Prof. Salim Abdool Karim is the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim is its associate scientific director.
JOHANNESBURG: AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a syndrome caused by a virus called HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The disease alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases.
A South African couple of Indian origin who are both resaerchers — Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim and Prof. Salim Abdool Karim — received a prominent lifetime achievement award from Institute of Human Virology, US, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the field of HIV/AIDS.
The award was presented to them by Robert Gallo, who discovered HIV as the cause of AIDS, at the 19th international meeting of the IHV.
Both researchers have made some of the greatest contributions in the history of HIV/AIDS in public health and epidemiology, relevant to the prevention and care of infected people.
Prof. Salim Abdool Karim is the Director of the Global Health Department of Epidemiology, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa and also the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is one of the best infectious diseases specialists in the world.
Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim is the Associate Scientific Director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, and an Adjunct Professor in Public Health at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
