Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of the Witwatersrand speaks ofthat could originate from the Global South. Wits and South African scientists are well positioned to charter a course that can catapult us into new worlds of discovery and innovation, knowledge creation and generation, teaching and learning.
Society can turn to universities and experts in challenging moments. From the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit to the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit via Wits Enterprise, Wits academics are focused on advancing health solutions for the greater good. Soon-Shiong is a South African-American transplant surgeon, bioscientist and the inventor of the drug Abraxane known for its efficacy against lung, breast and pancreatic cancer. Speaking to Madhi, he emphasised how proud he was to see “Wits and South Africa leading the science to combat Covid” and commented that the country has “the best chance to lead the world in infectious diseases and to orchestrate protection of the entire immune system.