South Africa’s scientist, Shabir Madhi, has been named as part of a global team of experts on the hunt for a vaccine for the deadly COVID-19 disease.
Madhi is a professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and a director of the South African Medical Research Council Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit.
He is part of a team of 128 scientists from around the world tasked with finding a vaccine for the virus that has infected nearly two million people across the globe.
The World Health Organization (WHO), said in a statement, as part of its response to the outbreak, a research and development blueprint has been activated to accelerate the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics for the novel virus.
“Under WHO’s coordination, a group of experts with diverse backgrounds is working towards the development of vaccines against COVID-19,” said WHO.
“The group makes a call to everyone to follow recommendations to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and protect the health of individuals. The group also thanks everyone for putting their trust in the scientific community.”
Madhi is regarded as one of the country’s leading scientists – having been recognized as an A-rated scientist by the National Research Foundation since 2012.
He has co-authored over 400 scientific publications between 1997 and 2018 and has supervised 19 PhD students. His research has focused on the epidemiology, and clinical development of life-saving vaccines against pneumonia and diarrheal disease.
