Dr. Chesa Chauke is currently the Head of the Primate Unit and Delft Animal Centre (PUDAC) of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). She is also a member of the SAMRC Ethics Committee for Research on Animals (ECRA) since 2010. She is in possession of a PhD in Molecular biology. Dr. Chauke received her first degree in Plant pathology at the University of KZN, an MSc (Biotechnology) at Rhodes University, and a PhD in Molecular biology at the University of Western Cape. She joined the SAMRC in 2001 and in 2015, she became the Unit Director of PUDAC. Her early research focus was on the molecular aetiology of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in South Africa. Her current research interest involves defining and validating primate models used for biomedical research, specifically in the field of noncommunicable disease (NCDs). She recently refined her professional and managerial knowledge by completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the University of Stellenbosch Business School.