly agenda of the Humanities in late modernity. Over 25 years, he has consistently published works of international stature and reputation.

The Cameroon-born scholar earned his PhD in History at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1989 and a D.E.A. in Political Science at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris).

Between 1980 and 1996, he was preoccupied with late colonial politics, decolonization and emerging nationalism.

His research was instrumental in shifting debates on the place of power in Africa’s postcolonial period.

At a conceptual level, the terms ‘postcolony’ and ‘necropolitics’ have become associated with Mbembe’s work. These are now key terms in the vocabulary of the global Humanities. Of notable importance is his published work, Necropolitics, in which he theorizes about the origins of the contemporary world while highlighting the increase in militarization, inequality, and the revival of racism and fascist forces.

Being Human in Africa Mbembe continues to produce globally leading scholarship.

His seventh book, A Critique of Black Reason – published in 2017 and which sold over 12 000 copies – is an attempt at revisiting the relationship between capitalism and racism.

In 2020 he published Deglobalization to argue that digital computation is engendering a new common world and new configurations of reality and power.

Over and above the multiple translations of his work, Mbembe is the most cited African scholar of his time. His interdisciplinary approach, combining History, Philosophy and Political Studies, has tackled key contemporary - from an early critical reflection on why the social revolutions in Africa predicted under conventional Marxist theory never arrived, through revisiting the politics of life and death in his writings on ‘necropolitics’, to recent preoccupations with whether we can take seriously Africa and the diaspora’s planetary predicament – and the possibility that the fate of Earth may be playing out on this continent – Mbembe stands out as one of the key thinkers of the late 20th and early 21st Centuries.

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shap!

The Soweto History and Archive Project

Despite its prominence, Soweto’s history has not been chronicled in depth. The existing scholarship of the township has been limited to a few salient themes. Research on local areas has received scant attention, while there is a relatively small, but growing interest in biographies of political and cultural luminaries

The conglomeration of townships known as Soweto has a history of more than a century, although its component parts have different historical timelines. These diverse timelines reflect and represent the growth and expansion of this landscape over time. Consequently, there are different views about when Soweto was founded.

In 2022, Wits University established the Archives and Research Hub (comprising the Historical and Research Papers Archive, the South African History Archives, and the History Workshop). Among the principal aims of this initiative is to partner with communities to create local archives, particularly through a programme of digitisation.

The aim of the Soweto History and Archives project, in collaboration with community organisations and the Wits History Workshop in the Faculty of Humanities is to undertake and advance the work of researching, writing, recording and archiving Soweto’s history more systematically.

The long-term objectives are to produce comprehensive histories of SOWETO (mainly by publishing monographs and edited collections, as well as through exhibitions and documentaries) and to create a substantive and accessible archive.

The photographs by Dr Ali Hlongwane (all the black-and-white photographs pictured here) were taken in the mid-1980s whilst he was affiliated to the Soyikwa Institute of African Theatre. At the time he was studying part-time photography with an organisation called Dynamic Images, which was also housed at the Funda Art Centre.

(Source: https://shap.org.za)

All photographs on this page by Dr Ali Hlongwane

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The aim of the Soweto History and Archives project, in collaboration with community organisations and the Wits History Workshop in the Faculty of Humanities is to undertake and advance the work of researching, writing, recording and archiving Soweto’s history more systematically.

Sally Gaule’s images (above) were taken in Orlando West during 2011. Some are featured in the book Orlando West: An Illustrated History.

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“We commend the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies for producing a record number of 128,18 research units.”

Faculty of Science Report from the Dean, Professor Nithaya Chetty

Active Researchers Drive Research Output

The Faculty of Science at Wits ranks among the top science faculties in South Africa and the continent. It is made up of nine academic schools that span natural, environmental, palaeontology, earth, and mathematical sciences.

Faculty of Science in 2022 SARChI Chairs NRF A-Rated UR&IC-Recognised Distinguished Professors

Number of Researchers / Research chairs

10 13 13 12

Academics in the Faculty of Science come from all over the world and are conducting internationally excellent research that covers topical issues in climate change and environmental sustainability, materials science, solid state and theoretical physics, quantum optics, chemistry and chemical sciences, geoscience and mining geology, conservation biology, ecology, evolution and behavioural ecology, geophysics, and palaeontology and archaeology.

