K-RITH

K-RITH (Kwazulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV) is a tuberculosis and HIV research institute in Durban, South Africa. The Institute is a collaboration of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. K-RITH's 7-story research facility is situated on the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine Campus at UKZN and opened on 9 October 2012.

Building

The home of K-RITH is a seven-story, 4000 sq. meter research building on the grounds of the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The building was designed by FGG Architects and includes Biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratories, able to handle pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, as well as HIV the causative agent of AIDS. Approximately 10 K-RITH research groups will conduct research in the building, and office space will be used by other organisations, such as CAPRISA. The K-RITH Tower Building, as it is officially named, cost R346m to build, and was officially opened on 9 October 2012, to a crowd of many local and international dignitaries, including the South African Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi.^[1] K-RITH will encompass scientists from around the world, being both a local and global institution.^[2]

Research Mission

K-RITH's Mission is to conduct basic science research on the human biology of tuberculosis, HIV, and HIV/TB co-infection and to develop new tools to control diseases. KwaZulu-Natal has high rates of TB, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDRTB), HIV, and HIV/TB co-infection.^[3] K-RITH will encompass scientists from around the world, being both a local and global institution.^[4] By having a research institute in an area where people are directly affected, the science conducted can have real-life applications, and encourage science to residents of the area.^[5]

References

External links

• Homepage of the institute