Research at NHRTI spans infectious disease, non-communicable disease and the health system. Much of the portfolio asks how interventions work in Zambia’s communities and services, and how evidence can be put to use.
Understanding health where people live.
Research connects the laboratory with everyday life: how infections spread, how families use health services and how prevention works in different settings.
NHRTI’s teams bring together scientific investigation, clinical studies and long-term relationships with communities.
Meet the projects and investigatorsExplore the questions we study
Malaria
How do mosquitoes and parasites spread infection, and how can prevention and treatment improve?
Explore malaria researchTuberculosis
Developing ways to detect TB and understand drug resistance, alongside reference laboratory services.
Explore TB researchImmunisation and HIV
Finding gaps in protection and studying how established services can reach more people.
Explore prevention researchNutrition
Understanding micronutrients, fortified foods and how nutrition programmes work within health services.
Explore nutritionMaternal and reproductive health
Studying infections in pregnancy and the accuracy of tests that can be used at the point of care.
Explore maternal healthNeglected Tropical Diseases
Investigating schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and other endemic parasitic burdens in vulnerable communities.
Explore NTD researchBiobanking Services
Systematic collection, processing, quality-assured storage and retrieval of biological specimens for high-impact health research.
Explore BiobankingHealth systems and long-term health
Investigating antibiotic use, infection after surgery and the molecular biology of cancer.
Explore the health-system work
Preserving Biological Resources for Better Health Research
The National Health Research and Training Institute (NHRTI) provides biobanking services that support high-quality health research by systematically collecting, processing, storing, managing, and retrieving biological specimens. The biobank serves as an important research resource, preserving biological materials and associated data for current and future investigations of diseases and other health conditions of public health importance.
By providing secure and quality-assured storage of biological specimens, NHRTI helps researchers preserve valuable samples that may otherwise be difficult, costly or impossible to recollect. This strengthens the capacity for longitudinal research, collaborative studies, molecular investigations, surveillance and the development and evaluation of new diagnostic and public health interventions.
A National Resource for Health Research
Designed to support research programmes conducted by the Institute, academic institutions, government programmes and approved research collaborators. The facility accommodates appropriately consented specimens generated through clinical studies, epidemiological investigations, surveillance programmes, and laboratory research.
Supporting Advanced Research
Provides a valuable foundation for molecular, genomic, infectious disease, nutrition, epidemiological and clinical research. Well-preserved specimens support pathogen detection, molecular characterization, biomarker discovery and genomics, while enabling future analyses without always requiring new sample collection.
Ethical & Data Protection Governance
Biobanking activities follow applicable ethical, regulatory, institutional and data-protection standards. Access to specimens is controlled and limited to approved purposes, with rigorous measures in place to protect participant confidentiality, privacy and informed consent.
Strengthening continuity and reproducibility in health science.
As part of NHRTI’s broader research infrastructure, the Biobank supports the preservation of biological resources, strengthens the continuity and reproducibility of health research, and helps maximise the value of specimens collected across Zambia.
Small nutrients. Important questions.
Nutrition research examines how micronutrients are measured, absorbed and delivered through foods and health services.
Vitamin A from fortified bouillon
Studying absorption of vitamin A added to bouillon compared with an oil-based supplement.
Liver reserve cut-offs
Refining models of total body vitamin A stores and the assessment of deficiency.
Multiple micronutrient supplementation
Studying introduction and scale-up of supplementation for pregnant and lactating women within antenatal services.
Research in maternal and reproductive health
Infections during pregnancy
Research on Mycoplasma genitalium in antenatal populations examines how common infection is and resistance to first-line treatment.
Tests closer to care
A rapid antigen test for trichomoniasis is being evaluated for accuracy in antenatal clinics.
Health systems, NCDs and antimicrobial resistance
Antibiotic prescribing
Prescription patterns and associated symptoms among children living with HIV in Ndola.
Infection after surgery
Surgical site infections and associated factors at three tertiary hospitals on the Copperbelt.
Cancer and molecular biology
Collaborative investigation of gene regulation in virus-driven cancers and cancers affecting women.
Research connects many kinds of expertise.
Laboratory scientists, clinical teams, analysts and community researchers contribute different pieces of the same health question.
Find the right scientific contact
The portfolio includes studies at different stages and continuing laboratory services. A project listing does not mean participant recruitment is open. Contact NHRTI for study information or a collaboration enquiry.
Research ethics guidance Research enquiriesRecent research highlights
These selected studies show how NHRTI connects field investigation, laboratory science and public health questions.
Understanding mosquito diversity
Genetic sequencing in Nchelenge identified previously unrecognised Anopheles lineages, adding new questions for malaria surveillance.
Studying antimalarial options
TDRC researchers investigated pyronaridine–artesunate as a possible malaria treatment in the context of elimination research.
Evidence for vector control
Field studies in Nchelenge examined mosquito seasonality and pyrethroid resistance to help inform malaria-control planning.
Tuberculosis and mining communities
Research explored barriers to seeking TB care in mining towns, including concerns about employment and trust in services.
These are research summaries, not clinical advice. For individual care, speak with a qualified health professional.