In 2022, the Faculty of Science produced 494,42 publication units, which is 8,95 less than the previous year’s record of 503,37 units.

We commend the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies for producing a record number of 128,18 research units; a dramatic increase of 41,57 units compared to the 86,61 units produced in 2021.

Some Schools and research entities have recorded a decrease in publication units, attributable to the lingering effects of pandemic lockdowns and ongoing national loadshedding, which affects laboratory operations.

Prominent researchers in the Faculty continue to publish prolifically in prestigious high impact journals such as Science (IF = 63.832), Nature Photonics (IF = 39.728), and Nature Sustainability (IF = 27.7). Twenty-one researchers in the Faculty of Science are commended for publishing 10 or more articles in 2022 as shown in Table 1. The data were extracted from Scopus and the Web of Science, and this excludes large collaborations such as ATLAS and HESS.

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Authors

Records

School

Ikechukwu Achilonu

11

Molecular and Cell Biology

Elhadi Adam

11

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Chinyere Aloke

12

Molecular and Cell Biology

Sally Archibald

15

Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Amélie Beaudet

12

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Robert Bolhar

11

Geoscience

Marcus J. Byrne

15

Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Andrew Chen

32

Physics

Neil J. Coville

16

Chemistry

Ray J. Durrheim

21

Geoscience

Andrew Forbes

32

Physics

Jennifer Fichett

19

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Stefan Grab

12

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Abdul Hamid Kara

13

Mathematics

Jasper Knight

20

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Florian Luca

31

Mathematics

Bruce Mellado

16

Physics

Nosipho Moloto

16

Chemistry

Kenneth Ozoemena

27

Chemistry

Neville Pillay

11

Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

Dominic Stratford

13

Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies

Table 1: Researchers who authored 10 or more papers.

Postgraduate Enrolment and Throughput Postgraduate throughput in the Faculty of Science increased in 2022. Table 2 and Figure 1 reflect the number of DHET units (not head counts) awarded for postgraduate student completions during the period 2010 to 2022. Three units are awarded for a PhD completion and a maximum of one for Master’s.

The number of PhD units increased from 198 in 2021, to 225 in 2022. Master’s by research increased from 104 (2021) to 145 (2022), while Master’s by coursework and research report decreased from 28,0 (2021) to 26.5 (2022).

Sc

Y 2010

Y 2011

Y 2012

Y 2013

Y 2014

Y 2015

Y 2016

Y 2017

Y 2018

Y 2019

Y 2020

Y 2021

Y 2022

PhD

87

123

150

210

180

129

177

213

300

261

243

198

225

MR

60

83

83

89

85

90

109

149

152

159

150

104

145

MC

13,5

19,0

6,0

12,0

7,0

13,0

24,5

43,0

28,0

22,5

31,5

28,0

26,5

Table 2: Number of DHET units (not head counts) for postgraduate completion.

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PG Student Completions Science 600

DHET Units

500 400 300 200 100 0 2010 2011

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

PhD

MR

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

MC

Figure 1: Number of DHET units (not head counts) for postgraduate completion.

Knowledge Transfer and Innovation In 2022, the Faculty of Science produced nine innovation disclosure (Figure 2): Five from the School of Physics, two from the School of Chemistry, one from the School of Architecture and Planning, and one from the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences:

Innovation Disclosure – Faculty of Science

1

5 Physics

Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

2

1 Architecture and Planning

Chemistry Figure 2: Innovation disclosures

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Furthermore, the Faculty of Science registered four companies that are either being incorporated or in operation.

Two of these companies have created three employment positions (Table 3): Company Registered Name/Working Title

Lead Innovator/Faculty associate

Innovation Title

Alzheimer’s Therapeutic

Dr. Eloise Van Der Merwe

Treatment of Alzheimer’s Incorporation expected Disease in due course

N/A

Button Optics

Prof. Andrew Forbes

Laser beam diagnostic

Incorporated in 2022

2

Indoni Yamanzi

Dr. Farai Dziike

Water treatment system using photo-catalysis

Incorporated (2020)

1

PIMECO

Mr. Kgomotso Maiphetlho

AMD passive sampler

Incorporated (2020)

N/A

Status

Employment Created (FTEs*)

Table 3: Spin-out companies being-incorporated or in operation.

