Ifakara Health Institute

Name

Ifakara Health Institute

Legal name

Ifakara Health Institute

Website

https://ihi.or.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Research Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Medical Laboratories (621511), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), Global Health Institutes & Programs (EDAHAGAM), Health Research Funding Agencies (Public/Quasi-Public) (HLAJALAB)

Keywords

• Health research
• Clinical trials
• Malaria research
• Vector control
• Capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar Es Salam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Grant-Funded Research: Primary revenue stream from competitive grants awarded by governments, foundations, and international health organizations. Projects include government-funded malaria vector research, foundation-funded vaccine trials, and international agency-sponsored disease control studies.
2. Government Contracts: Direct funding from Ministry of Health through Tanzania's National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) for specific research projects like insecticide resistance monitoring and molecular identification of malaria vectors.
3. Training and Education Services: Revenue from Master's programme in Public Health Research (MScPHR) in partnership with Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, and specialized short courses for health professionals. Also includes internship programs.
4. Clinical Trials Services: Phase I to Phase III GCP-compliant clinical studies conducted at Kingani Clinical Trials Facility, serving national and international pharmaceutical partners, vaccine developers, and international health organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ifakara Health Institute is a Tanzanian non-profit health research organization that conducts multi-disciplinary scientific research on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, NCDs and neonatal health, and delivers these findings through clinical trials, laboratory diagnostic services, training programs and policy translation. It operates ISO-accredited BSL II laboratories, the Kingani GCP-compliant Clinical Trials Facility, the 105-acre Mosquito City biosphere research site, and two longitudinal Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites, providing research services to governments, foundations, international health agencies and pharmaceutical partners.

