The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor has congratulated the Centre for the AIDS Programme Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) Team for the exciting achievement of coming second in The Lancet "Paper of the Year 2010".
The Lancet is the world’s leading medical journal which rates international papers and research initiatives that are considered likely to influence practice and research. The papers are chosen by its readership.
Pandor said: “We are proud that the CAPRISA 004 trial was the first to show the effectiveness of an ARV-based microbicide candidate. The finding that it offers protection from HIV and Herpes simplex virus 2 infection are important. It is especially promising for the field of HIV prevention that there is now proof of concept that ARV-based microbicide’s work”.
The recognition by the Lancet team of this important piece of work serves as a reminder that we have reached an important milestone in HIV prevention research. It recognises the ability of scientists in South Africa to develop a highly effective prevention tool with the potential to turn the tide against the AIDS pandemic.
The Minister further added that there is a “need to move with speed and urgency to build upon the CAPRISA 004 trial results and the recognition afforded to the work by The Lancet; to accelerate the pace of progress, it will be essential to expand research striving for incremental improvements on this initial success”.
The Department of Science and Technology is committed to the search for a safe, effective and affordable tool to prevent HIV infection in South Africa and across the globe. We are therefore proud to be associated with an organisation like CAPRISA that is devoted to HIV prevention research for the benefit of the country.
The Department looks forward to partnering with CAPRISA in the conduct of the follow-up confirmatory studies for the CAPRISA 004 trial and once again, our heartfelt congratulations to the CAPRISA team for this achievement.
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele (Ministerial Spokesperson)
Tel: 012 843 6802
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: lunga.nqengelele@dst.gov.za
Minister Pandor congratulates the Centre for the AIDS Programme Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) team on recognition by the Lancet