Faculty of Science Research Stars

Professor Tamiru Abiye (left) in the Hydrogeology Programme in the School of Geosciences won National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South 32 TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher, for his dedication to water science and focus on building research capacity and solving community problems to attain sustainable development in South Africa.

In 2022, Professor Judith Kinnaird and Professor Paul Nex (left) were joint nominees for the Draper Medal, the ultimate scientific award of the Geological Society of South Africa, which recognises an exceptional member of the geological profession and who has excelled in the advancement of South African Earth Science.

Ä

Ä

Ä

David Russo received the award for the Best Fourth Year Student from the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. This award is bestowed on an exceptional fourth year student who graduated in Earth Science at a Southern African university. Russo’s Honours research project was titled, The Nature and Origin of Carbon Nodules in Precambrian Granite/Gneiss Terrains with Specific Reference to the Konsberg Region in Norway.

Note that all graduates in all Honours curricula are eligible for this award, and not only those who wrote a report for their Honours project.

Dr Stephanie Schreiber-Enslin, Professor Musa Manzi and Professor Susan Webb received the Jubilee Award for the best paper published in the South African Journal of Geology: Seismic imaging of dolerite sills and volcanic vents in the central Karoo, South Africa: Implications for shale gas potential, Vol 124 (2), 465-480.

Professor of Geophysics, Gordon J. Cooper won a prize for the best paper at the 17th South African Geophysical Association Biennial conference and exhibition in November 2022. The paper was titled, A generalised sourcedistance semi-automatic interpretation method for potential field data.

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Enabling Research and Innovation WITS COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE Acting CEO, Andrew Hope-Jones Wits Commercial Enterprise works to broaden and deepen the University’s impact on society. We do this through delivering professional, fit-for-purpose, and relevant services that catalyse, facilitate, execute, and grow a diverse range of University activities.

In 2022, the company comprised three business platforms: Research and Consulting, Innovation, and Short Courses, each providing a customised service.

The following research projects – highlight some of the University activities facilitated by Wits Enterprise that contributed to addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2022.

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The European Union-funded BIORECOVER project will develop a sustainable and safe process based on biotechnology, that focuses on the application of microorganisms and their metabolites for the selective extraction of a range of critical raw materials from primary and unexplored secondary sources. These raw materials are essential to reaching SDGs, as the development of low carbon technologies to fulfil climate and energy objectives is dependent on their availability.

Wits is part of a 14-member multi-disciplinary international consortium. Under the leadership of Professor Sehliselo Ndlovu, the Wits team, comprising engineers and microbiologists, have been working on the ​selection and screening of indigenous microorganisms from mining sites followed by bioprocessing to remove base metals, and then extract the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs).

Tapping molten PGM from refinery furnace_image.biorecover.eu

Professor of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Sehliselo Ndlovu leads the Wits team of engineers and microbiologists on the Biorecover project.

The Wits Global Change Institute (GCI) has been a prominent African partner in the consortium contributing to key deliverables, including: Ä

The Southern African region is a climate change hotspot, given that millions of people are exposed and vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events. These are projected to occur more frequently in a warmer world.

It is against this background that the H2020 project FOCUS Africa is developing a new range of climate services to help the region cope with and adapt to climate change.

Ä

FOCUS-Africa is led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and is effectively a consortium of climate modelling institutes that are collaborating to develop these new climate services for southern Africa.

Ä

Investigating how the El Nino-La Nina cycle of climate variability will change in terms of impacts in Southern Africa in the context of global warming and climate change. This is a critical question towards projecting how climate change will impact on South Africa’s water security and agricultural yields – key for its sustainable economic development.

Generating and analysing detailed projections of future climate change over Malawi, to help understand how climate change will impact on hydroelectricity generation downstream of Lake Malawi.

