Pioneering research on HIV earns South African scientist prestigious Christophe Mérieux Prize

For her work on the prevention and treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim has received the prestigious Christophe Mérieux Prize, worth about R9.6 million.

Each year the Institut de France’s Christophe and Rodolphe Mérieux Foundation awards a scientific “Grand Prize” known as the “Christophe Mérieux Prize” to support research into infectious diseases in developing countries.

Prof Abdool Karim, an infectious diseases epidemiologist, is the Associate Scientific Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Her pioneering research over the past 30 years has focused on understanding the evolving HIV epidemic in Africa and its prevention among adolescent girls and young women. She described the epidemiological “cycle of HIV transmission” in South Africa where young women largely contract HIV from men who are 8 to 10 years their senior.

“It is a great honour for the research undertaken by the CAPRISA team to be recognised by the Christophe Meriuex Foundation,” said Prof Abdool Karim.

Deputy President David Mabuza who is also Chairman of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) congratulated Prof Abdool Karim on her accolade.

Prof Abdool Karim co-directed the CAPRISA 004 tenofovir gel trial which provided proof of concept that antiretroviral drugs prevent the sexual transmission of HIV infection and herpes simplex virus type 2 in women. She also continues to pursue novel approaches to prevent HIV infection in women including broadly neutralising antibodies and ARV based annual implants.

The timing of ARV initiation in TB-HIV co-infected patients has also shaped international guidelines in the clinical management of patients.

She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the African Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Science and serves on several advisory boards including the UNAIDS Advisory Group to the Executive Director; the WHO Executive Group of the International Steering Committee for the Covid-19 SOLIDARITY Trial; and the South African Ministry of Health Advisory Committee on Covid-19.

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