To the US and back: SA’s Prof Willem Hanekom reflects on the joys of science and a career ‘running with opportunities’

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus 1, Focus 2, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, HIV/AIDS, Latest, Spotlight

At his Durban office, Professor Willem Hanekom tells Biénne Huisman about taking a ventilated young patient to the Sea Point promenade, living with HIV, the need for an African research agenda, and the recurring joy that has defined his career.

To the US and back: SA’s Prof Willem Hanekom reflects on the joys of science and a career ‘running with opportunities’

Growing the beta variant – young scientist remembers the day they danced in the lab

Posted in: COVID-19, Healthcare Workers, Latest

During South Africa’s COVID-19 hard lockdown, rising star scientist Dr Sandile Cele spent his Christmas holidays in a laboratory. Soon the 35-year-old became the first to successfully grow the beta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the lab. Biénne Huisman spoke to Cele about how he did this, the string of accolades he received since, and his leap from a modest upbringing to the global scientific stage.