● University of Venda · Thohoyandou, Limpopo
ipgh@univen.ac.za | UNIVEN ↗
Institute for Pathogen & Global Health

Advancing Knowledge Improving Health (RSA)

One Health · AMR · HIV · Wastewater Surveillance

We combine genomics, bioinformatics, systems biology, and ethnography to uncover how pathogens evolve and spread — driving solutions that protect communities across Africa and beyond.

Our Research → About IPGH
AMR HIV Wastewater Surveillance Childhood Infections One Health
Prof Pascal Bessong
Director
Prof Pascal Bessong
DSTI/NRF Chair in Community Antimicrobial Resistance
Institute for Pathogen & Global Health, UNIVEN
NRF SARChI Chair SAMRC Grant Holder
4+
Landmark Research Initiatives
5
Research Priority Areas
7+
Partner Institutions
2001
Est. University of Venda
Priority Areas

Our Research

Using a One Health lens — recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health — IPGH translates science into community-relevant solutions.

SAMRC-UNIVEN AMR Unit
AMR Unit
SAMRC-UNIVEN AMR Unit
Community-based birth cohort studies investigating gut resistome, antibiotic-resistant bacteria transmission, and microbiota in Limpopo Province.
Community Antimicrobial Resistance
SARChI
Community Antimicrobial Resistance
DSTI/NRF Research Chair generating evidence on drug-resistant priority bacteria and coproducing ethnographically relevant stewardship materials.
Pathogen Surveillance
Surveillance
Pathogen Surveillance
Multi-pathogen wastewater-based epidemiology monitoring SARS-CoV-2, TB, Cholera, Salmonella, and more across South African communities.
HIV & Treatment Outcomes
HIV
HIV & Treatment Outcomes
Longitudinal cohort research on antiretroviral resistance, treatment outcomes, and gut resistome in people living with HIV.
AMR Stewardship & Advocacy
Policy & Stewardship
AMR Stewardship & Advocacy
Knowledge translation through Responsive Dialogues, converting genomic and ethnographic data into community AMR stewardship tools.
Human Capital Development
Training
Human Capital Development
Masters and doctoral training across analytical biochemistry, epidemiology, bioinformatics, ethnography, and molecular microbiology.
Metabolomics and Human Health
Metabolomics
Metabolomics and Human Health
Investigating small molecules that reflect interactions between genetics, diet, the microbiome, resistome, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.
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Flagship Projects

Landmark Initiatives

Malnutrition and Enteric Disease Study
MAL-ED
International multisite birth cohort studying the complex relationships between enteric infections, malnutrition, and child development in the developing world.
Medical Research Council Research Unit
SAMRC–UNIVEN AMR Unit
South African Medical Research Council–University of Venda Antimicrobial Resistance and Global Health Research Unit studying community-level resistome acquisition.
Pathogen Surveillance Project
Solidarity Fund AMR
SAMRC-supported multi-pathogen surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology, tracking SARS-CoV-2, TB, Cholera, and other priority pathogens.
Community Antimicrobial Resistance
DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair
South African Research Chair Initiative generating nationally relevant AMR evidence and building community-level stewardship capacity.
Latest

News & Events

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Uncategorized
28 August 2026
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Research & Training Partners · Funders
Center for Global Health Equity, U. Virginia Mbarara University of Science & Technology Walter Sisulu University Diplomics Institute SAMRC DSTI NRF IP3 Dzimauli Community
Community Engagement & Involvement

IPGH works directly with the communities it studies — through Responsive Dialogues, school and clinic outreach, and local stakeholder engagement — to make sure research findings translate into real AMR awareness and stewardship on the ground.

Vhembe District Municipality Mopani District Municipality Dzimauli Community Engagement Local Schools & Clinics Outreach Responsive Dialogues Programme
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