Our Story

CAPRISA was formally established in 2002 at the height of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, as a not-for profit AIDS research organization.

Our scientists undertake high-impact, globally relevant and locally responsive research. Associate Scientific Director Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim’s landmark research - the Caprisa 004 trial - demonstrated that antiretrovirals could prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, forming the foundation for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). 

Our award-winning scientific breakthroughs have shifted health policy in South Africa and at a global level. The CAPRISA 003 SAPiT (Starting Antiretroviral Therapy at 3 Points in TB) study demonstrated the optimal timing for initiating ARV in HIV/TB co-infected patients. This finding was adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and adopted by South Africa’s HIV-TB treatment guidelines.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, our scientists provided scientific leadership at a national and global level, epidemiological analyses and public education, placing South African science on the global platform. Director Professor Salim Abdool Karim served as the Chair of the South African Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19. CAPRISA provided the initial epidemiological evidence for the higher transmissibility and lower clinical severity of omicron compared to the beta and delta variants.

We have trained over 600 African scientists and continue to invest in this vital pipeline.

Our Mission

To reduce HIV-TB co-infection deaths and to prevent new HIV infections in young women through evidence based science that is locally responsive and globally impactful.