WITS BREAKS GROUND ON AFRICA’S FIRST FULLY INTEGRATED BIOHUB
- FHS Communications
From Bedside to Bench to Breakthrough
The University of the Witwatersrand has broken ground on one of the most ambitious projects in its history, the Wits Interdisciplinary and Translational Science (WITS) BioHub. The sod-turning ceremony, held on 12 September 2025 at the new precinct in Houghton, Johannesburg, marked a symbolic milestone in the development of a campus designed to transform health innovation in Africa.
A New Chapter for Health Innovation
The WITS BioHub is conceived as Africa’s first fully integrated “bedside-to-bench-to-breakthrough” campus. Unlike traditional research centres, it brings together discovery science, clinical practice and commercialisation pathways in one purpose-built environment. By consolidating world-class laboratories, multi-omics platforms, clinical trial infrastructure and entrepreneurial spaces, the BioHub aims to accelerate the journey from scientific ideas to tangible health solutions.
At 28,000 square metres, the campus will house advanced biomolecular laboratories, a BSL-3 facility for infectious disease research, innovation hubs for biotech start-ups, and conferencing and collaboration spaces. This scale of integration is unprecedented in Africa and positions Wits as a continental leader in health innovation.
Prof. Lynn Morris, Wits Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, described the project as a landmark for African science. “The WITS BioHub is a bold investment in Africa’s future. By creating an ecosystem where researchers, clinicians and innovators work side by side, we can accelerate the journey from discovery to delivery. This is how Wits will ensure that African science shapes solutions for the world.”
Responding to Africa’s Health Landscape
The project has been designed in response to Africa’s urgent health challenges. While infectious diseases such as HIV, TB and antimicrobial resistance remain pressing, the continent is also grappling with a steep rise in non-communicable diseases including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular illness. The BioHub will bring these streams of research together, enabling an African-led approach to precision medicine that takes account of local genetics, population health data and social context.
Large-scale longitudinal studies and biobanking platforms already established at Wits will be central to this approach, ensuring that laboratory discoveries are rooted in the lived realities of African populations. The BioHub will therefore not only advance scientific knowledge but also deliver solutions tailored to local health systems while contributing to global medical breakthroughs.
From Science to Impact
Beyond research, the WITS BioHub has a strong mandate for translation and sustainability. It will provide structured pathways for intellectual property protection, licensing and the incubation of spin-off companies. In doing so, it aims to stimulate a vibrant biotech sector in South Africa, creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to the knowledge economy.
This model reflects a shift in how research is conceived, not only as a generator of knowledge but also as an engine for economic growth and societal benefit. With contract research, clinical trial services and biotech partnerships embedded in its business model, the BioHub will generate revenue to secure its long-term future while producing innovations with global relevance.
Prof. Shabir Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, underlined this vision: “The BioHub represents the next frontier for the Faculty of Health Sciences. It will give our scientists and partners the infrastructure to turn ideas into diagnostics, vaccines and treatments that save lives. More than that, it positions South Africa as a leader in health innovation, building solutions that respond to our own challenges while contributing globally.”
Building the Future
The development of the WITS BioHub is being implemented in phases. Phase 1, including the purchase of the precinct and the establishment of a BSL-3 laboratory, has already been completed. Phase 2 will deliver additional biomolecular facilities, incubation and conferencing spaces, while Phase 3 will see the relocation of research units from across Wits into the new hub.
The project represents a capital investment of approximately R1.3 billion, with significant progress already made and fundraising underway to complete the build and ensure sustainability for the first five years of operation.
A Continental Flagship
The WITS BioHub is more than a new building. It is envisioned as a continental flagship for health innovation: a place where science, technology and collaboration come together to address Africa’s dual burden of disease and to position South Africa as a global leader in translational medicine.
By breaking ground on the BioHub, Wits has signalled its commitment to building a future in which African science drives global solutions – from diagnostics and vaccines to advanced therapeutics, ensuring that discoveries are not only made, but also delivered where they are most needed.