Chibale part of society's 'hall of fame'

Professor Kelly Chibale (Department of Chemistry) has been profiled in the Royal Society of Chemistry's campaign "175 Faces of Chemistry: Celebrating diversity in science".

Zambian-born Chibale is South Africa Research Chair in Drug Discovery and founder of H3D, Africa's first integrated drug discovery and development centre. He is also founding director of the South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit at UCT, which works to find cures to endemic African diseases.

Seen by the RSC as a role model for African scientists, Chibale was also chosen for his support of research programmes that integrate scientists with different expertise and from different disciplines, crucial for tackling scientific challenges.

One example is the malaria drug discovery project, led by H3D and involving researchers in medicinal chemistry, biology and pharmacology and involving collaborations with institutions in Switzerland, India and Australia.

He says: "I want to debunk the myth and challenge stereotypical views that Africa cannot be a source of health innovation."

Prof Kelly Chibale, now part of the Royal Society of Chemistry's campaign: "175 Faces of Chemistry: Celebrating diversity in science". (Image courtesy of Kelly Chibale)