
TB Immunology Series: Reimagining Funding Models for Tuberculosis Research - Prof. Mohlopheni J. Marakalala
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
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Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The seventh and final episode in the series features Professor Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala who is currently the Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research at Stellenbosch University (SU), South Africa.
Marakalala completed his PhD in Chemical Pathology at the University of Cape Town (2008), receiving the Bronte Stewart Research Prize for the most meritorious PhD thesis. He then completed a total of 8 year postdoctoral training; 4 years in the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at UCT and 4 years in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
Between 2016 and 2019, he was a Senior Lecturer at UCT and a Visiting Scientist at Harvard. From 2019 until his recent appointment as the Unit Director of the SAMRC Centre for TB Research, he has been a Wellcome Trust International Fellow and Faculty member at Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) and an Associate Professor at University College London (UCL).
His laboratory’s primary interest is on infectious diseases, particularly immunopathogenesis of Tuberculosis, with an aim of developing host-directed therapies targeting mediators of lung damage. His other interests are in understanding strategies utilized by mycobacteria to survive various arms of the immune system.
Work in his lab has been funded by grants from SA Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Personal achievements include recognition as a ‘Rising Star’ at the 2019 Grand Challenges meeting, NRF Emerging Researcher Excellence Award (2018), SA Medical Research Council Scientific Merit award (Silver medal) (2016); UCT 2016 College of Fellows Young Researcher Award; and the Next Einstein Forum (2016) Fellowship.
In this episode, he talks about how we may rethink funding for TB research in light of recent cuts which have dealt the field a heavy blow. In addition, he shares some of the plans and perspectives he brings to his recent role as Director of the SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research.
Timestamps:
00:00 - intro
01:35 - journey to current role and work in TB
03:42 - qualities and factors that have shaped his career
06:21 - contributions to TB research; training younger scientists
12:14 - funding cuts and impact on his ongoing work
15:29 - does external funding limit what aspects of TB research can be studied in Africa?
20:49 - what alternative funding models do we start exploring to support local TB research?
26:32 - the role of scientists and scientific councils
29:40 - will Africa have the market to foster bio-entrepreneurship?
33:44 - plans and perspectives for current role - Director of the SAMRC-SU Centre for Tuberculosis Research
40:05 - closing remarks; future of TB in Africa
42:40 - Outro
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