Stellenbosch University (SU) immunologist Professor Clive Gray received the prestigious Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award, which recognises world-class research that has far-reaching impact, on Wednesday 3 July.
“Professor Gray’s research has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of how the human placenta functions, and from that uncover new pathways to improving mother-child health,” said Rebecca Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) chairperson.
“We are excited to watch this story unfold, as we have witnessed the stories of previous Harry Oppenheimer Fellows change the game in fields from biochemistry and biology to engineering, history, and zoology, to mention a few.
“The fellowship and its accompanying R2,5 million grant is awarded to scholars of the highest calibre who are engaged in cutting-edge and internationally significant research that has particular application to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, research and development in South Africa and beyond.”
Said Gray of the achievement: “Receiving this award is very meaningful. It is recognition of the work that my research group and I have been doing over many years. That OMT acknowledges the importance of what we do is very gratifying and rewarding.”
His work is aimed at revealing new knowledge of managing the risks of premature birth, low birth weight and learning difficulties, by uncovering a predictive marker of adverse birth events.
Gray’s work, for the first time, established a link between long-term antiretroviral treatment and premature birth.
His research group has identified a molecule in the placenta that is responsible for poor placental blood vessel formation and potentially related to poor heart problems in the mother.
The grant will go towards establishing and validating this hypothesis.
A second focus of the project for Gray is the capacity building of South Africa’s scientific research community through the involvement of master’s and doctoral students.
OMT introduced the fellowship in 2001 to commemorate Harry Oppenheimer’s efforts to support human and intellectual development in SA, advance scholarship and encourage ideas. “We are delighted to add Professor Gray to our Harry Oppenheimer Fellows,” said Oppenheimer. “They have all contributed to the advancement of knowledge in South Africa and beyond. Research capacity development is central to the Trust’s commitment to supporting academic excellence.”
