COVID-19 Conversations with KOLEKA MLISANA

This week we speak to Professor Koleka Mlisana who has been the Executive Manager: Academic Affairs, Research & Quality Assurance at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), since July 2018. Prior to this she was the HOD: Medical Microbiology at UKZN/IALCH; and also served a term as a member of the NHLS Board. She has previously been an active HIV/AIDS researcher for over a decade focussing on HIV prevention and pathogenesis, working at the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban.

She has undertaken seminal research which has revealed how the body responds during acute HIV infection. Her current research interests include TB diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance as well as sexually transmitted infections and has co-authored more than 130 peer reviewed journal articles. She continues to supervise postgraduate students (PhDs, and Masters) as well as examining postgraduate theses from the various academic institutions.

Amongst other national commitments, Prof Mlisana currently chairs the Pathology/Laboratory Committee on the recently established Ministerial Advisory Committee for Covid-19; serves as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).