Lessons from Africa: health diplomacy in HIV prevention

The Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture 2025, 'Lessons from Africa: health diplomacy in HIV prevention', will be delivered by Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim FRS, Associate Scientific Director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).

The event will be held in person at One Birdcage Walk, London and online on Tuesday 4 November, 15.30 - 17.30 GMT (with a reception to follow for in-person attendees).

The lecture is free and open to all. The registration deadline is Monday 3 November.

Register to attend in person

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Lecture content

The role of medical science in policymaking and public engagement is more critical now than ever. Complex challenges such as reduced funding, misinformation and a lack of public influence need to be overcome through strong partnerships and resilient scientific institutions that unite rather than divide.

In this lecture, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim FRS will share lessons from the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), which has had exceptional success in fighting HIV/AIDS, TB and Covid-19.

Professor Karim will explore:  

• How we can combine scientific rigour with innovation to solve global health challenges
• Why working closely with communities on a local, national and global level is crucial for generating knowledge and translating evidence into health policy and practice
• How diverse funding, strategic focus, a supportive research culture and shared values can help us build resilience in the face of adversity
  

Professor Karim's biography 

Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim FRS is a South African infectious diseases epidemiologist, and the co-founder and Associate Scientific Director at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).   

She is a Professor in Clinical Epidemiology at Columbia University and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Professor Karim is also President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and UN Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV.  

Her research has shaped the global HIV prevention landscape, notably in HIV epidemiology and prevention technologies for women. She has made vital contributions to understanding HIV-TB co-infection and the impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV in Africa and globally.

Lecture panel

Professor Karim will be joined by a global expert panel: 

• Dr Anders Nordström (in person), Advisor, Stockholm School of Economics 

• Dr Mohammad Hosseini (online), Assistant Professor, Northwestern University 
• Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng (online), Executive Director, The African Academy of Sciences
  
  

The event will be chaired by Professor Tom Solomon CBE FMedSci, Vice President (International) of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and Professor Richard Horton OBE FMedSci, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet.

A reception will follow at 17.30 for in-person attendees, with opportunities for networking with speakers and high-profile guests.

For further information, please email [email protected]

Watch previous lectures and find out more about our Academy of Medical Sciences & The Lancet International Health Lecture series