Project Phidisa is a collaborative HIV and AIDS Research project between the SANDF, United States of America and the National Institutes of Health. Initiated in 2003, this Project is intended to support a clinical research infrastructure within the SANDF and a network of its sick bays and hospitals in order to conduct studies on pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, and possibly other infectious diseases. The Project is intended to also help establish important biomedical and public health research capability within the SAMHS that can be utilised in the future to address other health issues of critical importance for military force preparedness.

The Memorandum of Understanding which lapsed in 2010 has since been renewed for the next five years. During this period, three goals have been identified as the key focus areas, namely:

• To integrate Phidisa more effectively into the SAMHS as a clinical infectious disease research component.
• To build capacity for sustainable clinical research.
• To develop a New Research Agenda.

The Project Phidisa Annual Conference will reflect on progress made and to reach consensus on the new Research Agenda applicable to the SA context. The conference will be graced by the presence of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, the SAMHS Multi-Disciplinary Team members, representatives from the Department of Health, Academic Institutions and Phidisa International Partners.