Research Divisions

HEIR’s research is organized into specialized divisions designed to address Africa’s most pressing health challenges.

African Maternal & Women’s Health

Improving health outcomes for women across the life course, with emphasis on maternal mental health, reproductive health, and HIV-related care.

Core Focus Areas

Postpartum depression and maternal well-being
HIV care and treatment outcomes among women
Reproductive and perinatal health systems
Gender-sensitive public health interventions

African Child Health & Development

Dedicated to advancing child survival and developmental outcomes through evidence-based interventions in low-resource settings.

Core Focus Areas

Childhood immunization and vaccine coverage
Neonatal and early childhood wellness
Nutrition and growth monitoring
Pediatric health system delivery models

Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases

Leading research on epidemic-prone and endemic diseases affecting African populations, supporting preparedness and control strategies.

Core Focus Areas

HIV, tuberculosis, Mpox, and COVID-19
Surveillance of emerging infectious diseases
Disease transmission dynamics
Clinical and community response strategies

Vaccine Equity, Safety & Science

Examining barriers to vaccine access and acceptance, generating evidence to improve uptake, trust, and implementation science.

Core Focus Areas

Vaccine hesitancy and acceptance drivers
Safety monitoring and risk communication
Policy-relevant vaccine research
Community engagement and education

African Cardiometabolic & Chronic Disease

Addressing the growing burden of NCDs through population-level research and prevention-focused health system models.

Core Focus Areas

Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension
Lifestyle and behavioral risk factors
Long-term disease prevention models
Health system readiness for chronic care

Adolescent Mental Health & Behavioral Science

Exploring the intersection of mental health, behavior, and social determinants among adolescents and young adults.

Core Focus Areas

Adolescent mental health and stigma
Substance use and behavioral change
Medication adherence and psychosocial support
Evidence-based mental health interventions

Rural Health & Community Interventions

Designing and evaluating community-driven models for equitable healthcare delivery in hard-to-reach populations.

Core Focus Areas

Rural health access and service delivery
Community-based intervention models
Health education and behavior change
Implementation research in low-resource settings

Oral Health & Epidemiology

Integrating oral health into broader public health research as a determinant of overall population health outcomes.

Core Focus Areas

Epidemiology of oral and dental diseases
Integration of oral health into surveillance
Preventive oral health strategies
Population-level dental health outcomes