Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
03 August 2023 | 10:08am SAST
2 min read

Picture: PowerPoint

Professor Glenda Gray, during an interview on Radio Islam International, discussed her departure from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) after serving two terms as president and Chief Executive Officer. Notably, Professor Gray was the first female to hold this prestigious position and played a crucial role as Chairperson of the Research Committee on COVID-19.

During the interview, Professor Gray expressed her excitement about returning to her scientific roots after her tenure ends in March next year. She plans to focus on HIV vaccine research and develop other vaccines, leveraging South Africa’s growing vaccine capabilities. Her vision is to make Africa and South Africa leading forces in vaccine development and ensure that an effective HIV vaccine is discovered to combat the virus that has been a challenging nut to crack.

When questioned about the complexity of an HIV vaccine, Professor Gray highlighted the virus’s rapid replication rate, making it difficult for the immune system to keep up. The absence of natural cures for HIV makes predicting immune responses for vaccine development challenging. An effective HIV vaccine is not only crucial to eradicating the virus but also to preventing mother-to-child transmission, a major concern for pregnant women living with HIV.

As a pioneering woman in the field of science, Professor Gray shared her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities for women in STEM fields, especially in medical science. She emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment that allows women to balance their careers and family responsibilities, encouraging them to flourish and contribute significantly to the scientific community.

Looking ahead, Professor Gray expressed her hopes for health research in South Africa, highlighting the need for effective vaccines and therapies for various diseases like HIV and malaria. She stressed the importance of improving diagnostics and treatment options, particularly for women, to address delays in diagnosis and treatment for conditions like cancer.

Reflecting on her time as SAMRC President and CEO, Professor Gray expressed gratitude for the privilege to serve South Africa and influence research funding. Her achievements include advancing opportunities for historically disadvantaged institutions and establishing groundbreaking initiatives, such as the whole genome sequencing unit on the African continent.

With her new role as a scientist, Professor Gray looks forward to supporting and mentoring others while continuing to make groundbreaking discoveries. She believes in embracing change and allowing new perspectives to flourish within SAMRC, enabling the organisation to progress further.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Muallima Annisa Essack here.