Supporting the Land Bank in South Africa with projections of future climate change, to help understand how climate change will impact drought in Southern Africa, and how this should be incorporated in terms of the loans the Land Bank awards to farmers.

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The project brought together a group of 30 interdisciplinary, multigenerational scholars, who, in addition to undertaking research, generated a collection of open-resource outputs.

This included 18 working papers and two conceptual papers, 15 peer-reviewed journal articles, seven book chapters, and two special issues.

Technology and the Future of Work: Implications for Inequality in the Global South

The scholars participated in various collective initiatives, including a workshop on Digital technologies, the future of work(ers) and inequality in the Global South, which took place in Johannesburg from 19 to 21 September 2022.

The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) led this International Development Research Centre (IDRC)-funded project, which focused on deepening knowledge on the implications of technological advancements on the future of work and inequality in the Global South.

This workshop brought together over 100 researchers and academics, leaders of workers’ organisations and policy practitioners, to present and discuss emerging research of the Future of Work(ers) Research Group and chart the way for future research.

Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä

Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Económicos (Mozambique) Centre for African and Asian Studies, University of Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) University of Cape Coast (Ghana) University of Johannesburg (South Africa) Institute for Human Development (India)

microbial

bio based

collaboration

RMIS

Universidade Federal Fluminense (Brazil) University of Kassel (Germany) Argentinian National Research Council (Argentina) Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi (India) Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) Unisinos University (Brazil) Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (India)

residues

materials

bacteria mining secure europe patents

Ä Ä Ä

secondary

aluminium waste

recover

Ä Ä Ä Ä

mobilisation

waste to market

crm raw safe

innovation H2020

sustainability

ore

recycling new value

mining

application modelling

critical

bauxite

sustainable

risk

EASME

rare earths

Africa pilot plant

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“We need to develop affordable and accurate diagnostics that will inform us about genetics.”

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre Report from the Research Director, Dr June Fabian

case of neuroblastomas, it is more about the biology of the tumour, and we need to develop affordable and accurate diagnostics that will inform us about genetics4.

As an academic teaching hospital in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) hosts undergraduate, postgraduate, and clinician-led research.

During 2022, we supported 17 doctoral students and 9 Master’s students, and our researchers published 25 peer-reviewed articles.

The Rise and Rise of NCDs The impact on well-being from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a distinct theme in our work. We see that young women with autoimmune liver disease have a difficult course, presenting with severe disease that often recurs in their transplanted liver 1.

Likewise, 60% of children with inherited liver disease, such as Alagille syndrome, need a liver transplant to survive into adulthood 2. While relatively rare, these forms of severe liver disease are fatal if we cannot provide the care that is needed.

Regarding kidney disease, simple things, like measuring kidney function accurately, are different in African populations, and we are still trying to work out why, but this highlights the need for locating our research locally if we want it to be relevant and have an impact3.

Key Findings in Oncology In many low- and middle-income countries, deaths from cancer in children occur more frequently than we would like and are often ascribed to poverty and limited resources. However, our researchers showed that in the

Neuroblastoma_metastasis (1)

Likewise, in adults with colorectal cancer, we see that younger people are presenting with cancer compared to a much older population in wealthier countries, and many young people present late in their course, making it difficult to secure curative treatment5.

More broadly, our findings highlight the relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the World Health Organization: no poverty, good health and well-being, and reduced inequalities, all of which frame the work we do. Within the University, the 2022 Wits Centenary is an opportune time to reflect – perhaps less on what has been, and more on what we envision.

Let’s Disrupt. For Good.

1

Nida Mishraz S, Kapila H, Bilal B, Dinen P, Vikash L, Adam M. Outcome of liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis in South Africa. Ann Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;6(1):044–50.

2

Vandriel SM, Li L, She H, Wang J, Gilbert MA, Jankowska I, et al. Natural history of liver disease in a large international cohort of children with Alagille syndrome: Results from the GALA study.

Hepatology. 2023 Feb;77(2):512–29

3

Fabian J, Kalyesubula R, Mkandawire J, Hansen CH, Nitsch D, Musenge E, et al. Measurement of kidney function in Malawi, South Africa, and Uganda: a multicentre cohort study. The Lancet Global Health. 2022 Aug;10(8):e1159–69.