Product overview

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) operates as a comprehensive health research organization offering multiple interconnected products and services. The core offerings include world-class research infrastructure comprising the Mosquito City biosphere facilities (105 acres of semi-field mosquito research environments), ISO 15189:2012 accredited BSL II laboratories, and the Kingani Clinical Trials Facility for Phase I-III GCP-compliant studies. The institute provides specialized research services including insecticide resistance monitoring using molecular techniques, Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSS), and vector control technology such as the GeoLSM drone-based larval source management system. IHI has developed digital health products including the JaundiceCARE system (smartphone-based jaundice screening with IMPALA monitoring) and biotechnological innovations like genetically modified mosquitoes through the Transmission Zero programme. Healthcare services include the Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara (CDCI) for HIV and TB care, while capacity building is delivered through the MScPHR training program and the Ifakara Innovation Hub for entrepreneurship support. The institute publishes over 100 journal articles annually and manages 60+ active research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mosquito City — Biosphere Research Facilities Semi-field biosphere research facility spanning 105 acres with over 6,000 square metres of screen house space, including marathon tunnels (110m long, 12m wide), designed to mimic the natural ecosystem of malaria mosquitoes for vector ecology and control studies. Offered as a research platform to IHI scientists and collaborating institutions.
• Kingani Clinical Trials Facility Phase I to Phase III GCP-compliant clinical trials facility located in Bagamoyo, conducting studies in partnership with Muhimbili National Hospital, NIMR, Swiss TPH and pharmaceutical companies for malaria, TB, HIV, NCD and neonatal health indications.
• ISO 15189:2012 Accredited BSL II Laboratories State-of-the-art biosafety level II laboratories at Bagamoyo accredited for clinical chemistry, hematology and parasitology testing, equipped with advanced analyzers, real-time PCR machines, mass spectrometry and microbiology systems, offered as a laboratory testing service to researchers and clinical partners.
• Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSS) Two longitudinal Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites in Kilombero/Ulanga and Rufiji that continuously collect demographic and health data from defined populations, providing a research platform for impact evaluation, epidemiology and policy-relevant studies for IHI and collaborating researchers.
• Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara (CDCI) Integrated rural HIV treatment centre established in 2005 with St. Francis Referral Hospital, providing comprehensive care for people living with HIV and managing TB and other comorbidities, with approximately 3,500 patients under regular follow-up and mother-to-child HIV transmission under 2%.
• Insecticide Resistance Monitoring & Molecular Identification Service Monitoring of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato and molecular identification of malaria vector species using PCR across eleven sentinel sites in Tanzania, delivered for the National Malaria Control Programme.
• GeoLSM — Drone-Based Larval Source Management Vector control research and implementation service combining drones and geospatial information systems to map and manage mosquito breeding habitats, compared against conventional ground-based larval source management in Zanzibar with the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP).
• JaundiceCARE Digital System Digital health system combining Picterus JP smartphone-based jaundice screening with IMPALA real-time vital signs monitoring, designed and evaluated for early detection and management of neonatal jaundice in low-resource hospital settings in Tanzania.
• Transmission Zero — Genetically Modified Malaria-Blocking Mosquitoes Research and development programme developing genetically modified mosquitoes with gene drives that block malaria transmission, conducted in partnership with Imperial College London through the Transmission Zero programme.
• Master's Programme in Public Health Research (MScPHR) Postgraduate training programme in Public Health Research delivered in partnership with Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), based at the Kingani Training Centre in Bagamoyo.
• Ifakara Innovation Hub (IIH) Product development partnership forum for health sector innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting prototype development of marketable health innovations in partnership with EssentialTech Centre of EPFL, Villgro Africa, Bongo Tech & Research Labs and Robotech Labs.
• Spatial Emanators — Long-Lasting Mosquito Defence Field-tested spatial emanators (sheet-like devices that release insecticides) shown in IHI-led research to reduce mosquito bites by more than 50%, developed and validated through IHI's vector control research partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27% reduction in infant mortality achieved through Kilombero Treated Net Project (KINET)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Tanzania Flying LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on drone technology project using drones and machine learning to map potential mosquito breeding sites for malaria vector control in Dar es Salaam region.
• University of CopenhagencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership on drone and machine learning research for malaria control, contributing expertise in geospatial technologies.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading UK-backed genetic engineering projects including Transmission Zero programme. IHI involved in developing genetically modified mosquitoes that block malaria transmission, published in Nature.
• Oxford University (Jenner Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR21 malaria vaccine trials conducted in Tanzania's Bagamoyo district showing 90% reduction in malaria infections. Joint development of WHO-approved malaria vaccines.
• University of the WitwatersrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mosquito breeding research including study on improving mating success of Anopheles funestus mosquitoes published in Parasites & Vectors.
• University of PretoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on malaria vector biology and mosquito breeding optimization in laboratory conditions.
• University of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on malaria transmission research in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Study on hidden infections published in Journal of Infectious Diseases.
• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on malaria transmission studies using direct skin-feeding methodology to measure infectivity to mosquitoes.
• Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on malaria transmission research including active case finding among close contacts of adolescents with TB infection.
• Liverpool School of Tropical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoLSM project collaborator on drone and geospatial technologies for mosquito control in Zanzibar.
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoLSM project collaborator providing expertise in tropical medicine and vector control research.
• Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for GeoLSM project implementing drone-based larval source management in Zanzibar.
• ZzappMalariacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeoLSM project collaborator on malaria elimination technologies and implementation in Zanzibar.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundational partnership since 1949 when Swiss zoologist Dr. Rudolf Geigy established fieldwork location. Over 70 years of Swiss-Tanzanian collaboration shaping global health policies. Co-development of RTS,S vaccine and Coartem drug.
• National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on groundbreaking genetically modified mosquitoes research published in Nature, blocking malaria transmission.
• Makerere University (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint convener of Jirani Symposium on TB 2026 with IHI and University of Nairobi, under theme 'Shared Burden, Shared Response'.
• University of Nairobi (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint convener of Jirani Symposium on TB 2026 addressing TB as cross-border public health challenge requiring coordinated East African action.
• Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership co-founded by Swiss TPH and Swiss government. IHI participates in drug development and validation activities.
• NovartiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on development of Coartem (artemisinin-based combination therapy). Swiss TPH and IHI conducted first clinical trials among children in Tanzania.
• GSKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on RTS,S malaria vaccine development. IHI co-spearheaded pivotal phase II trial in 2008 involving 340 children aged 2-4 months.
• Sanaria Inc (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partnership for malaria vaccine research conducted at IHI facilities in Bagamoyo.
• European Vaccine InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on development and evaluation of malaria vaccine candidates through clinical trials.
• Malaria Vaccine InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting malaria vaccine research and development activities at IHI.
• University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed global analysis on spatial emanators (sheet-like devices releasing insecticides) showing more than 50% reduction in mosquito bites, published in eBioMedicine by The Lancet.
• EssentialTech Centre of EPFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on health sector innovation and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship in Residence (EiR) program hosting Tanzanian startups in Switzerland for 3 months.
• Villgro Africa (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation partner supporting product development partnership approach through Ifakara Innovation Hub.
• Bongo Tech & Research Labs (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal innovation hub partner in Tanzania for health technology development and entrepreneurship support.
• Robotech Labs (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal tech partner supporting startup development and validation of health innovations in Tanzania.
• Picterus AScoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing smartphone-based jaundice screening tool (Picterus JP) for JaundiceCARE project.
• GOAL3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal health partner collaborating on JaundiceCARE project for early detection and management of neonatal jaundice.
• NCDI Poverty NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus Regional Strategy (ICPPA 2026) for severe NCDs in Africa.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-UniversitätcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on TB research including post-TB lung impairment studies presented at Jirani Symposium.
• University of LausannecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trials partnership for Phase I to Phase III studies at Kingani Clinical Trials Facility.
• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Master's programme in Public Health Research (MScPHR) offered at IHI training centers in Bagamoyo.
• Maternity FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Swahili version of Safe Delivery App for healthcare workers ensuring safer childbirths.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI): Kenya's national health research agency operating BSL-3 laboratories, clinical trial facilities, and surveillance sites. Directly comparable to IHI as a fellow African government-affiliated, multi-disease health research institute competing for the same Gates and Wellcome funding.
• MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM: Long-established African clinical research institute with HDSS infrastructure, vaccine trials and tropical disease research. Comparable to IHI in mission, methodology, and Western academic partnerships, and a direct competitor for malaria and vaccine trial funding.
• Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research: Ghana's leading biomedical research institute with BSL-3 labs, clinical trial capacity and disease surveillance. Directly comparable to IHI in West African context, with similar disease focus (malaria, TB, HIV) and funding base.
• Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme: MLW combines a Wellcome Trust-funded African research institute with strong clinical trials and HDSS. Directly comparable to IHI in terms of clinical research, longitudinal surveillance, and major Western academic affiliations.

Broad incumbents

• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: Long-established UK academic institution with vector biology, malaria and tropical disease expertise. Functions as both a partner and broader incumbent in the same research domains as IHI, particularly on GeoLSM and related vector control work.
• Imperial College London (School of Public Health): Major UK research university with substantial malaria, vector biology and global health programs. Direct collaboration partner on Transmission Zero gene drive programme, but a broader incumbent in the global health research ecosystem.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH): Swiss TPH is IHI's foundational partner and a much larger European tropical health research and education organization. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary health research institute with similar mandate, but operates globally from Basel rather than as an African field-based institute.

Regional players

• Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI): National public health agency conducting laboratory, surveillance, and vaccine research in East Africa. Comparable mandate to IHI but focused on Ethiopia; increasingly a competitor for regional health research funding.
• Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC): Government biomedical research and clinical service organization in East Africa with growing clinical trial capacity. Comparable as an African public health research organization but operates primarily in Rwanda.

Emerging players

• Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ): African non-profit health research organization with focus on HIV, TB and maternal health clinical trials. Comparable to IHI in mission and operating model, with smaller infrastructure footprint but similar partnership model with Western universities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifakarahealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/ifakarahealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifakara-health-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifakarahealth

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ifakara Health Institute