Written by Welile Dube
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) awarded Associate Professor Shahida Moosa, Head of Medical Genetics at Tygerberg Hospital and the Rare Disease Genomics research group within the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, a Bronze Medal at the SAMRC 10th Annual Scientific Merit Awards. We would like to wish her a hearty congratulations!
The SAMRC has created a series of medal awards to recognize top-notch science and fervent advocates for excellence in health research. With these prestigious awards, the SAMRC aims to recognize exceptional contributions to health research, exceptional scientific expertise, or innovative approaches to addressing public health challenges which ultimately improves the well-being of South Africans and the global community at large; all of which Prof Moosa participates in with her research.
Bronze medals are awarded annually at what has been dubbed “The Science Oscar’s”,to scientists who have recently entered research, with more than 5 years post PhD experience. The criteria for awarding bronze medals are as follows:
- Leadership: the researcher must show demonstrable potential to become an established researcher, with distinct and evident scientific and leadership potential.
- Capacity Development: The researcher must have graduated Masters students and must be supervising (or have already graduated) PhD students.
- Grant writing: The researcher must have independently sourced grant funding for their research work in the past 5 years.
- Transformation: The researcher must add to the transformation efforts of the SAMRC by either conducting their research in an under-resourced university or being involved in capacity development initiatives in under-resourced universities.
Prof Shahida Moosa’s commented on receiving the award, stating: “To receive the SAMRC Bronze medal is a tremendous honour and recognition of the work we do in Rare Diseases and Genomics in the region. When I started the Undiagnosed Disease Programme (UDP), there were many who thought it would not be successful, or that it was not the appropriate time for such a programme in Africa. Over the past 3 years, my group of young, dynamic, mostly female students have been trained in bioinformatics, genomics, human genetics, and psychology to make the UDP the success that it is. The group gives 150% every single day to fulfil their tasks and to live up to the trust these families have placed in us. Receiving this award this year has been a huge encouragement for us to continue and expand our activities.”
Congratulations once again, Prof Moosa on this recognition for your significant contributions to science! We anticipate the groundbreaking research results that you and your team will produce!
For more information about this award please read here.