Page 143 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

P E R FOR M A NC E I N FOR M A T I ON

evidence to improve HIV prevention and treatment PACER currently supports PhD candidates in Public
cascades and support progress towards the global Health whose research focuses on applying machine
95-95-95 HIV targets. learning to assess trends, patterns, and drivers
of HIV prevention and treatment uptake among
PACER’s work has contributed to improved marginalised populations. This work contributes to
understanding of HIV service utilisation patterns, South Africa’s transformation agenda, the National
informed evidence-based policy development, and Development Plan 2030, and the United Nations
strengthened partnerships with HIV programme Sustainable Development Goals.
implementing organisations. Through collaborative
research and integrated data analyses, the Unit PACER researchers, students, and collaborators
continues to support interventions aimed at have presented conference papers at national and
reducing HIV transmission, morbidity, and mortality international scientific platforms, including the
in South Africa and the broader African region. National Big Data Health Sciences Conference in
Columbia, the World Congress of Epidemiology in
Building Capacity Through South Africa, and the Annual National Research Data
Training, Mentorship, and Support Workshop. These presentations have highlighted

PACER is committed to strengthening the application of machine learning and big data
analytics in HIV and public health research.
epidemiological and public health research capacity
through postgraduate training, mentorship, skills The Unit has published more peer-reviewed
transfer, and research leadership development. scientific papers on the application of machine
The Unit supports postgraduate students, staff learning and advanced analytics to HIV prevention
members, and collaborating data partners through and treatment research. These outputs have been
a range of capacity-building initiatives focused on led by postgraduate students, staff members,
epidemiology, AI, big data analytics, and public and collaborating data partners, demonstrating
health research. PACER’s commitment to research excellence and
capacity development.

Women's heath project launch meeting.

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