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SU honours world-class TB researcher with Chancellor’s Award
Author: Birgit Ottermann
Published: 21/02/2019

​​​The ground-breaking research in the field of tuberculosis (TB) by Prof Rob Warren, Unit Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research, and distinguished professor with the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the FMHS' Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, has earned him a coveted Chancellor's Medal in Research at Stellenbosch University's December 2018 graduation ceremony.

Warren's research, spanning over 20 years, focuses on understanding the dynamics of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB in South Africa. Much of his work has provided new understanding, which has allowed long-standing dogmas to be challenged. Highlights in his career include research demonstrating that there are thousands of different strains of TB in circulation within the South African epidemic, and that patients can harbour multiple strains.

“Prof Warren is a world-class scientist. Based largely on molecular epidemiology, his research has led to numerous landmark publications in the field of tuberculosis," says Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

“Through his research, Warren has challenged a dogma with respect to recurrent TB by showing the importance of endogenous reinfection. He has shown that previously treated patients are at a higher risk of endogenous reinfection and that patients may have multiple strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in their sputum samples – again emphasising the importance of reinfection in driving the epidemic in South Africa. These landmark publications have introduced new research avenues which continue to be investigated worldwide," Volmink explains.

“I am extremely honoured to receive Chancellor's award and to be recognised as having made a significant contribution to TB research in South Africa," says Warren. “At the same time, I also acknowledge that research is a team effort and that this award also recognises the contribution of my collaborators as well as the post graduate students I have mentored."

After graduating with a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cape Town, Warren joined the Action TB initiative in the Department of Medical Biochemistry (now the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics) at Stellenbosch University in 1994. In 1996, he was appointed to the position of Senior Scientist in the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and currently holds the position of Chief Specialist Scientist. In 2015, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor at Stellenbosch University and, in 2017, he was appointed as Unit Director of the SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research.

Under Warren's guidance, the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics established one of the largest archives of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant isolates (cultures) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the world. This culture bank, housing over 45000 isolates, allows researchers to scrutinise the local epidemic in terms of outbreak investigations, within-patient evolution of drug-resistance, transmission and discovering novel drug-resistance causing mutations.

“Maintaining the culture bank will continue to be a priority for Warren as this resource remains the foundation of his research and research collaborations; and is a national heritage," Volmink comments. “The research emanating from this resource will be used to guide TB control policy, to improve diagnosis in collaboration with the National Health Laboratory Service and to ensure capacity development."

Warren's current research focuses on the development of novel diagnostics which are applicable in the developing world and understanding pathogenicity (the ability of an organism to cause disease) using 'omics' technologies (such as proteomics and genomics).

“We need to embrace technology to improve the health of our nation through basic and translational research," he says. “Our immediate goal is to use next generation sequencing to provide clinicians with the best possible strategies to treat patients and thereby prevent the emergence of resistance to the new anti-TB drugs."

Warren has published more than 270 papers in international peer reviewed journals in the fields of molecular epidemiology, drug resistance and bacterial evolution. He has also received numerous awards and accolades, most notably a gold medal for scientific excellence by the SAMRC in 2015 for his research in the field of the Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis.


 

Photo: Wilma Stassen