4 5

Charlton R, Ngcana T, Geel J. Neuroblastoma survival in South African children is more influenced by biological than socioeconomic factors. South African Journal of Oncology. 2022 Dec 12;6(0):9.

Bouter C, Puttergill B, Hyman GY, Maphosa S, Gaylard P, Etheredge H, et al. Colorectal cancer in South Africa study on the effect of delayed diagnosis to treatment intervals on survival. South African Journal of Surgery. 2022 Dec;60(4):229–34.

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Wits Health Consortium Report from the CEO, Alf Farrell The Wits Health Consortium (Pty) limited (WHC) is a wholly owned company of the University of the Witwatersrand under its Faculty of Health Sciences. WHC has an excellent local and global network to support our divisions, donors and funders in successful negotiations and to conduct valuable work through clinical trials and research projects.

Transparency and international standards and procedures are used to maintain and secure our reputation as a trusted organisation, affiliated to leading research academics and international donor organisations. We provide key services to our research entities in five areas:

Given our focus area in supporting research entities,a strong element of our work lies in comprehensive grant management. We have a team of experts on hand to assist in specialist areas. Major Wits institutes and units under the auspices of the Consortium include: Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä

Legal Framework and Research Support Ä Governance Financial and Grants Management Human Resource Management Payroll Management

Ä Ä Ä Ä

Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU) Empilweni Services and Research Unit (ESRU) (Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital) Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) MatCH Research Unit (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Perinatal HIV Research Institute (PHRU) South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA) SAMRC/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science (PRICELESS-SA) SAMRC/Wits-Agincourt Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (MRC/Wits-Agincourt) Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub (WDIH) Wits Clinical Research (WCR) Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI)

WHC divisions are actively engaged in research, designed to provide important information about disease trends and risk factors, outcomes of treatment or public health interventions, functional abilities, patterns of care, and healthcare costs.

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Grants - Divisions 7%

Wastewater Genomics

7%

27%

HSEI

Ezintsha

The total value of new grants in 2022 amounted to

R1,107,320,700

8%

PRICELESS SA

11% Wits VIDA

17%

HERO

The total value of new sponsored clinical trials in 2022 amounted to

R304,883,387

23%

Wits RHI

Chart 1: Seven research units with the highest grants in 2022

Sponsored Clinical Trials - Divisions 3%

5%

WCR Bara Clinical Trial Centre

2%

Bara Cardiology Research

Ezintsha

8%

CHRU

9%

PHRU

57% Wits VIDA

16% WCR

Chart 2: Seven research units with the highest sponsored clinical trials in 2022

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Indlela@HE2RO

test contextually appropriate nudge interventions that are informed by behavioural science principles.

Indlela was established in 2020 with a further four years of follow-on funding to be awarded in 2023. Key highlights of our work include the co-design and implementation of six behavioural insights test projects with HIV implementing partners in South Africa, with findings disseminated through various academic and social media platforms (visit www.indlela.org).

Indlela@HE2RO is a collaboration between Wits University’s Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO), the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, Boston University, and the University of Cape Town, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

We also released a NUDGE handbook, hosted an inaugural nudgeathon and multiple webinars, including workshops and satellite sessions at international and local conferences, and have established a Behavioural Hub – a cohort of participants that can be drawn from for rapid surveys, prototyping and contextual enquiry.

Indlela@HE2RO is a first-of-its-kind unit focused on strengthening the ability of health service delivery providers and key research institutions to develop and

We look forward to the regional expansion of Indlela@ HE2RO and continued support of building local and regional capacity in behavioural economics.

