His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the Francis Crick Institute
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa and His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex visited the Francis Crick Institute in London on Wednesday 23 November 2022 as part of the President’s state visit to the United Kingdom.
The delegation heard from several Crick scientists working in collaboration with South African researchers on projects including SARS-CoV-2 monitoring and pandemic preparedness, high resolution biological imaging, and investigations into hepatitis B and tuberculosis. South African Dr Leigh Kotze—a postdoctoral fellow in CIDRI-Africa Director Prof. Robert J Wilkinson’s Crick laboratory—presented work conducted jointly at the Crick and CIDRI-Africa.
Also in attendance during the visit were Dr Bonginkosi “Blade” Nzimande (Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, RSA), Dr Naledi Pandor (Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, RSA), Mr Ebrahim Patel (Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, RSA), Dr Mathume Joseph Phaahla (Minister of Health, RSA), The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, UK), The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK), Sir Paul Nurse (Chief Executive Francis Crick Institute), Lord Browne of Madingley (Chair of Board), and Dr Samantha Barrell (Deputy Chief Executive Crick).
At the end of the tour, the Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care, and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, signed Memoranda of Understanding between the two nations regarding cooperation in global health, science, technology, research and innovation.
“It was a privilege to be able to present examples of Crick collaboration and research work with CIDRI-Africa to the President, several of his senior Ministers, The Earl of Wessex and UK Ministers on the occasion of signing of memoranda between South Africa and UK that will hopefully assist our long-standing collaboration between countries and institutes”, said Prof. Wilkinson.