Professor Samantha Sampson, a renowned tuberculosis (TB) researcher from Stellenbosch University (SU), has been appointed as the Director of the VALIDATE Network, a global collaboration aimed at accelerating vaccine development for complex, neglected pathogens. This appointment marks a significant milestone in her 25-year career dedicated to TB research and highlights South Africa's growing influence in global health initiatives.
From curious student to director
Sampson's fascination with the bacterium causing TB began during her honours year at SU in the 1990s. "It really caught my attention because it's a fascinating disease involving interactions between the bacteria and the host," she explains. This initial interest sparked a career-long commitment to understanding and combating TB.
After completing her PhD, Sampson pursued postdoctoral research in the United States and held various positions in the United Kingdom, including a role as a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellow at Imperial College London. She finally returned to SU where she became full professor and has been NRF SARChI Chair in Mycobactomics became since 2013.
The VALIDATE Network: A global force in vaccine development
Established in 2017, the VALIDATE Network comprises over 780 members from 332 institutes across 77 countries. Its primary focus is accelerating vaccine development for three groups of neglected intracellular pathogens: Mycobacteria, Leishmania, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. These pathogens cause significant mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Sampson, who has been a member of VALIDATE since 2019 and co-director since 2021, views her new role as an opportunity to highlight concerns specific to lower- and middle-income countries in vaccine research and capacity development. She will work closely with co-directors Professor Helen McShane (Oxford University, UK), Professor Andrea Cooper (University of Leicester, UK), and Dr Maria Adelaida Gomez (CIDEIM, Colombia).
Urgent need for TB vaccine development
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of vaccine development and exposed vulnerabilities in global TB control efforts. "After COVID, we had a spike in TB numbers, so we don't have TB under control globally," Sampson notes. "In South Africa, it's a particular problem as we had a high level to start with."
Despite progress in TB control, an effective vaccine remains elusive. Sampson emphasizes that vaccine development is a cost-effective approach to disease management, citing the rapid development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines as a model for future efforts against TB.
Bridging science and society
Sampson's approach to TB research is holistic, combining scientific inquiry with an understanding of the social dimensions of the epidemic. This perspective was shaped early in her career by interactions with social scientists. "They really brought home the fact that it's not just what we do in our research lab... it's also the social problem of our epidemic," she reflects.
This comprehensive view informs Sampson's research goals, which aim to advance understanding of the host-pathogen interface in TB disease. She believes that disrupting this interface could lead to new interventions, ultimately contributing to improved health and wellbeing through research and capacity development.
Fostering the next generation of researchers
A key focus of Sampson's leadership is the development of early career researchers. The VALIDATE Network has already benefited several members from SU's Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics. Dr Happy Tshivhula recently received a two-year early career fellowship to study gut microbiota profiles in relation to TB recurrence. Dr Nastassja Kriel, a former VALIDATE fellow, secured an NIH Emerging Global Leader Award to identify persistent Mycobacterium tuberculosis biosignatures. Additionally, Dr Zimvo Obasa was selected for the VALIDATE Early Career Researchers Career Development cohort, providing mentorship and networking opportunities.
Looking to the future
As she takes on her new role, Sampson is focused on the sustainability and growth of the VALIDATE Network. "A key focus will be the sustainability of the network... looking to the future and how we fund the network, and strengthening existing partnerships and supporting new ones," she says.
With her extensive experience in TB research, international collaborations, and commitment to nurturing new talent, Sampson is well-positioned to lead the VALIDATE Network. Her appointment not only recognizes her personal achievements but also highlights the growing importance of African researchers in addressing global health challenges.
