Professor Liesl Zühlke selected as 2026 L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science International Award Laureate
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) are proud to announce that Prof Liesl Zühlke has been selected as the 2026 L’Oréal‑UNESCO for Women in Science International Award Laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the field of Life and Environmental Sciences.
The prestigious international award recognises Prof Zühlke’s outstanding contributions to cardiac and cardiovascular science which have significantly advanced global scientific knowledge and improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Prof Zühlke is the Vice-President: Extramural Research and Internal Portfolio at the SAMRC and Director of the Children's Heart Disease Research Unit at UCT. As a paediatric cardiologist and internationally recognised researcher, Prof Zühlke has dedicated her career to addressing childhood‑onset heart diseases, particularly in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Her work focuses on congenital and rheumatic heart disease, heart failure and cardiovascular health in women of child‑bearing age, areas that remain critically under‑researched despite their substantial disease burden.
Prof Ntobeko Ntusi, SAMRC President and CEO said, “This award is a fitting recognition of truly outstanding scholarly achievement and global scientific leadership. Prof Zühlke has made seminal contributions throughout her academic career, with impact that extends well beyond her field, and is an exceptionally deserving recipient of this honour. I could not be more delighted, and I cannot imagine a worthier recipient from Africa.”
Her research has had a profound impact on public health in Africa, especially in advancing the understanding, prevention and treatment of rheumatic heart disease, a condition responsible for more than 360,000 deaths annually worldwide and over 50 million prevalent cases. Through an integrated research portfolio spanning basic science, clinical research, contemporary clinical trials, translational medicine, policy, and community engagement, Prof Zühlke has helped reshape global priorities for rheumatic and congenital heart disease.
In parallel, her work has significantly improved outcomes for children born with congenital heart disease, a population that faces disproportionately poor prognoses in resource‑limited settings. Recognising that children are often overlooked in global health metrics, particularly in the calculation of Disability‑Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and Quality‑Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) - Prof Zühlke has consistently centred her research on diseases of poverty affecting children, adolescents and marginalised communities.
Beyond academia, Prof Zühlke has been a tireless advocate for children and families living with heart disease. She has worked across local, regional and national platforms, contributing to policy development and campaigning for equitable access to effective interventions. Through her engagement with organisations such as the African Union (AU), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Heart Federation (WHF), she has strengthened opportunities to transform the research and policy landscape for children with heart disease.
With over 230 peer‑reviewed publications and over 91,000 citations, Prof Zühlke’s scholarship has directly informed policy shifts and empowered communities by elevating the voices and lived experiences of patients traditionally excluded from research and decision‑making processes.
Prof Zühlke’s selection as a L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science International Award Laureate recognises not only her scientific excellence and global leadership, but also her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable populations. Her achievements stand as a powerful inspiration to the next generation of women scientists in Africa and around the world.
About the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards annually honour five outstanding women scientists worldwide, recognising their contributions to scientific progress and promoting gender diversity in research.
Established in 1998, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards aim to improve the position of women in science by recognising exceptional female researchers whose work has significantly advanced scientific knowledge and societal progress. Each year, five laureates are selected, one from each of the following regions: Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.