Editor’s Note

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has once again delivered an outstanding peer-reviewed publication output for the 2025/2026 financial year. A total of 175 publications were produced during the year, almost matching the previous year’s impressive total of 174 publications.

Producing high-quality research year after year is no easy feat. It requires dedication and hard work. To gain insight into what drives such achievement, I spoke to Prof. Penny Moore, one of the NICD’s leading scientists based at the Centre for HIV and STIs. Working closely with local and international collaborators, Prof. Moore has consistently produced impactful research on a range of diseases, including HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus.

I wanted to find out three things: what motivates her, which publication stood out for her during the past financial year, and what advice she would offer to young and upcoming researchers.

Prof. Moore holds several distinguished leadership positions. She is the South African Research Chair of Virus-Host Dynamics and a Research Professor at Wits University. She also serves as Director of the Antibody Immunity Research Unit, an extramural unit of the South African Medical Research Council, and is a Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute, among other roles.

Reflecting on what drives her, Prof. Moore said: “We work on HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus – we see the impact of these viruses daily, and so it’s easy to stay motivated to do useful research.”

When asked which publication or study stood out for her during the past financial year, she said selecting just one was not easy: “Difficult question – so much cool science! The highlight has been small clinical trials of HIV vaccines in both HIV-naïve volunteers and people living with HIV. These Discovery Medicine trials have the potential to dramatically accelerate the pace of HIV vaccine development. They involve only 20–30 participants but include unprecedented immunological ‘deep dives’ that are teaching us a huge amount about HIV. It has been immensely challenging to establish these platforms and define measures of success, and the data that will emerge next year will be fascinating and important.”

Her advice for young and aspiring researchers is to find mentors who care and are passionate. “Find a mentor who truly cares about your success. My mentors were (and still are) the people who helped shape my career. Surround yourself with curious, fun people who are generous with their insight, ideas, and time, and who are as passionate about science as you are.”

For profiles of other leading NICD scientists with National Research Foundation ratings, turn to page 5. We trust you will find this edition both insightful and inspiring.