MRU hosts course students attending the SFU-SANTHE Intensive Course:

Inter-disciplinary approaches to understanding the global burden of HIV and youth. 7th May 2019.
PEPEHC team visited collaborating partners from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Wits Research Day 2018
Mcup training day at Elangeni College.
MRU staff participating in client education activities on World Contraception Day 26th Sept 2018.
Hanke Nube - Senior Advisor Health at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of the funders of the IPM

Dapivirine ring study visited the MRU Edendale research centre and local Edendale community in July 2018. She was

pictured with Leonard Solai - the Senior Director for IPM External Affairs (Africa), Mags Beksinska - the MRU Deputy

Director and Thando Gwetu a MRU medical officer.
Stakeholder meeting : Review and Update of the 2011-2016

KwaZulu-Natal 5-Point Contraceptive and Fertility Planning Strategy August 2018
MRU was recognised for its dedication and achievement in research by the University of the Witwatersrand,

Faculty of Health Sciences at the 2018 Research Awards Celebration on July 24th 2018.
MRU Study Participant Reception Area
Dreams Menstrual Cup

Demonstration Video

Click here ot watch
The Condom study team start a new female condom function trial March 2019.
MRU present results of their Menstrual Cup project to The

South African Association of Campus Health Services( SAACHS)

Welcome to MatCH Research Unit

About MRU

MatCH Research Unit (MRU) aims to answer priority questions that will translate into improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes through expanding access to appropriate and acceptable health technologies and services. Our core research areas are contraception including barrier methods, HIV prevention, safer conception, menstrual management, postpartum depression and other areas of sexual and reproductive health. MRU engages in pivotal research conducted with vulnerable populations, including youth, sex workers and residents of informal settlements.

Using a range of methodologies, we conduct behavioural, operations and clinical research, actively partnering and involving communities and local structures. We also provide technical assistance, partnering with various stakeholders including the Department of Health and other NGOs to affect policy change and enhance best practice. We work with diverse partners, collaborators and donors, including local and internationally based universities and research centres.

MRU was established in 2013 as a Division of the Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. MRU is based in Durban and was formerly the Durban office of the RHRU (Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit) now WRHI (Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute).

Our Mission:

Conduct innovative research that informs policy and programmes
Conduct research that supports the development of new technologies on sexual and reproductive health, HIV and related diseases
Engage the community in informing research and improving service delivery

MRU is based in Durban and our teams consists of highly skilled research, clinical, laboratory, community, data and administrative staff from a wide range of backgrounds including clinical, behavioral and social sciences

Projects:

Below are a icons of our current projects, click on one to learn more.