CIDRI-Africa team attends Wellcome Discovery Platforms Summit in London

27 Mar 2026
The CIDRI team standing on steps in the entrance foyer of the Royal College of Physicians
27 Mar 2026

CIDRI-Africa was represented by several investigators and senior staff at the Wellcome Discovery Research Platforms summit which took place on 10th and 11th February 2026 at the Royal College of Physicians in London. 

The team, lead by Principal Investigators Profs Robert J Wilkinson, Digby Warner, Molebogeng Rangaka and Andrew Boulle, participated in two days of interactive presentations with the seven UK-based Discovery Research Platforms.

The inclusive meeting format facilitated broad interaction between platform staff from diverse academic backgrounds. Senior staff members Ms René Goliath, Ms Amanda Jackson, Ms Asma Toefy, Ms Shamelle Govender, Ms Selisha Naidoo and Drs Ephi Geza and Claire Whitaker attended.

Several clear themes common across the Platforms emerged from interactions at the Summit, including:

  • the importance of supporting non-traditional academic career pathways;
  • the critical need for data infrastructure and technical support; and
  • a strong need for support of PhD scholars.

Prof. Robert J Wilkinson speaking to an audience in a library. Behind him is projected a slide titled "Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection"
Prof. Robert J Wilkinson presenting to an audience in a library
Prof. Robert J Wilkinson presenting to an audience in a library
Prof. Molebogeng Rangaka speaks in a library
Prof. Molebogeng Rangaka speaks in a library. To her left is a lectern
Prof. Molebogeng Rangaka speaks in front of an audience in a library. On the screen behind her, a slide displays the text "Theme 2: People and career development"
Prof. Andrew Boulle stands in front of a shelf of books in a library
Prof. Andrew Boulle presenting to an audience in a library; behind him a slide displays a radial graph
Prof. Digby Warner presents the laboratory science platform to an audience in a library
Prof. Digby Warner presents to an audience in a library
From left to right: Profs Boulle, Warner, Rangaka and Wilkinson form a panel addressing questions from the audience in a library
A facilitator in a pink shirt shows meeting participants an electronic countdown to the next session start
Three members of the CIDRI-Africa team at the coffee break. From left to right: Ms Rene Goliath, Ms Amanda Jackson and Dr Ephi Geza
Dr John-Arne Røttingen speaks to the meeting participants at the summit dinner
Dr John-Arne Røttingen speaks to the meeting participants at the summit dinner
Ms Rene Goliath speaks with two other meeting participants in the raked seating of an auditorium
Meeting participants use their mobile phones to read a QR code displayed off-screen
Prof. Andrew Boulle participates in a panel discussion
Prof. Andrew Boulle participates in a panel discussion
Dr Matt Kaiser presents to the attendees during the closing session of the summit
The organising and facilitation team of seven people stand at the front of an auditorium in front of a screen displaying the words "Discovery Research Platforms Summit"