South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) press release
22 January 2026 — South Africa has taken a historic step toward contributing to the development of an HIV vaccine, aimed at HIV vaccine strains circulating in Southern Africa, with the launch of the BRILLIANT 011 first-in-human clinical trial at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) site at Groote Schuur Hospital.
The first participant was enrolled this week.
The trial is being conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in partnership with DTHF and the Wits Health Consortium, marking a major milestone in African-led HIV vaccine research.
The study forms part of the BRILLIANT Consortium (BRinging Innovation to cLinical and Laboratory research to end HIV In Africa through New vaccine Technology), a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2024. The consortium seeks to unite leading researchers from South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique, and is notable for being predominantly led by African women scientists, with the SAMRC leading this first study.
Despite facing severe setbacks following U.S. funding cuts that threatened to derail the programme, the BRILLIANT Consortium demonstrated remarkable scientific resilience. Through swift leadership action and the mobilisation of new investment, the team successfully preserved the integrity of the research and ensured that Africa’s first clinical trial under BRILLIANT could proceed.
Read the full press release here.
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Source : SAMRC
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