The University of the Free State’s Next Generation Sequencing (UFS-NGS) Unit had the honour of hosting the distinguished Professor Thumbi Ndung’u a globally respected HIV research and Scientific Director of the HIV Pathogenesis Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The recent groundbreaking findings from a HIV cure trial led by Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u showed promising results with 20% of female trial participants able to remain off antiretroviral therapy (ART) and were virally suppressed after 18 months.
Visit by the distinguished Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u at the UFS-NGS Unit July 2025. Left to right Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u, BVM, PhD, Director for Basic and Translational Science at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Prof. and Victor Daitz Chair for the HIV Pathogenesis Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Programme Director for the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE), Provost’s Visiting Prof. at Imperial College London, and Prof. of Infectious Diseases at University College London; Prof. Martin Nyaga.
Science Unfiltered: Inside the UFS-NGS Unit’s Q&A with Prof. Ndung’u
In this interactive Q&A, the UFS-NGS team was given a rare opportunity to engage directly with Prof. Ndung’u on the challenges and breakthroughs currently surrounding the development of a future HIV cure approach. Questions were posed concerning the biggest unknowns in immune control of HIV in an African context as well as how NGS is being used to better understand the genetic basis of immune protection and how this will push us closer to better approaches in HIV prevention and treatment. Prof. Ndung’u highlighted the importance of developing a cure approach with the use of African genetic information as most of the genomic data available is mostly euro centric as most studies have been done on a euro centric population and Africa’s lack of resources have not allowed for such possibilities. Prof. Ndung’u further emphasised the role of young researchers in helping achieve better approaches, and the role of NGS technologies and young researchers in helping to bridge the gap in genetic data within Africa to help develop cures better suited for an African population.
UFS-NGS lab members take the opportunity to ask Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u questions during his visit in July 2025.
“Insights into the Development of Future HIV Cure Approaches”: A Guest Lecture by Prof. Ndung’u
The UFS-NGS team had the privilege of attending Prof. Ndungu’s guest lecture to the Faculty of Health Sciences titled “Insights into the Development of Future HIV Cure Approaches”. During this impactful lecture Prof. Ndung’u shared the latest findings from his ground-breaking African led HIV cure trial that was conducted in Durban. He emphasised the scientific importance of these results and they will inform the development of future cure approaches and their potential implementations in diverse settings. Prof. Ndung’u further underscored the urgent need to include African women in research, noting that they carry a disproportionate share of the global HIV burden yet are often underrepresented in scientific studies.
UFS-NGS lab members attending the guest lecture delivered by Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u during his visit in July 2025.
His lecture left the audience inspired and hopeful for the future of HIV cure approaches and treatments, while reaffirming the critical role of institutions and research facilities such as the UFS-NGS Unit in advancing African innovation and shaping the next generation of HIV cure development.
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” Albert Einstein
Prof. Ndungu’s visit to the UFS-NGS Unit left a lasting impression and affirmed a powerful message: Africa is not only contributing to global efforts in developing cure approaches but is increasingly leading such efforts.
Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u interacting with UFS-NGS lab members during a Q&A session at the Unit, July 2025.
His insights further highlighted the important role genomics plays in advancing African led innovations, inspiring the UFS-NGS team to continue pushing scientific boundaries with purpose. Echoing the call for African solutions to African problems, his visit reminded us that, as the great Albert Einstein once said “ If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?”, we may not have all the answers right now, but through continuous research and the revolutionary potential of new NGS technologies, the cures we seek may soon be within our grasp.
Per scientiam ad sidera!
(Through science to the stars!)
By Joyce Tshiswaka
