Winners of the EDCTP Award For Outstanding African Scientist

The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) has given its Awards for Outstanding African Scientist to Dr Alexis Nzila and Dr Dominique Pepper.

The EDCTP-funded awards are extended on the basis of a number of criteria including: innovation/ Intellectual Property, impact of research, publications and advocacy for health. The awards aim at fostering the research activities of the winners, with the ultimate aim of strengthening clinical research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.

On announcing  the first winners of this biannual prize, EDCTP's Executive Director Prof. Charles Mgone remarked: "This is a momentous occasion for the Partnership since by offering these awards not only we recognise excellence, we also intend to inspire it throughout Africa".

Dr Alexis Nzila, Head of the Molecular Parasitology Group at the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programmme in Kilifi, received the Award for Outstanding Senior African Scientist. The award consists of a certificate of recognition together with a cash prize of EUR 20,000.

Upon receiving the award, Dr Nzila commented: "My first thoughts go to the Kenyan young scientists and students who have been working with me. This award is the result of their hard work and contributions. I want to express my gratitude and admiration to all of them. As Africans, our contribution to research is hardly acknowledged outside Africa. Thus this EDCTP initiative contributes to improving our visibility, and it should be encouraged".

Dr Dominique Pepper of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine in Cape Town, South Africa, received the Award for Outstanding Junior African Scientist. This award consists of a certificate of recognition and a cash prize of EUR 10,000.

Dr Pepper underpinned the purpose of the award by stating: "I wish to express my sincere gratitude to those who have already contributed to this work. This award would not be possible without the invaluable training and insight provided by my mentors, as well as the dedication and perseverance of those working with me in the field. My heartfelt appreciation is expressed to EDCTP for recognising the efforts of my mentors and co-investigators. I am certain that this award will inspire many other African scientists to address issues which challenge our health care services".