- Profile - Drs. Salim S. Abdool Karim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim

1. Dr. Salim S. Abdool Karim

Date of Birth

July 29, 1960 (in the Republic of South Africa)

Education and Research Career

1983 MBChB, University of Natal, South Africa.
1984 Internship, King Edward VIII Hospital Durban.
1985 Post-Intern Research Fellow, Research Institute for Diseases in Tropical Environment of the South African Medical Research Council.
1986-1987 Resident/Registrar, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal.
1987-1988 Post-doctoral Fellow, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York.
1988 MS (Epidemiology), School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
1989 Diploma in Datametrics (Computer Science), University of South Africa.
1989-1992 Resident/Registrar, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Natal University.
1991 FFCH (Community Medicine), College of Medicine, South Africa.
1992 MMed (Community Health), University of Natal, South Africa.
1992-1993 Senior Epidemiologist, South African Medical Research Council.
1992-1995 Part-time Senior Lecturer, Department of Optometry, University of Durban-Westville.
1994 Visiting Professor, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Columbia University.
1993-2000 Director, CERSA: Centre for Epidemiological Research in South Africa, Medical Research Council (MRC).
1996-2000 Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
1997 Interim Director, Africa Centre for Population Studies and Reproductive Health of the Wellcome Trust.
1998-2000 Visiting Professor, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York.
1999 PhD, University of Natal, South Africa.
2000-2001 Director, HIV Prevention and Vaccine Research Unit, Medical Research Council.
2000-2015 Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
2001-2004 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Natal.
2003-2006 Honorary Professor in Community Health, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
2007-2008 Interim Director, KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB and HIV (K-RITH) of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
2008-2011 Honorary Professor in Public Health, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
2012-2014 President, South African Medical Research Council.
Since 2000 Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York.
Since 2002 Director: Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA).
Since 2005 Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Since 2005 Adjunct Professor, Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York.
Since 2011 Associate Member, Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.
Since 2014 Director: MRC HIV-TB Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit.
Since 2015 Director: DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention.
Since 2016 CAPRISA Professor of Global Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University.
Since 2019 Adjunct Professor in Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard University.
Since 2022 Director: CAPRISA Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence.

Honors and Awards

1988 Reebok Human Rights Award from the Reebok Foundation - the award was dedicated to the work of the anti-apartheid doctors organization, NAMDA (The National Medical and Dental Association) for its contributions to health and human rights.
2005 Best Man Award in the Science & Technology category from Men’s Health Magazine.
2008 Hero in Medicine Award from the International Association of Physicians for AIDS Care (IAPAC).
2009 TWAS Prize in Medical Sciences from The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
2011 President's Award for Outstanding Achievement in World Health (to the CAPRISA 004 Leadership Team) from DIA (Drug Information Association).
2011 Research leading to Innovation Award (to Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim on behalf of the CAPRISA 004 Leadership Team) from the South African National Science & Technology Forum (NSTF) jointly with BHP Billiton in recognition of the contributions to HIV prevention through the CAPRISA 004 study.
2011 Allan Rosenfield Alumni Award for Excellence (jointly to Salim S. and Quarraisha Abdool Karim) from Columbia University’s Alumni Association in recognition for excellence in AIDS research.
2011 Medicine Award - Fellowship in Art & Science of Medicine (Gold) from the South African Medical Association in recognition for excellence in research on microbicides, vaccines and TB- HIV treatment.
2011 Science-for-Society Gold Medal Award from the Academy of Science in South Africa (ASSAf) in recognition of excellence in the application of outstanding scientific thinking in the service of society.
2011 Outstanding Senior African Scientist Award from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
2011 Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and Technological Innovation from the African Academy of Sciences (to Salim S. and Quarraisha Abdool Karim).
2012 N’Galy-Mann Award (to Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim) for global contributions in HIV epidemiology and clinical research.
2012 Minara recognition award for Academic Excellence (to Salim S. and Quarraisha Abdool Karim).
2013 John F. W. Herschel Medal in recognition of Highly Distinguished Multidisciplinary Contributions to the furtherance of Science from the Royal Society of South Africa.
2013 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum of Nigeria.
2014 DSc (Medicine) (Honoris causa) from the University of Cape Town.
2014 US Science and Technology Pioneers Prize (to the CAPRISA 004 trial team) from the United States Agency for International Development.
2014 Mayor’s Award from the eThekwini Metro, Durban.
2015 Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Award from the African Union (highest scientific award in Africa).
2015 Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award from the Medical Research Council.
2015 “MASEA Award” from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Human Virology, USA (to Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim).
2018 Al-Sumait Prize from the Amir of Kuwait and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award from the Gairdner Foundation, Canada (to Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim).
2020 John Maddox Prize for Standing up for Science from Sense about Science and Nature (shared prize awarded jointly to both Dr. A Fauci and Dr. Salim S. Abdool Karim).
2020 500 years of the Straits of Magellan Award from the government of Chile (to Salim and Quarraisha Abdool Karim).
2020 The Sunday Times Top 100 Honorary Award for contributions to the South African Covid-19 response.
2021 CPHIA 2021 Lifetime Achievement in Public Health Award from the African Union (AU) and Africa CDC.
2021 Honorary Doctorate: DSc (honoris causa) from Rhodes University.
2021 UNISA Chancellor’s Calabash Award from the University of South Africa.
2022 Honorary Fellowship from The College of Pathologists in Virology from The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
2022 VinFuture Special Prize from the VinFuture Foundation in Vietnam.

2. Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim

Date of Birth

March 23, 1960 (in the Republic of South Africa)

Education and Research Career

1981 BSc (Microbiology, Biochemistry), University of Durban-Westville, South Africa.
1983 BSc (Hons) (Biochemistry), University of Witwaterrand, South Africa.
1986 Higher Education Diploma (Post-graduate), University of South Africa.
1988 MS (Parasitology), Columbia University, United States.
1989-1994 Senior Epidemiologist, South African Medical Research Council.
1995 Diploma in Public Service Management (cum laude), University of Pretoria, South Africa.
1995-1997 National Director: AIDS and STI Control Programme, Department of Health, Government of South Africa.
1997-1999 Head: AIDS Research Programme, Centre for Epidemiological Research in South Africa, South African Medical Research Council.
2000 PhD (Medicine), University of Natal, South Africa.
2000-2001 Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
2001-2003 Adjunct Associate Professor in Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
2001-2003 Honorary Associate Professor, School of Family Medicine and Public Health, Nelson R Mandela Medical School, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Since 2002 Associate Scientific Director, CAPRISA.
2003-2010 Associate Professor, School of Family and Public Health Medicine, Nelson R Mandela Medical School, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
2003-2013 Associate Professor in Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York.
2009-2012 Visiting Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital and Visiting Lecturer, Harvard University.
2011-2013 Adjunct Professor in Public Health and Family Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Since 2013 Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. .
Since 2014 Adjunct Professor in Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Since 2018 Pro Vice-Chancellor for African Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Honors and Awards

