Funded Programs

Republic of South Africa Drug Discovery Training Program

Emory University is collaborating with the Republic of South Africa (RSA) to train African scientists in early stage drug discovery with the goal of combating infectious and immunologic diseases that disproportionately affect impoverished populations in the developing world. Emory has unique strengths in drug discovery, particularly in developing country therapeutic needs such as HIV/AIDS. There is a dearth of drug discovery scientists in Africa. This program trains carefully identified, talented African scientists in drug discovery, with post-training placement in appropriate industry or academic positions in their home countries. African scientists are provided with direct access to Emory’s academic expertise as well as to the expertise and technologies of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. Visiting scholars, who are coming initially from South Africa but who will eventually come from selected universities in sub-Saharan Africa, receive training at Emory and work with academic and industrial scientists to gain hands-on experience in translating innovative research into effective healthcare solutions. Investigator-initiated projects focus on research that has the greatest impact on populations most affected by diseases that have historically been neglected by the pharmaceutical industry. The government of South Africa also supports this program and offers significant incentives to start-up biotechnology companies, thereby creating an environment in which scientists conducting drug discovery in South Africa can develop, thrive, and ultimately take on leadership roles as innovators of global health partnerships. For more information about the program, please click here.

For more information, contact:
Dennis Liotta, PhD
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Emory University School of Arts and Sciences
dliotta@emory.edu