GIFT

Cluster: Health and Life Sciences
Sector: Healthtech
Country: South Africa
Edition: 2026
Technologies: point-of-care diagnostics for reproductive health, women’s reproductive health innovation, Genital Inflammation Test (GIFT), affordable STI screening technologies, bacterial vaginosis diagnostic tools, resource-limited health solutions, rapid diagnostic development, clinical research consortium Africa, multidisciplinary health research, public health implementation strategies, HIV risk reduction tools, clinical evaluation and trials, health innovation partnerships, health technology for low-resource settings, data-driven medical device optimisation, sexually transmitted infection management, biomedical diagnostic platforms, machine-learning-assisted testing, field-ready health technologies, health systems strengthening tools

GIFT-Africa is a multi-institutional health research consortium focused on improving women’s reproductive health in resource-limited African settings by developing affordable point-of-care diagnostic tools, clinical evidence, and implementation strategies for conditions such as asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). The project brings together investigators and partners from academic, clinical, and innovation organisations across several countries to optimise and evaluate the Genital Inflammation Test (GIFT) device — a field-ready rapid diagnostic aimed at enhancing detection and management of genital inflammation, which is linked to increased HIV risk and adverse reproductive outcomes. Through collaborative work packages that span device development, clinical trials, impact evaluation, and market testing, GIFT-Africa seeks to support stronger public health strategies and improve STI/BV surveillance and care pathways across the region.