The National Research Foundation (NRF) of
South Africa grants an A1 rating to a researcher who is "recognised
by all reviewers as a leading scholar in his/her field
internationally for the high quality and wide impact (i.e. beyond a
narrow field of specialisation) of his/her recent outputs". An A1
rating is a rare honour, reserved for the most distinguished
researchers.
Robert Wilkinson carried out research for his PhD in the MRC
Tuberculosis Unit at Hammersmith Hospital. After further research
experience at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and
at Imperial College London, he was awarded a Wellcome Senior
Clinical Fellowship in 2004 to work on HIV/TB at the University of
Cape Town (UCT). He was made an Honorary Professor in 2007, and
then Director of the Clinical Infectious Disease Research
Initiative (CIDRI) in 2008. He is a member of UCT's Institute of
Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine.
In 2007 he took up a joint appointment and became a Programme
Leader at NIMR, based in Cape Town and in Mill Hill. He has built
collaborative programmes with other researchers in London, both at
NIMR and further afield. His major research interest is
understanding and intervening in tuberculosis and HIV-associated
tuberculosis.
At UCT he created CIDRI, which is seen as a model for research
capacity development. CIDRI develops human and physical research
capacity and promotes scientific collaboration in Southern Africa,
focusing on high-burden infectious diseases relevant to the African
continent.
Professor Gregory Hussey, Interim Dean of UCT Faculty of
Health Sciences commented on the award: 'Robert's
contribution to nurturing the new generation of clinician
scientist, not only in South Africa, but beyond, is best summed up
by IDM Director Prof Val Mizrahi's observation that Robert's
ability to identify and nurture scientific talent is quite
remarkable, as evidenced by his outstanding track record of
producing professors!'
Jim Smith, NIMR Director said: 'This is
excellent news, and really well-deserved. Many congratulations to
Robert!'
Robert joined the Crick in April 2015 and will move into the new
facilities at St Pancras in early 2016.