Dr Chesa Gift Chauke has served as the Unit Director of the Primate Unit and Delft Animal Centre (PUDAC) at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) since 2015. Her research focuses on defining and validating primate models for biomedical research, with original contributions in primate genetics, cataract genesis, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. She has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed international journal articles, book chapters, and scientific reports for both local and international clients. Beyond her research, Dr. Chauke is actively involved in advancing the ethical use of nonhuman primates in biomedical and vaccine research. She plays a pivotal role in research ethics governance, holding a ministerial appointment to the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) of the South African Department of Health and serving as Chairperson of the Research Ethics Committee Association of Southern Africa (REASA). In these roles, she champions ethical practices in both human and animal research governance across the region, contributing directly to shaping South Africa’s national research ethics policy.