The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, will launch the South African HIV and AIDS Research and Innovation Platform (SHARP), on Tuesday, 28 July 2009, at 12h30, at the Hilton Hotel, Rivonia Road, Sandton in Johannesburg.
SHARP's aim is to increase the number and quality products to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
Established by the Department of Science and Technology in 2008, the South African HIV and AIDS Research and Innovation Platform (SHARP), follows an extensive consultation with expert researchers and stakeholders with an objective to fund pioneering HIV and AIDS research and facilitate the development of innovative and ground-breaking solutions to the pandemic.
LIFElab, one of three Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centres (BRICs) set up by the Department of Science and Technology under the auspices of its National Biotechnology Strategy, is where SHARP will be based and managed. The centre will provide the necessary infrastructure in terms of administration, equipment, technical and scientific services.
The platform will not be conducting research for the sake of discovery, but with a view to obtaining information directly useful in understanding the immunology, cytology and virology of the virus.
Prevention and therapeutics will be key focus areas and will include conducting diagnostic tests, examining microbiocide, vaccine approaches, transmission, host virus interactions and medicinal plants for prevention and therapy respectively, developing innovative behavioural strategies as well as assaying drug discovery, formulation and combination.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Ministerial Spokesperson
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.ngqengelele@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology
27 July 2009
