Mecru Clinical Research Unit (MeCRU) is a unit which was established at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University from October 2005. The facility was established with the support of the Medical Research Council through the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) and was officially opened by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on the 3rd of June 2010. It is located at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) where there is wide spectrum of qualified specialists in health who have varying degrees of competence in research and clinical work. The SMU is attached to Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, a 1400 bed tertiary hospital a tertiary hospital used for the training of health professionals.