1993 ASHOKA Fellow in recognition of leadership in the field of HIV/AIDS.
1997 On Trac Award from the National AIDS Convention of South Africa.
2010 TAC Recognition Award from the Treatment Action Campaign.
2011 UNISA Chancellor’s Calabash Outstanding Educator Award from the University of South Africa.
2011 DIA President's Award for Outstanding Achievement in World Health (to the CAPRISA 004 Leadership Team) from the Drug Information Association.
2011 Research leading to Innovation Award (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim on behalf of the CAPRISA 004 Leadership Team) from the South African National Science & Technology Forum (NSTF) jointly with BHP Billiton in recognition of the contributions to HIV prevention through the CAPRISA 004 study.
2011 Allan Rosenfield Alumni Award for Excellence (jointly to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim) from Columbia University’s Alumni Association in recognition for excellence in AIDS research.
2011 Olusegun Obasanjo Prize for Scientific Discovery and Technological Innovation from the African Academy of Sciences (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim).
2012 N’Galy-Mann Award (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim) for global contributions in HIV epidemiology and clinical research.
2012 Minara recognition award for Academic Excellence (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim) .
2012 TWAS Prize in Medical Sciences from The World Academy of Science.
2013 MEC’s Annual Service Excellence Award from the Department of Health KwaZulu-Natal.
2013 Order of the Mapungubwe, President of South Africa (highest national order of South Africa) .
2013 Convocation Award from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
2013 Kwame Nkrumah Regional Scientist Award from the African Union.
2014 South African National Research Foundation A2-Rated Scientist.
2014 TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize from The World Academy of Science (TWAS).
2014 Scientific Merit Award (gold medal) from the South African Medical Research Council.
2014 Science-for-Society Gold Medal ASSAF Award from the Academy for Science in South Africa.
2015 eThekwini Living Legends Award from the City of Durban, in recognition of contributions to HIV and Women’s Health.
2016 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Middle East.
2016 Standard Bank Top Women in Science Award.
2016 Financial Times Top 10 women leaders for 2016.
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Human Virology, USA (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim).
2017 Honorary Philosophiae Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Johannesburg.
2018 Excellence in Healthcare Award from the KwaZulu-Natal Doctors Healthcare Coalition.
2018 HPTN 2018 Ward Cates Spirit Award from the International HIV Prevention Trials Network.
2018 Lifetime Achievement Award for valuable contribution in the field of HIV medicine and infectious diseases from the HIV Congress, Mumbai.
2018 Women Fellows in Leadership Recognition Award from the African Academy of Science.
2019 African Leadership Award, Paris.
2019 NRF A1 rated Scientist (01 January 2020 to 31 December 2025), National Research Foundation.
2020 John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award from the Gairdner Foundation, Canada (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim).
2020 Christophe Merieux Infectious Diseases Award from the French Academy of Sciences.
2020 500 years of the Straits of Magellan Award from the government of Chile (to Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim).
2020 University of Stellenbosch Honorary Philosophiae Doctor Honoris Causa.
2021 John FW Herschel Medal from the Royal Society of South Africa.

3. Major Publications of Drs. Salim S. and Quarraisha Abdool Karim

A. New HIV prevention strategies for women

1. Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS, Frohlich JA, Grobler AC, Baxter C, Mansoor LE, Kharsany AB, Sibeko S, Mlisana KP, Omar Z, Gengiah TN, Maarschalk S, Arulappan N, Mlotshwa M, Morris L, Taylor D. Effectiveness and safety of tenofovir gel, an antiretroviral microbicide, for the prevention of HIV infection in women. Science 2010; 329(5996):1168-74.
2. Abdool Karim SS, Abdool Karim Q, Kharsany ABM, Baxter C, Grobler AC, Werner L, Kashuba A, Mansoor LE, Samsunder N, Mindel A, Gengiah TN, for the CAPRISA 004 Trial Group. Tenofovir gel for the prevention of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 infection. New England Journal of Medicine 2015; 373:530-9.
3. Abdool Karim SS, Kashuba AD, Werner L, Abdool Karim Q. Drug concentrations after topical and oral antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis: implications for HIV prevention in women. Lancet 2011; 378(9787):279-81.
4. Klatt NR, Cheu R, Birse K, Zevin AS, Perner M, Noël-Romas L, Grobler A, Westmacott G, Xie IY, Butler J, Mansoor L, McKinnon LR, Passmore JS, Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS, Burgener AD. Vaginal bacteria modify HIV tenofovir microbicide efficacy in African women. Science 2017; 356(6341):938-945.

B. New insights into HIV transmission and risk factors in women in Africa

5. de Oliveira T, Kharsany AB, Gräf T, Cawood C, Khanyile D, Grobler A, Puren A, Madurai S, Baxter C, Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS. Transmission networks and risk of HIV infection in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a community-wide phylogenetic study. Lancet HIV 2017; 4(1):e41-e50.
6. Abdool Karim Q, Kharsany ABM, Frohlich JA, Werner L, Mashego M, Mlotshwa M, Madlala BT, Ntombela F, Abdool Karim SS. Stabilizing HIV prevalence masks high HIV incidence rates amongst rural and urban women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. International Journal of Epidemiology 2011; 40: 922-930.
7. McKinnon LR, Liebenberg LJ, Yende-Zuma N, Archary D, Ngcapu S, Sivro A, Nagelkerke N, Garcia Lerma JG, Kashuba AD, Masson L, Mansoor LE, Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS, Passmore JS. Genital inflammation undermines the effectiveness of tenofovir gel in preventing HIV acquisition in women. Nature Medicine 2018; 24(4): 491-496.
8. Liebenberg L*, McKinnon L*, Yende-Zuma N*, Garrett N, Baxter C, Kharsany A, Archary D, Rositch A, Samsunder N, Mansoor L, Passmore J-A, Abdool Karim S, Abdool Karim Q. HPV infection and the genital cytokine milieu in women at high risk of HIV acquisition. Nature Communications 2019; 10: 5227.

