Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim from the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa(CAPRISA) was recently awarded the 2014 The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)-Lenovo science prize for her work on preventing HIV infections among women.

The TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize awards scientist from developing countries in nine fields: agricultural sciences, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering sciences, maths, medical sciences physics and social sciences.

Karim has worked on developing a topical anti-HIV gel that appears to significantly reduce HIV infection, while giving women direct, effective control over their sexual health.

“We have a great admiration and respect for the work of Dr Abdool Karim,” said TWAS president Bai Chunli. “She has an exemplary record of high-impact science, and there is a deep humanity to her work. Just as important, she has helped to train hundreds of young African scientists who are expanding the research into HIV and tuberculosis. She really is a model scientist, and a tremendous inspiration to colleagues across the world.”

As the winner of the TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize, Karim received a $100 000 (around R11 million) cash prize presented to her during an awards ceremony held last week.

“South Africa is an important and key population in terms of AIDS research,” said Karim. “With our contributions to this field, I think it adds an advantage to have this kind of acclamation. I feel very privileged and honoured to be the recipient of this award. By preventing HIV infection in women, we have the potential of altering the epidemic in many settings and saving many millions of lives.”

You can read more about Karim’s life story and HIV and AIDS research on the TWAS website.

[Source – TWAS, Image – TWAS Facebook]