Page 144 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

PACER researchers received recognition for Through the SAMRC Research Capacity
excellence in scientific communication when Development-funded Boloka Data Repository
the Research Manager and a PhD student were Initiative, PACER utilises large and diverse HIV
awarded best oral and poster presentation prizes at datasets related to key populations to harmonise,
the National Big Data Health Sciences Conference integrate, and analyse data from multiple sources.
hosted by the University of South Carolina in Advanced analytical techniques, including machine
February 2026. learning and predictive modelling, are employed
to forecast HIV prevention, treatment, and care
PACER has established multiple data partnership outcomes; pinpoint high-risk populations and
agreements with HIV programme implementing geographic hotspots; and support customised,
organisations, including AIDS Foundation of South data-driven models of care. These methods help
Africa (AFSA), NACOSA, The Aurum Institute, optimise the HIV care cascade and promote
and Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU). Through progress towards epidemic control in sub-Saharan
these partnerships, the Unit has co-authored Africa.
publications, co-presented conference papers, and
co-supervised postgraduate students involved in Beyond HIV research, PACER applies AI and big
HIV and big data analytics research. data analytics to broader public health challenges.
The Women’s Health Project, funded by the Bill
PACER staff and students recently completed & Melinda Gates Foundation, uses supervised
training in SAS Workflows and Generative AI in machine learning and integrated national datasets
Healthcare during the National Big Data Health to investigate the complex and intersecting drivers
Sciences Conference hosted by the University of of women’s health inequalities and multimorbidity.
South Carolina. The training strengthened the The project supports the development of advanced
team’s capabilities in no-code health data analytics analytical models to inform health research, policy,
workflows, generative AI applications, and ethical and intervention planning.
AI use in healthcare research.
PACER has disseminated its AI and data science
AI in Medical and Health Research research through peer-reviewed publications and
presentations at national and international scientific
The SAMRC/UJ Pan African Centre for Epidemics
Research is actively applying artificial intelligence conferences. In collaboration with the University of
(AI) and advanced data-driven technologies South Carolina, PACER will host the National Big
to strengthen health research, innovation, and Data Health Sciences Conference in South Africa in
evidence-informed decision-making. November 2026, further strengthening South-South
and South-North collaboration and advancing
Africa’s contribution to global health data science
and epidemic research.

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