Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim is a globally esteemed infectious diseases epidemiologist whose pioneering work has transformed HIV prevention strategies worldwide. She serves as Associate Scientific Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa and holds dual professorships at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she serves as Pro-Vice Chancellor for African Health. Born in Tongaat, South Africa in 1960 during the apartheid era, she completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Durban-Westville, earned Honours in Biochemistry from the University of Witwatersrand, and obtained her Master's in Parasitology from Columbia University in 1988 followed by a PhD in Medicine from the University of Natal in 2000. Her academic journey laid the foundation for her transformative research career focused on addressing health disparities through rigorous scientific inquiry.
Dr. Abdool Karim's seminal research demonstrated for the first time that antiretrovirals prevent sexually transmitted HIV infection in women, a groundbreaking discovery that established the scientific basis for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) now implemented globally. Her collaborative work with Salim Abdool Karim revealed critical transmission dynamics showing that older men in South Africa were disproportionately infecting adolescent girls and young women with HIV, informing targeted prevention policies that have saved countless lives. This research directly influenced international health guidelines and national strategies, particularly benefiting women in resource-constrained settings where HIV burden remains disproportionately high. Her methodological rigor and commitment to evidence-based solutions have reshaped the global HIV prevention landscape, providing women with scientifically validated tools to protect themselves from infection.
As President of The World Academy of Sciences, Dr. Abdool Karim shapes global scientific priorities and strengthens research capacity across developing nations through strategic leadership and advocacy. She has been instrumental in building scientific infrastructure in southern Africa through the Columbia University-Southern African Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Programme, which has trained over 600 scientists since 1998, creating a sustainable pipeline of regional expertise. Her leadership extends to contemporary health challenges including providing critical insights on the intersection of HIV and COVID-19 and evaluating vaccines during the pandemic. With over 300 peer-reviewed publications and more than 30 prestigious awards including the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize and the Gairdner Global Health Award, she continues to advance innovative approaches to infectious disease prevention while mentoring the next generation of global health leaders.
