RIRCA is situated in the Biomedical Research Institute on the Tygerberg campus of Stellenbosch University (SU) and was conceived as a hub for hypothesis-driven research and training in immunology thinking and an array of techniques. Situated in an environment grappling with a significant disease burden of HIV, our research primarily centres on the characteristics and functional capabilities of adaptive and innate immune cells within the pregnant mother living with HIV and the placenta. This focus extends to HIV-exposed uninfected newborn infants (HEU), holding profound relevance in unveiling irregularities within immune regulatory networks. Such insights offer valuable clues in understanding susceptibility to multiple infections in this vulnerable infant population and in crafting innovative treatments to alleviate health challenges to both mother and infant.
In the past seven years, our efforts have been dedicated to the exploration of placental immunology, dissecting events occurring at the foetal-maternal (FM) interface and the factors that disrupt immune tolerance. By scrutinizing the human placenta and unpacking the repercussions of maternal HIV infection on cells at the FM interface, we aim to provide evidence and comprehension regarding the heightened vulnerability of HEU infants to health issues.
