The Africa Health Research Institute’s vision is optimal health and well-being of under-resourced populations. The Africa Health Research Institute (also known as AHRI) is an independent, transdisciplinary scientific research institute based across two campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa. AHRI’s research combines population, basic, social, and medical sciences to understand and intervene in the health and well-being of South African communities. AHRI works in partnership with local communities and South African academic, governmental and other policy stakeholders. We emphasise training of the next generation of African scientists. AHRI collaborates with over 60 institutions globally. The work lives of AHRI’s ~500 scientists, students and staff members are driven by our values: ubuntu, transformation, leadership, innovation, excellence and collaboration.