Sophie Pascoe

Harsha Thirumurty

Jaqui Miot

Candice M Chetty-Makkan

Lungisile Vezi

CO-DIRECTOR

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

STRATEGIC ADVISOR

CO-DIRECTOR

PROGRAMME COORDINATOR

Caroline Govathson

Simamkele Bokolo

Preeth Mistri

Neo Ndlovu

Teniola Egbe

BE FELLOWSHIP AND COUNTRY LEAD FOR ZIMBABWE

COMMUNICATIONS LEAD AND COUNTRY LEAD FOR ZAMBIA

LOCAL TECHNICAL DESIGN LEAD AND COUNTRY LEAD MALAWI

B-HUB LEAD COUNTRY CO-LEAD FOR KENYA

UPENN PROJECT MANAGER

Lawrence Long

Brendan Maughan Brown

Alison Buttenheim

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE TECHNICAL EXPERT

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE TECHNICAL EXPERT

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE TECHNICAL EXPERT

Indlela@HE2RO Team

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EVIDENCE Generate behaviourally informed ideas and evidence to shape policy

SOUTH 2 SOUTH Expand our collaborations regionally through creation of a South-to-South learning network

SHARING Promote rapid and effective sharing of knowledge and evidence through multiple channels

CAPACITY Build capacity in the application of behavioural economics to health

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Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI)

the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, was developed 80 years ago. Several vaccine candidates are currently in the pipeline, and the M72/ASO1E candidate vaccine (M72) generated considerable excitement in 2018 when the first results from a phase IIB trial indicated it was 50% effective in reducing pulmonary TB in adults with latent TB infection.

Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) Tuberculosis Vaccine Given its heavy burden of TB-associated disease and death, South Africa has a major interest in the development of an effective new TB vaccine. The only available vaccine,

SAPRIN COVID Study

The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) was part of a multisite study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the M72 vaccine in people living with HIV, who are taking ART and are virally suppressed (MESA-TB). This has set the stage for a phase III study on M72, CommuniTB, due to start in early 2024. The study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute. Professor Lee Fairlie is the National PI and is the Chair of the trial steering committee.

SAPRIN, the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network: Ä Ä Ä Ä

Wits RHI conducted the SAPRIN COVID study, a combined seroprevalence and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey of about 750 households in the Hillbrow area of Johannesburg, Atteridgeville, and Melusi area of Tshwane, as part of the Gauteng Research Triangle (GRT) and SAPRIN platform.

A key objective of the SAPRIN COVID study was to analyse knowledge, attitudes, and practices about Covid-19 and vaccination, examine how measures taken to mitigate the spread of infection affect society, economy, and health, and determine what percentage of the urban sample has already been infected.

Data analysis was completed in early 2022, revealing that more than 600 of the 759 blood samples collected were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The Gauteng Research Triangle is a collaboration of Wits University, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of Pretoria. The GRT generates original research aimed ultimately at advancing economic performance and improving social conditions in Gauteng.

Ä

Is a project of the Gauteng Research Triangle.

Is funded jointly by the SAMRC and the Department of Science and Innovation.

Provides research infrastructure for health and demographic surveillance.

Seeks to generate longitudinal data on the health and social and economic wellbeing of populations in three Gauteng communities.

Has a special interest in the dynamic flows of population between impoverished rural areas and Gauteng’s cities.

SAPRIN aims to: Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä Ä

Provide a versatile interdisciplinary research platform.

Generate data for policy development and evaluation.

Produce regularly updated reports on population health and social and economic wellbeing.

Establish links with the national statistics system.

Engage effectively with community structures.

Contribute to postgraduate research training and career development.

By December 2022 SAPRIN had: Ä Ä

Collected baseline data from nearly 26,000 residents of Hillbrow.

Forged critical relationships with local organisations – security companies, landlords, health and development structures, and business initiatives – that helped build trust between SAPRIN staff and residents.

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Ezintsha

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The ADVANCE and CHARACTERISE Studies The ADVANCE and CHARACTERISE studies close in 2022. These studies, along with TRIO (an international collaboration pooling data from these and other critical African studies), were part of a large portfolio of work led

by Wits Ezintsha, which aimed to ensure optimal first line HIV treatment for people living with HIV. More than 1000 participants were recruited in central Johannesburg.

ADVANCE showed that dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral treatment (ART) performed extremely well in terms of safety and efficacy regimens, with the dolutegravir arms achieving rapid suppression of the virus.

