World Renowned Scientist Calls for Innovation to Win The Battle Against HIV/ AIDS
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Professor Glenda Gray delivers the Faculty of Health Sciences’ prestigious AJ Orenstein Memorial Lecture 2017.
Wits alumna Professor Glenda Gray, an NRF A-rated scientist, CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council, Non-Executive Director of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (HPRU) at Wits, and a TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World 2017, delivered the Faculty of Health Sciences’ prestigious AJ Orenstein Memorial Lecture, entitled: HIV/AIDS : Battling to win the battle.
Her thought provoking and detailed timeline analysis of the epidemic in South Africa highlighted the massive impact of aids denialism, the significant impact research undertaken in 2000’s made resulting in increased life expectancy by ten years within one decade and the need now for novel strategies and new approaches to prevention and treatment.
Prof Gray highlighted that while vaccine trials already underway would reveal their efficacy in just five years, the move towards immune and genetic cures was becoming more important. “What we really need is a vaccine for violence,” she said, given the interplay of biological and social determinants. Changing society’s patriarchy will take decades. Biological interventions are all we have for now.”
Prof Gray gave thanks and accolades to the researchers of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit based in Soweto who over the last 21 years have collectively developed a world renowned unit focused on HIV prevention and treatment and made many significant breakthroughs in research, including the recent research breakthrough in the area of an HIV functional cure.