Welcome to African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development (AMITD), a pioneering institution dedicated to advancing research, community engagement, and innovation in traditional African medicines. With a rich history rooted in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), AMITD has established itself as a leader in the scientific exploration and development of traditional medicines, herbal formulations, and pharmacology across the continent.
Our Commitment
At AMITD, we are committed to fostering meaningful collaboration between communities, industry, and academia. We work closely with Indigenous Knowledge (IK) communities and Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) in South Africa, empowering them to participate actively in the formal economy. By leveraging South Africa’s rich biodiversity and traditional medical knowledge, we aim to drive discovery, innovation, and sustainable economic development through an inclusive model that uplifts community participation and empowerment.
Research and Innovation
AMITD is at the forefront of research development in traditional medicines, specializing in formulation science, pharmacology, and product development. Our work focuses on addressing priority health challenges, including emerging and re-emerging pandemics, by developing new intellectual property (IP) for commercialisation. We collaborate with both national and international private pharmaceutical industries to enhance existing herbal and traditional medicine products and develop novel formulations tailored to current market needs.
Education and Capacity Building
Education is a core pillar of AMITD. We host a vibrant community of postgraduate students, including Honours, Masters, and PhD candidates, as well as postdoctoral fellows. These emerging researchers drive our innovative projects and contribute to strengthening the scientific understanding of African traditional medicines. Our goal is to cultivate a new generation of pharmacologists and researchers equipped to lead the continent’s efforts in traditional medicine research and development.
Strategic Partnerships and Leadership
AMITD prides itself on establishing strategic, functional partnerships across academia, industry, and communities. We aim to position ourselves as a continental leader in pharmacology research related to traditional medicines, with an international outlook that recognizes and elevates our contributions on the global stage. Our vision is to harness Africa’s indigenous knowledge and biodiversity to create impactful health solutions and sustainable economic growth.
Prof. Motlalepula Matsabisa holds a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Cape Town. His expertise spans Pharmacology and the Pharmacology of Traditional Medicines, with a focus on Drug Discovery and Development, including the formulation research of traditional medicinal products into proprietary finished products. His comprehensive research covers the entire value chain of new drug development—from basic science and discovery to pharmaceutical formulation and clinical trials.
He is the Director of AMITD, a Guest Professor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Deputy President of the South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. Prof. Matsabisa also chairs the WHO Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19 and serves on several national and international panels, including the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines (South Africa), the WHO Traditional Medicine Summit External Advisory Group, the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine Editorial Board, and the Plant Medicines Task Force for the International League for Epilepsy. Additionally, he is a member of the Presidential Cannabis Masterplan Steering Committee and the United Nations Science Summit Advisory Panel at UNGA79, contributing to advancing traditional medicine and science on global platforms.