Scientists and staff at the Francis Crick Institute today welcomed His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa and His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex, to visit the institute, accompanied by Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Health and Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The tour was part of a State Visit by the President to the United Kingdom as the guest of The King.
Guests were taken on a tour of Crick facilities, including the Advanced Sequencing Lab, where the team generate data using cutting edge technologies, allowing researchers to address fundamental biological challenges. like assessing the genetic evolution of tumours, or identifying new virus variants.
The delegation then heard from a selection of Crick scientists working in collaboration with researchers in South Africa, on projects including SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and pandemic preparedness, high resolution biological imaging, and investigations into hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
They also learned about the Crick African Network, which was launched to support African scientists through the transition to becoming independent researchers and future African research leaders.
At the end of the tour, both Secretaries of State for Health and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, signed Memorandums of Understanding between the two nations, on cooperation in global health and cooperation in science, technology, research and innovation.
Paul Nurse, director of the Crick, said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase just some of the collaborative and international research projects happening here at the Crick and in South Africa. Science is a global endeavour and we look forward to strengthening research connections with South African scientists and global health experts.”
