South Africa’s National Research Foundation has released its rating of researchers as part of its goal to develop an internationally competitive scientific research system. Aurum Group CEO Prof Gavin Churchyard has received an A-rating, which is given to researchers who are recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field, and for the high quality and impact of their recent research.
The rating system developed by the NRF is a valuable tool for measuring the quality of South African researchers against the best in the world. Individuals are rated according to the quality and impact of their research over the past 8 years.
In the field of medical and health sciences in South Africa, Prof. Churchyard joins an exclusive group of 24 scientists who have earned the NRF A rating.
An A-rating is the highest achievable rating for researchers on the NRF's rating system. Commenting on his A-rating Prof. Churchyard highlighted that it serves as both a recognition of past accomplishments and a reminder of the ongoing work that lies ahead. “I am deeply honoured to receive the NRF A-rating, a recognition that reflects the incredible efforts of our entire team at The Aurum Institute. This milestone is a reminder of the important contribution that African researchers are making in global health.”
Prof Churchyard completed his MBBCh, Master’s in Internal Medicine and PhD in Infectious Diseases at the University of the Witwatersrand and is a Fellow of the College of Physicians in South Africa and the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh. He has published 300 peer-reviewed articles over his career, including in high impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, and Nature Medicine. Prof Churchyard has published 12 book chapters. His research contributed to changing World Health Organisation (WHO) policy on TB prevention and screening and catalysed the adoption and scale up of short course TB preventive treatment by more than 50 high burden countries.
He has contributed to the development of numerous WHO guidelines in the areas of TB TB/HIV, and COVID-19, and target regimen profiles for treatment of TB disease and infection. Prof Churchyards other research interests include TB vaccines, TB host directed therapy, TB diagnostics and case finding, HIV vaccines, COVID-19, and occupational lung disease.
About The Aurum Institute
The Aurum Institute is a proudly African organisation working to advance health science and innovation to create a healthier world for future generations. We partner with governments, the private sector and civil society to design and deliver high-quality care and treatment to people in developing communities. https://www.auruminstitute.org/
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