Ragon Institute Combining Science with Social Good
The Females Rising through Education, Support, and Health (FRESH) program is a groundbreaking initiative that seamlessly integrates scientific research with community empowerment. Focused on understanding the earliest stages of HIV infection, FRESH operates in the heart of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, where young women face one of the highest risks of contracting HIV globally.
The program combines rigorous scientific research aimed at identifying immune responses immediately after HIV diagnosis with transformative life-skills and job training for participants. Through this dual focus, FRESH seeks not only to advance the field of HIV prevention but also to provide young women with the tools to secure a brighter future, offering access to life-saving HIV prevention medication, or PrEP, and valuable personal development resources. FRESH is a beacon of hope, combining science and social good to make a lasting impact in one of the world’s hardest-hit regions.
About FRESH
Launched in 2012, FRESH operates in Umlazi Township, South Africa, where the HIV epidemic has hit young women hardest—over 60% will contract HIV by the age of 23. In acknowledgement of this statistic, FRESH recruits HIV-negative women aged 18 to 23, offering them the opportunity to participate in a nine-month program that intertwines intensive job and life-skills training with cutting-edge HIV research.
Participants are tested for HIV twice weekly, contributing invaluable biological samples that allow researchers to analyze the immune response immediately after infection. This insight is critical in advancing new HIV prevention strategies and possible cures.
In addition to the scientific contribution, participants attend twice-weekly three-hour sessions where they develop essential skills for personal and professional growth. Empowering these young women is central to FRESH’s mission, and as part of the program, they also receive access to HIV prevention medication, PrEP, and treatment if diagnosed with HIV. The impact goes beyond just the data: roughly 4/5 FRESH graduates secure employment, internships, or further education within one year of completing the program, demonstrating the far-reaching benefits of FRESH’s combined approach to research and community development.
Baby U!
Building on the success of FRESH, the Baby U! cohort was launched in 2022 to address another critical public health challenge: preterm birth (PTB), which is the leading cause of neonatal death worldwide. South Africa has one of the highest preterm birth rates in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 11% of infants born prematurely, contributing to a significant portion of infant mortality in the region. Baby U! recruits pregnant women in Umlazi Township to participate in a comprehensive study aimed at understanding the immune correlates of preterm birth. Through this program, researchers are working to identify early immune and biological markers that can predict PTB, with the goal of developing innovative interventions to prevent preterm birth and improve neonatal outcomes. In parallel, Baby U! continues FRESH’s tradition of combining scientific research with social good, offering participants prenatal care and support, while also addressing the broader structural challenges that contribute to maternal and neonatal health disparities. By focusing on both scientific discovery and community care, Baby U! promises to make a meaningful impact on maternal and infant health in South Africa and beyond.
Impact
Reducing HIV Acquisition in Young Women
The FRESH program provides critical HIV prevention services, including access to PrEP, to young women in Umlazi Township, an area with one of the highest HIV acquisition rates globally. By offering consistent HIV testing and preventive medication, FRESH has successfully supported participants in significantly reducing their risk of contracting HIV during the program, demonstrating an effective model for prevention in high-risk communities.
High Employment Success Among Graduates
FRESH participants benefit from a unique combination of life-skills training and job preparedness programs that help them build brighter futures. 4 out of 5 graduates secure employment, internships, or pursue further education within a year of completing the program, demonstrating the effectiveness of the initiative in reducing economic vulnerability and creating long-term positive outcomes for participants.
Contributing to HIV Cure Research
FRESH is integral to global HIV research, collecting regular biological samples from participants to study immune responses in the earliest stages of infection. These samples have been instrumental in advancing the understanding of HIV pathogenesis and informing new strategies for prevention and cure on a global level.
Support Our Vital Research
As a non-profit institution, the Ragon relies on the generosity of our benefactors to advance our world-changing research. Whether giving to labs at the Ragon, outreach programs in the Boston area, or research programs in South Africa, one of the greatest catalysts in going from novel ideas to treatments and cures is flexible philanthropic support from donors — and your gift could make all the difference.
FRESH News
‘Evolution of an Epidemic’ Returns — Taking Students Across South Africa to Learn the Real-World Impact of HIV and COVID-19
Apr 1, 2024 Features
After three years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ragon-MIT course HST.434 returned this January to provide 24 students a once in a lifetime learning experience Education is a crucial element of the Ragon Institute’s global mission, a vital asset in giving the next generation of researchers the tools to combat diseases like HIV, […]
A Biostat Course Taught Across the World – Empowering Students in Sub-Saharan Africa
Dec 13, 2023 Features
Dr. Ghebremichael’s course provides a unique learning opportunity for students and a way to develop the field of biostatistics in their own communities Naledi Tapologo is a research assistant from Botswana with dreams of a long career in medical research. She said she thanked God when she saw an email in her inbox recently. That […]
FRESH program combines basic science with social benefits for women at risk of HIV
Sep 17, 2018 Features
Ragon Institute initiative addresses socioeconomic factors affecting HIV risk in young women in South Africa A program established by investigators from the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard is addressing the persistently elevated risk of HIV infection among young women in South Africa from two angles – first, investigating biological factors […]
Aspinwall and Friends hold fundraiser for FRESH
Jul 31, 2013 Features
On the evening of July 18, 2013, a benefit show was held in Boulder, Colorado to benefit the FRESH Study, an HIV prevention and education program in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The musical evening, held at Nissi’s, an award-winning restaurant and music venue, raised nearly $1,500 in support of FRESH! With this gift, FRESH will […]