Wits VIDA Research Unit
Michelle Groome is currently a Reader at University of the Witwatersrand and also serves as the Principal Researcher for Epidemiology at Wits VIDA Research Unit. Previously, Michelle held the position of Head of the Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Michelle has extensive experience in clinical research focusing on infectious diseases, especially vaccine preventable diseases. Additionally, Michelle has been involved in various academic and research roles, including a fellowship at Wits Health Consortium. Michelle holds a Ph.D. in Public Health, a Master's Degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and various other qualifications in the medical field.
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Wits VIDA Research Unit
The Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics (VIDA) Research Unit of the University of the Witwatersrand, formerly the Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (RMPRU), has over the past 24 years established itself as an internationally recognised African-led research unit in the field of epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, and clinical development of life-saving vaccines. Current focus areas include next generation vaccines against rotavirus and TB, as well as development of novel vaccines targeted at pregnant women to protect their young infants against the leading causes of sepsis (Group B Streptococcus vaccine) and pneumonia (Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine) during early infancy. Furthermore, VIDA is one of seven participating units in the multi-country Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) programme, which aims at providing refined estimates as to the causes of stillbirths and under-5 childhood deaths in low-middle income countries (LMICs). In 2020, VIDA embarked on leading the first two COVID-19 vaccine studies being undertaken on the African continent, and has undertaken multiple epidemiological and immunology studies on COVID-19 in health-care workers, adults and pregnant women. The translational research undertaken at VIDA continues to inform local and global policy recommendations on the use of life-saving vaccines in the public immunisation programmes of low-middle income countries.