CAPRISA Salutes CISM on 30 Years of Research Excellence in Africa
- Nercio Machele
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) has saluted the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) on the celebration of its 30 years of scientific research, highlighting its role as one of Africa's leading health research institutions and expressing its interest in strengthening scientific collaboration between the two organisations.
The message was delivered by CAPRISA Director, Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim, during his keynote address at the 5th Manhiça Foundation Global Health Symposium. On the occasion, the renowned scientist praised CISM's remarkable journey, stating that the institution exemplifies Africa's ability to generate high-impact scientific knowledge to address public health challenges across the continent and beyond.
At the beginning of his presentation, Salim S. Abdool Karim recalled visiting Mozambique 34 years ago, even before the establishment of CISM, at the invitation of leading figures in Mozambican public health, including Avertino Barreto, Julie Cliff, and Rui Gama Vaz. He explained that, even then, there was a shared conviction that Africa's health challenges should be addressed through research conducted on the continent itself. Drawing on CAPRISA's experience, he illustrated how scientific research can span the entire research value chain—from clinical observation to the development of solutions for use in humans.
As an example, he presented the 22-year research journey that led to the development of the CAP256 HIV antibody. He explained that the discovery began with the follow-up of a participant enrolled in a South African study, whose immune response revealed an antibody capable of neutralising a broad range of HIV variants.
Building on this discovery, CAPRISA researchers collaborated with international institutions to identify the immune cell responsible for producing the antibody, reproduce it in the laboratory, and test it in animal models. The results demonstrated complete protection against an experimental strain of the virus, paving the way for clinical trials in humans.
According to Abdool Karim, this achievement demonstrates that Africa should not be limited to consuming medicines and biological products developed elsewhere, but has the capacity to develop its own scientific and technological solutions.
During the conference, the researcher also presented CAPRISA's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the importance of integrated research. He noted that the institution contributed to South Africa's national pandemic response strategy, participated in clinical trials of the Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna vaccines, and conducted laboratory research on SARS-CoV-2 immunology, genomics, and diagnostics.
Karim also highlighted CAPRISA's work in identifying and characterising the Beta and Omicron variants, which helped scientists understand the impact of these mutations on the evolution of the pandemic and supported the development of international public health policies. He recalled that, following the identification of the Omicron variant, CAPRISA rapidly shared its findings with South African authorities and the international scientific community, publishing an analysis in The Lancet only hours later, thereby helping to guide the global response to the pandemic.
Beyond scientific research, the professor emphasised CAPRISA's role in providing technical advice to governments and international organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the United States Congress, and the United Kingdom Parliament. According to Karim, scientific knowledge must be translated into public policy that directly benefits communities, making science a powerful tool for strengthening health systems and improving responses to public health emergencies.
In the final part of his presentation, the CAPRISA Director called for stronger partnerships among African research institutions, arguing that geographical proximity and shared health challenges provide unique opportunities to develop solutions tailored to the realities of the continent. He noted that CAPRISA already maintains scientific collaborations with institutions in Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and, now, the Manhiça Foundation, expressing his expectation that this new partnership will generate significant benefits for Africa and the world.
At the conclusion of the session, in recognition of CISM's contribution to advancing science—particularly in malaria research, vaccine development, and other areas of health—Salim S. Abdool Karim presented a symbolic trophy to CISM Director General, Francisco Saúte. The award acknowledged CISM's role in consolidating scientific research in Mozambique and across Africa, while underscoring the importance of strengthening collaboration among African research centres to drive innovation, train the next generation of scientists, and develop solutions that respond to the health needs of the continent's populations.
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