Page 19 - Science in Africa

Doctor Hulda Swai

octor Hulda Swai holds a
PhD in Biomaterials from
Queen Mary’s College,
London, UK. Currently, she
works at the Nelson Mandela
DAfrican Institute of Science
and Technology (NM-AIST) as a professor in
the School of Life Science and Bio-
engineering; and a director at the African
Centre of Excellence in Research, Agricultural
Advancement, Teaching Excellence and
Sustainability (CREATES).
Prior to joining NM-AIST, she worked as
principal researcher at the Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in
South Africa where she headed the
delivering tuberculosis (TB), malaria and Spearheading
Encapsulation and Delivery Research Group,
which focuses on the development of nano-
drug delivery systems, with emphasis on
HIV/Aids drugs.
Before joining the CSIR, Doctor Swai
worked as a biomedical materials researcher
at the Inter-disciplinary Research Council nano-meds
(IRC) at the University of London, UK.
She was part of a team that developed a
polymer system, which was used as a vehicle
in the slow-release delivery of anti-fungal has to revolutionise disease diagnosis and maintaining collaborations, networks,
drugs. This drug-delivery system received treatment, and having pioneered synergies, exchange programmes and
Medical Control Agency approval for clinical nano-medicine research in PRD sabbaticals.
trials in UK for HIV/Aids-Candida-infected drug development in Africa, She serves on several
patients. Doctor Swai is passionate international committees,
With a proven ability to independently about growing the platform including the European &
formulate and execute research projects and into a Centre of Excellence in Developing Countries Clinical
implement scientific research programmes, Applied Nano-medicine Trials Partnership, TB Global
both in public and private sectors, Doctor Research and Training for Alliance and the Editorial
Swai instituted and headed the DST/CSIR Poverty-related Diseases, Board of the Journal of Nano-
nano-medicine platform for poverty-related through which many other medicine.
diseases (PRDs) through which she aims to African researchers can be trained She has won several competitive
improve current therapeutic agents used in in nano-medicine. achievement awards for excellence, such
the treatment of PRDs such as TB and Doctor Swai is experienced in sourcing as the CSIR Biennial President’s Award.
malaria. funding locally and internationally; has an Doctor Swai is also an accomplished
Given the great potential nano-medicine excellent track record in initiating and international speaker.

Professor Jacob Mapara

Championing indigenous knowledge

Professor Jacob Mapara has been nominated research and study, and, because of this related areas.
for his outstanding contribution and tireless interest, he, together with Doctor Godwin Because of these efforts, Professor Mapara
efforts in raising awareness about indigenous Makaudze, crafted a course/module was identified by Chinhoyi University
knowledge in Southern Africa, specifically in that arguably was the first to of Technology in Zimbabwe as one
Zimbabwe and South Africa. teach indigenous knowledge of the pillars around which the
He has published 26 papers as book systems in Zimbabwe. institution wanted to refocus
chapters and as journal articles on It was titled Shona the mandate of the Institute of
indigenous knowledge and related areas. Knowledge and Environmental Lifelong Learning and
This is out of a total of 47 publications and Management Strategies. Since Development Studies.
more are still forthcoming, with one already then, the teaching, as well as They subsequently hired him
accepted for publication. It focuses on research, in Zimbabwe has and he is part of a team that
disaster prediction and preparedness from an grown exponentially. has since helped establish a
indigenous knowledge perspective. In fact, Great Zimbabwe master of science in sustainable
Professor Mapara was among the first and University, where Professor Mapara was livelihoods and technologies.
few Zimbabweans who took the plunge in previously employed, today has a vibrant They are also developing an MSc in
exploring indigenous knowledge as a field of research base on indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge.
SCIENCE IN AFRICA 19