SAMRC renews 91心頭利 Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit for 5-year term
- 91心頭利 University
Funding renewal recognises importance of applying advanced molecular biology tech to address some of the most pressing infectious disease challenges in Africa.
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has renewed AGTRU as an extramural unit.
This follows the SAMRC’s recognition of AGTRU’s scientific excellence and the unit’s contribution to advancing gene therapy and vaccine technologies.
The renewal is an acknowledgement of the AGTRU’s work on applying advanced molecular biology technologies to address some of the most pressing infectious disease challenges facing South Africa and Africa.
As part of the renewal process, Professor Abdullah Ely has been approved to assume leadership of AGTRU.
“This recognition reflects the outstanding work of the researchers, students and staff who comprise the AGTRU team. The renewal provides important momentum as we continue to expand our research and build technologies that address major health challenges,” says Ely.
The SAMRC, established in 1969, is mandated to improve the health of people in South Africa through research, innovation, development and technology transfer.
Its research spans laboratory science, clinical investigations and public health studies, addressing the country’s major health priorities, including maternal and child health, HIV and tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases and interpersonal violence.
Evidence generated through this work informs health policy and contributes to improving health outcomes nationally.
A key mechanism through which the SAMRC supports national research capacity is its Extramural Units (EMU) programme, of which AGTRU is a part.
These units are hosted at universities and research institutions and conduct research aligned with the SAMRC’s strategic priorities.
By supporting centres of excellence across the country, the programme strengthens collaboration within South Africa’s health research ecosystem while fostering interdisciplinary research, technological innovation and the training of the next generation of scientists.
AGTRU’s research spans the development of novel gene therapeutics to cure infectious diseases, alongside innovative vaccine platforms that respond to both existing and emerging pathogens. Central to this work is the application of cutting-edge technologies, including mRNA systems, viral vector platforms and advanced protein production technologies.
In recent years, AGTRU has played an important role in strengthening South Africa’s capacity in next-generation vaccine development. AGTRU researchers contributed key expertise to the World Health Organization’s mRNA Technology Transfer Hub programme to support the design, manufacture and testing of mRNA vaccines in collaboration with industry partner Afrigen.
Through the SAMVAC consortium, the team has also pioneered new lipid nanoparticle delivery systems for mRNA vaccines, including the development of ionisable lipids derived from renewable materials, particularly cashew nut shells.
Several of the technologies developed by the unit are now progressing toward clinical translation. These include a novel mRNA vaccine candidate for tuberculosis, which has demonstrated strong preclinical efficacy and is being prepared for early-stage clinical trials, as well as a platform for producing ionisable lipids at scale for mRNA vaccine manufacturing.