7 February 2006
Malaria research in Africa is set to get a major boost with the South
African Department of Science and Technologyâs R 11 million research grant in
support of the South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI).
Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, will officially launch
the SAMI on Tuesday, 7 February, at a special function at the Edoardo Villa
Museum, University of Pretoria, commencing at 11h30. Key role players including
representatives from the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and the World
Health Organisation (WHO) will attend the launch.
SAMI was initiated in 2005 by the African Centre for Gene Technologies
(ACGT), a joint venture between the Universities of Pretoria and the
Witwatersrand as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR).
The aim is to encourage collaboration between various local malaria
researchers and to establish networks with other key players on the African
continent. This will equip researchers to create the critical mass required to
enable African researchers to generate solutions to an African problem, says
the Director of ACGT, Prof Jane Morris.
According to Prof Morris, malaria still ranks as one of the major challenges
that inhibits development and growth of the African continent and other poor
countries. "It is estimated that approximately 20% of deaths among children
under the age of five in Africa can be attributed to malaria. It is further
estimated that 40% of the worldâs population live in high malaria risk areas,
resulting in the deaths of approximately 1 - 2 million people annually."
SAMIâs research will focus on three key areas, including: (1) drug discovery
and pre-clinical development of novel potential anti-malarial compounds; (2)
new and improved diagnostics and (3) molecular epidemiology and parasite-vector
interactions. It is envisaged that an integrated programme of research will be
attained through the expert inputs from SAMI and other research specialists
from the Universities of KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town, Witwatersrand, Rhodes and
Stellenbosch, as well as the Medical Research Council of South Africa, the
National Health Laboratory Services and the National Institute of Communicable
diseases.
South Africa is best placed to undertake cutting edge molecular research due
to the countryâs:
* access to biodiversity as a source of anti-malarial and insecticides;
* critical mass of scientists working in drug discovery from both the drug
target and drug lead perspectives;
* potential to link vector and parasite research to tackle the malaria problem
in an integrated fashion, access to malaria cases and unique laboratory
mosquito colonies.
The SAMI will encourage researchers from across South Africa to pursue a
common goal to control malaria on the African continent.
Enquiries:
Kristin Klose, Manager: Communication
Cell: 082 902 9503
E-mail: Kristin.klose@dst.gov.za
Nelvis Qekema, Ministerial Liaison
Cell: 082 571 2571
E-mail: Nelvis.qekema@dst.gov.za
Rene Bosman, University of Pretoria
Tel: (012) 420-4644
E-mail: rene.bosman@up.ac.za
Prof Jane Morris, South African Malaria Initiative
Tel: (012) 420 5498
E-mail: jmorris@csir.co.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology, University of
Pretoria
7 February 2006
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
