BRTI implements research projects and provides training and support services in public health, biomedicine, and other health research mostly focusing on HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and other operational research. Its mission is to promote the health and quality of life of the peoples of Africa through research and training in the field of biomedicine.

The main role of the BRTI is to provide the support the researchers in all aspects of health need to become effective in influencing policy. 

In CTAOP’s first partnership with a formal research institution, BRTI and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) adapted a mobile phone messaging intervention for young people in Zimbabwe. The intervention aims to improve young people’s attitudes towards contraception, promote safer sex behaviors, and increase demand for health services within the local context of Zimbabwe. 

Adapted through a co-design process, young people were trained and conducted the adaptation process along with the research staff at BRTI. The adapted intervention was integrated into CHIEDZA, an active, two-year randomized controlled trial that delivers comprehensive health services to young people by meeting them where they are. 

After an initial publication on the collaborative adaptation process, BRTI rolled out the intervention and is now evaluating the impact to determine if it led to increases in SRHR knowledge, behavior change, and the uptake of the youth-friendly services delivered in the community through CHIEDZA. 

This initiative is designed to provide a launch point for BRTI and LSHTM to apply for large research grants to prove and scale the model.