Page 142 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

research continues to advance well and is now also Building Capacity Through
generously supported by the Open Philanthropies Training, Mentorship, and Support
and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Challenge
studies were recently completed, which entailed A major focus of AGTRU is training of young scientists
to build capacity in the country. During 2024, there
immunisation of mice, then exposure of the animals were four postdoctoral fellows, eight PhD and
to Mtb microorganisms. Results demonstrated seven MSc candidates in the unit. During 2024/25
protection was induced by the mRNA vaccines. five students graduated with MSc degrees and one
with a PhD. Four of the graduating MSc candidates
The generation of HIV mRNA vaccines that prevent registered for PhD candidature during 2024/25. One
infection with HIV progressed rapidly during 2024/25. PhD candidate has corrected her thesis after it was
However, this work was supported by USAID, and examined, and these corrections were approved by
the project was stopped in early 2025 by the new the University Health Sciences Postgraduate Office.
US government administration. Funding. Significant Graduation is scheduled for mid-2025. Another PhD
support for the work of the unit was obtained during candidate has submitted her thesis and is awaiting
2024. A total of approximately R55,000,000.00 has feedback from the examiners.
been attracted from various sources that include
the German KfW Development Bank, Open
Philanthropy, Good Venture Foundation, USAID and
Bill and Melinda Gates.

The microfluidics device, from Precision NanoSystems, Dr Lorato Modise, a visiting postdoctoral fellow
is a vital piece of equipment in the Wits/SAMRC from Sefako Makgatho University, is working on
Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit. It is used to characterising replication properties of South African
assemble mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) mutant strains of hepatitis B virus (HBV).
for application as vaccines and therapies.

140 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25