Primary data was published in the NEJM and Lancet HIV. Over 30 publications have resulted from the data to date, informing both local and international guidelines.

The study also established that weight gain is a major concern in the treatment of people with HIV, and in particular black women.

CHARACTERISE was a cross-sectional, observational study to gain more data on the transition to dolutegravir-based regimens in South Africa in terms of the emergence of obesity, viral re-suppression, and integration into routine programme care, with preliminary data published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

ADVANCE and CHARACTERISE have been presented in oral presentations at the leading international HIV conferences and have attracted major attention from the scientific community as two of the most important HIV treatment studies of the last decade.

In 2022, the TRIO project began to undertake comparative analysis of results that included two other trials, NAMSAL and DolPHIN-2 addressing (i) the risk of adverse birth outcomes by treatment arm, (ii) HIV RNA re-suppression after initial virological failure, and (iii) the risk of clinical obesity, metabolic syndrome and associated adverse events. Publication of the analysis is expected in 2023.

Photographs: ADVANCE study.

Watch the documentary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A82-yHha_u4

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SAMRC Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science: PRICELESS SA

ASSAf Gold Medal for Professor Karen Hofman Karen Hofman is a Research Professor and Founding Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)/Wits Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science (PRICELESS SA) in the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences.

A Wits Medical School graduate, Hofman has since 2009 led policy research to evaluate interventions inside the health system and in other sectors that provide the biggest return on investment for health.

Hofman received the ASSAf 2022 Science for Society Gold Medal for her application of scientific thinking in the service of society, the results of which mean that we as a population are healthier.

Saving lives from salt and liquid sugar The bread eaten by South Africans today has significantly less salt in it than it did 10 years ago. This is the result of mandatory regulations based on PRICELESS SA research that showed how many lives could be saved from averting strokes and the cost savings of doing so. Salt reduction is one of the most cost-effective interventions for population health.

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Similarly, we now have choices when we order sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). Hofman was instrumental in driving the Health Promotion Levy (‘sugar tax’), based on rigorous scientific research, towards reducing consumption of SSBs in order to advance public health. Liquid sugar is a major contributor to obesity, starting in childhood and extending across the lifespan, with obesity-related disease numbers now having overtaken HIV/Aids in SA. This demonstrates how intersectoral action is essential to improve population health.

Hofman’s work on universal health coverage has strategically focused on priority-setting, a key driver to implement a sustainable National Health Insurance (NHI) by doing research to inform health benefit packages and decisions to improve both health systems and population health outcomes.

According to the citation, Hofman embodies the essence of the Science for Society award by conducting transdisciplinary research – she identifies policy relevant issues; engages with various relevant publics before, during and after the research endeavour; and commits time and has the expertise to disseminate the research evidence through channels both academic and, importantly, media, as well as direct public engagement.

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Egon Jonsson Award for SA Ethics and Values Framework Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) awarded authors including PRICELESS SA’s Professor Susan Goldstein, Dr Atiya Mosam, Dr Aviva Tugendhaft, and Professor Karen Hofman its prestigious Egon Jonsson Award for the article1 they co-authored, titled Developing and piloting a context-specified ethics framework for health technology assessment: the South African Values and Ethics for Universal Health Coverage approach.

HTAi is a professional society dedicated to shaping the future of healthy systems and improving health outcomes for all people. The final South African Values and Ethics Framework (SAVE-UHC) consists of 12 domains (Figure 1) and will be a useful tool not only for HTAi and other prioritysetting processes in South Africa, but for future efforts to create health technology assessment methods here and possibly other countries developing their own frameworks.

