COVID-19 Conversations with JEFFREY MPAHLELE

This week we speak to Professor Jeffrey Mphahlele who has since October 2014 been the Vice President for Research at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Mphahlele is an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa and National Research Foundation C1-rated researcher. He is affiliated to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly MEDUNSA) in Pretoria, where he previously served as an academic for over 20 years in various capacities: Professor and Academic Chair of the Department of Virology and National Health Laboratory Service (2005 to 2014); Co-Director of the SAMRC/Diarrhoeal Pathogens Research Unit, which is a World Health Organization Rotavirus Regional Reference Laboratory for Africa (2010 to March 2018); and Head of the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC) (2005 to 2014).

Mphahlele’s research interests include epidemiology and genomics of infectious diseases, vaccination control of infectious diseases, and strengthening immunization services and policies. He trained, supervised, and mentored several Ph.D. and Master’s students as his contribution to developing the next generation of scientists. Mphahlele serves on several boards and governance structures: Vice-Chair of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Association, Vice-Chair of the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), Vice-Chairperson of the National Health Laboratory Service, member of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and member of the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation Board of Directors.