Abdullah Ely is the incoming director of the Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU) with over two decades of experience in the developmental aspects of gene therapy. A molecular biologist by training, his research has focussed extensively on targeting the hepatitis B virus, which is of particular concern in sub–Saharan Africa. Over the course of his scientific career, he has explored the use of many technologies to develop gene therapeutics, foremost being the RNA interference pathway and gene editing technologies such as Transcriptional Activator Like Effectors (TALE) and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Exploiting the RNA interference pathway, he developed artificial primary microRNA and demonstrated impressive silencing of the hepatitis B virus. This has formed the basis of numerous research projects in the AGTRU to develop this technology for use in recombinant viral vectors and using the in vitro transcribed RNA platform. The expertise that the AGTRU has cultivated in the development of gene therapeutics placed the team in good stead to apply their skills to developing mRNA vaccines. Abdullah and his colleagues in the AGTRU were instrumental in the success of the WHO’s mRNA Technology Transfer Hub, providing critical skills to the hub members in designing and synthesizing mRNA vaccines. More recently Abdullah has is applying his skills to developing HIV mRNA vaccines and exploring the use of RNA therapeutics to combating infectious diseases. 

Contact Details

Address:
Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
7 York Road, Parktown, 2193,South Africa
Tel office: +27(0)11 717 2318/2467
Email: Abdullah.Ely@wits.ac.za
Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit - Wits University