C. Development of anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV prevention in women

9. Moore PL, Gray ES, Wibmer CK, Bhiman JN, Nonyane M, Sheward DJ, Hermanus T, Bajimaya S, Tumba NL, Abrahams MR, Lambson BE, Ranchobe N, Ping L, Ngandu N, Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS, Swanstrom RI, Seaman MS, Williamson C, Morris L. Evolution of an HIV glycan-dependent broadly neutralizing antibody epitope through immune escape. Nature Medicine 2012; 18(11):1688-92.
10. Doria-Rose NA, Schramm CA, Gorman J, Moore PL, Bhiman JN, DeKosky BJ, Ernandes MJ, Georgiev IS, Kim HJ, Pancera M, Staupe RP, Altae-Tran HR, Bailer RT, Crooks ET, Cupo A, Druz A, Garrett NJ, Hoi KH, Kong R, Louder MK, Longo NS, McKee K, Nonyane M, O'Dell S, Roark RS, Rudicell RS, Schmidt SD, Sheward DJ, Soto C, Wibmer CK, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Mullikin JC, Binley JM, Sanders RW, Wilson IA, Moore JP, Ward AB, Georgiou G, Williamson C, Abdool Karim SS, Morris L, Kwong PD, Shapiro L, Mascola JR. Developmental pathway for potent V1V2-directed HIV-neutralizing antibodies. Nature 2014; 509(7498):55-62.
11. Bhiman JN, Anthony C, Doria-Rose NA, Karimanzira O, Schramm CA, Khoza T, Kitchin D, Botha G, Gorman J, Garrett NJ, Abdool Karim SS, Shapiro L, Williamson C, Kwong PD, Mascola JR, Morris L, Moore PL. Viral variants that initiate and drive maturation of V1V2-directed HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies. Nature Medicine 2015; 21(11):1332-6.

D. Treatment of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection

12. Abdool Karim SS, Naidoo K, Grobler A, Padayatchi N, Baxter C, Gray A, Gengiah T, Nair G, Bamber S, Singh A, Khan M, Pienaar J, El-Sadr W, Friedland G, Abdool Karim Q. Timing of initiation of antiretroviral drugs during tuberculosis therapy. New England Journal of Medicine 2010; 362(8):697-706.
13. Abdool Karim SS, Naidoo K, Grobler A, Padayatchi N, Baxter C, Gray AL, Gengiah T, Gengiah S, Naidoo A, Jithoo N, Nair G, El-Sadr WM, Friedland G, Abdool Karim Q. Integration of antiretroviral therapy with tuberculosis treatment. New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 365(16):1492-501.
14. Abdool Karim SS, Abdool Karim Q, Friedland G, Lalloo U, El-Sadr WM. Implementing antiretroviral therapy in resource-constrained settings: opportunities and challenges in integrating HIV and tuberculosis care. AIDS 2004; 18(7):975-9.

E. Contributions to HIV policy development

15. Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS. HIV—no time for complacency. Science 2018; 360: 1153.
16. Abdool Karim SS, Abdool Karim Q. AIDS research must link to local policy. Nature 2010; 463(7282):733-4.
17. Abdool Karim SS, Churchyard GJ, Abdool Karim Q, Lawn SD. HIV infection and tuberculosis in South Africa: an urgent need to escalate the public health response. Lancet 2009; 374(9693): 921-33.

F. Contributions to the Covid-19 Response

18. Abdool Karim SS, Abdool Karim Q. Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet 2021; 398(10317):2126-2128.
19. Abdool Karim SS, de Oliveira T. New SARS-CoV-2 Variants - Clinical, Public Health, and Vaccine Implications. New England Journal of Medicine 2021; 384(19):1866-1868.
20. Abdool Karim Q, Abdool Karim SS. COVID-19 affects HIV and tuberculosis care. Science 2020; 369(6502):366-368.