REACH Awards 2019 - Honoring game-changers you work with
Here is an exciting opportunity to showcase the groundbreaking research, advocacy and frontline health provision that is taking place at the South African Medical Research Council and in your networks.
The 2019 REACH Awards will be recognizing stories of unsung achievement in disease elimination (Malaria, Tuberculosis, NTDs, and more) and raise awareness of the role of game-changing innovators within the larger global health community. Prominent leaders from across global health disciplines will judge the awards, including:
· Professor Baron Peter Piot, Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
· Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
· Dr. Maha Barakat, Executive Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership
The winners will receive an undisclosed monetary prize, media visibility and the opportunity to come to Abu Dhabi’s Reaching the Last Mile Forum in November to receive the awards in front of high level global health leaders such as Bill Gates and Dr. Tedros.
About the 2019 REACH Awards
The REACH Awards uniquely honor unsung heroes working in the field of disease elimination who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment. Categories include:
· The Unsung Hero Award honors an extraordinary individual who has played a transformative, frontline role in the field of disease elimination, and has been under-recognized for his or her efforts.
· The Game-changing Innovator Award recognizes an individual who has developed and implemented a creative technology or practice in support of disease elimination.
· The Rising Champion Award celebrates an individual who is championing a cause related to disease elimination.
Nominations will remain open until July 12.
The Awards will be presented at the biennial Reaching the Last Mile Forum in November in front government officials, bilateral and multilateral aid leaders, global health experts, and industry leaders.
Articles
Prof. George Boateng Kyei: Advancing Hiv Research In Africa
In his EDCTP-GSK Senior Fellowship, Professor George Boateng Kyei of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, has not only advanced the search for an HIV cure but also strengthened research capacity across Ghana and the broader African region.
Addressing HIV persistence
HIV remains a pressing public health issue in Africa, with persistent challenges hindering the quest for a cure. This fellowship project focused on one such challenge: the virus’s ability to remain dormant within resting CD4+ T cells, even among individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). By exploring the innovative “shock and kill” approach, the research aimed to reactivate latent HIV and target infected cells for destruction. A notable scientific achievement was the identification and confirmation of three novel epigenetic compounds capable of reactivating latent HIV from virologically suppressed individuals. These findings pave the way for future studies in animal models, with the potential to transition into clinical trials aiming at finding a cure for HIV.
Strengthening research infrastructure
The establishment of a drug screening platform at the University of Ghana stands out as a long-term asset for HIV drug discovery and cure research. Additionally, the project introduced regular viral load monitoring for a substantial cohort of patients—an essential practice previously not standard in Ghana. The data generated from this monitoring has been instrumental in shaping national HIV treatment policies and improving patient care.
Furthermore, the project developed a biobank and a well-characterised cohort of HIV-infected adults, providing invaluable resources for ongoing and future HIV cure research. Insights gathered from patients regarding their perceptions of HIV cure research will inform the design and conduct of subsequent studies in Ghana and across Africa.
Training the next generation of researchers
The impact of the fellowship extends beyond laboratory accomplishments; it has significantly influenced research training and career development. The fellowship helped nurture the growth of junior scientists, many of whom have evolved into independent research leaders, securing competitive grants and fellowships, such as the IAS Research-for-Cure Academy and NIH R21. They have presented their findings at prestigious international conferences, including the African Virology Congress and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
Post-doctoral fellows have notably received fellowships from esteemed international programmes, such as the Science by Women Fellowship and the NIH CFAR Africure award, showcasing their growing prominence in the research community.
Recognition and awards
Professor Kyei’s mentorship has not gone unnoticed; in April 2024, he received special recognition from the University of Ghana’s Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) for his outstanding mentorship of female academics—an honour highlighted by nominations from his own mentees. The project also celebrated the achievements of its team members, with one post-doc winning Best Senior Research Fellow at the 2024 NMIMR Awards and research assistants earning accolades at the 2024 African Virologist Conference.
Professor Kyei’s research has led to significant international visibility, with his team members winning travel awards to attend prestigious conferences, including the Keystone Symposium and the African Virology Congress. These opportunities have allowed them to present their findings and collaborate with global experts in the field.
Expanding horizons
The EDCTP-GSK Senior Fellowship grant has facilitated the groundwork for additional projects, including a newly awarded Fogarty grant aimed at enhancing HIV basic science and cure research training at the University of Ghana. This grant will train 17 researchers over the next 5 years, further strengthening the research landscape in Ghana.
As the team looks to the future, plans are in place to expand research into HIV reservoir characteristics among virologically suppressed patients across Ghana. This extension not only continues the momentum generated by the EDCTP grant, but also reinforces Ghana’s position as a leader in HIV cure research in Africa and contributes to the global effort to eradicate HIV.
Save The Date! Communications Workshop At The Edctp 2025 Forum
Dear Colleague,
Are you attending the EDCTP 2025 forum in Kigali (Rwanda)?
Don't miss the Communications workshop on Thursday 19 June (15:30 - 17:30 Rwanda time) in room MH3.
The topic of the workshop will be: "From good to great: Mastering communication skills for impactful science
Best,
The EDCTP team.
Call For Proposals: Panel Sessions At Science Forum South Africa 2025
Dear Stakeholder
Science Forum South Africa 2025 (SFSA 2025) will take place from 24 to 28 November 2025 at the CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) in Pretoria, South Africa. This year marks the tenth edition of SFSA, celebrating a decade of igniting vibrant discussions on the role of science in society. The Forum brings together stakeholders from the scientific community, government, industry, and civil society.
We are pleased to invite proposals from individuals and institutions to convene panel sessions as part of the SFSA 2025 programme. These sessions should align with the Forum's theme and sub-themes, and provide an opportunity to engage diverse perspectives in critical conversations.
FORUM THEME
Igniting Conversations: Placing Science, Technology, and Innovation at the Centre of Government, Education, Society, and Industry
SUB-THEMES
- Financing for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
- Science and Society Nexus (Agriculture, Health, Climate Change, Just Energy Transition)
- Building Research Capabilities for Africa (STISA 2024)
- The Role of Science Diplomacy
- Emerging Industry – The Role of Disruptive Technologies
- Science Journalism and Science Communication
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
HOW TO SUBMIT
The deadline for proposal submissions is 21 July 2025.
SFSA 2025 is proudly co-hosted by the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA) initiative.
We look forward to your participation in shaping the dialogue at SFSA 2025.
Best regards
The SFSA 2025 Organising Committee