Prof. Meyer has a unique approach to HIV/AIDS research and education involving multidisciplinary collaborations. Her research group pioneered the use of classical analytical chemistry tools in the study of HIV/AIDS leading to first time publications on biofluid metabonomics for distinguishing HIV infected individuals from controls and demonstrating the effect of metals on HIV-infection. Along with collaborators, Prof. Meyer contributed to the analysis of the first metallo-drug, able to simultaneously inhibit two HIV enzymes, and identified several more anti-HIV metallo-drugs. The work done in her laboratory also contributes to identifying potential vaccine candidates and identifying novel prognostic markers. As an educator she uses the novel pedagogical approach of teaching science through the doorway or lens of a pressing, unsolved social problem like HIV/AIDS.

Dr Romilla Maharaj, Professor Debra Meyer and the Honourable Mrs Naledi Pandor Minister of Science and Technology

Source: NSTF