Health Benefits and Harms

CostEffectiveness

The expected health benefits or harms

Getting the most health benefits for the available

Equity

resources

Budget Impact

Fair distribution of benefits and burdens

Total financial cost as it relates to the

of the health scheme across members of

resources available in the health budget

the population

Respect and Dignity People's experience of respect & dignity and their ability to make meaningful choices

Systems Factors and Constraints How aspects of the health system or other systems may affect the delivery, uptake, and impacts of the intervention

Impact on out-of-pocket expenses or income-generating activities

Solidarity and Social Cohesion

Impact on Safety and Security Effects on exposing or protecting people from violence or harm

Impact on Personal Relationships Effects on people's ability to form or maintain important relationships

1

Personal Financial Impact

Ease of Suffering

Potential of decision to create, intensify or help heal social rifts

Impact on experience of pain and suffering

Krubiner CB, Barsdorf NW, Goldstein SJ, Mosam A, Potgieter S, DiStefano MJ, Tugendhaft A, Merritt MW, Li R, Chalkidou K, Faden RR, Hofman KJ. Developing and piloting a context-specified ethics framework for health technology assessment: the South African Values and Ethics for Universal Health Coverage approach. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2022 Mar 8;38(1):e26. doi: 10.1017/ S0266462322000113. PMID: 35256036.

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Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (Wits VIDA) In the pursuit of global well-being and sustainable development, Wits VIDA has made significant strides over the past year in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Here are key accomplishments and projects reflective of our commitment to these goals:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Ä

Ä

Ä

Ä

Covid-19 Vaccines: Wits VIDA has undertaken extensive research on Covid-19 vaccines, evaluating safety, immunogenicity, efficacy, and effectiveness. This includes a Phase 1 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine study and investigations into COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Maternal Immunization: Our efforts in maternal immunization include studying immunological correlates of protection against Group B streptococcal disease in infants. Additionally, a phase 3 trial is underway to assess the efficacy and safety of an RSV prefusion f-subunit vaccine in infants born to women vaccinated during pregnancy.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV): Wits VIDA has demonstrated non-inferiority in the immunogenicity of a 1 + 1 PCV schedule compared to a 2 + 1 schedule, potentially leading to significant public-health cost-saving benefits.

Child Health and Mortality Surveillance Programme (CHAMPS): Our eighth year of the CHAMPS program focuses on reducing childhood deaths, addressing prematurity, intra-partum events, and infections as major contributors to under-five mortality.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals Ä

Vaccine Hesitancy (VACSAFE Consortium): Wits VIDA’s research on vaccine uptake has informed recommendations for strategic communication to government stakeholders. Additionally, our ongoing research, funded in early 2023, contributes to building trust and addressing vaccine hesitancy. Wits VIDA collaborates on vaccine rollouts, monitors adverse events post-immunization, and conducts surveillance studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection epidemiology among healthcare workers, aligning with the collaborative spirit of Goal 17.

SDG 5: Gender Equality Ä

Pregnancy Surveillance: Wits VIDA has expanded pregnancy surveillance through CHAMPS and the National Pregnancy Exposure Registry (NPER). NPER aims to provide critical information on birth outcomes, linking them to therapeutic exposures in women living with HIV and those not living with HIV, contributing to gender-sensitive health outcomes. Additionally, our social behavioural sciences work delves into understanding barriers and motivations around pregnancy-related health-seeking behaviours.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Ä

Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs): Wits VIDA conducts ongoing sentinel surveillance of AESIs post-COVID-19 vaccination, contributing to a robust infrastructure for monitoring vaccine safety and aligning with the innovation aspect of Goal 9. Our research spectrum spans pre-clinical development through to clinical investigation of vaccines and novel interventions in vaccine-preventable diseases. This, coupled with our leading research laboratory facility and team, contributes to international clinical research innovation, economic, and industry-serving outcomes. Notably, our recent findings on the PCV could assist LMICs in reducing the cost of national immunizations.

These accomplishments underscore Wits VIDA’s dedication to advancing the SDGs, promoting health, fostering partnerships, addressing gender disparities, and contributing to innovation for sustainable development.

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SOLUTIONS

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ENERGY

Curios.ty is a print and digital magazine that aims to make the research at Wits University accessible to multiple publics. It tells the stories of research and innovation at Wits through the voices of talented researchers, students and academics. First published in April 2017, Curios.ty is published twice a year. Each issue is thematic and explores research across faculties and disciplines at the University that relate to the theme. Since its inception until the 2022 year under review, Curios.ty themes have included: Cities, iHuman, Capital, Watershed, Mandela100, Hunger Games, and Ekhaya [Home]. The latest eight issues by 2022 are depicted above.

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