Head of the HIV Diversity group: Prof Carolyn Williamson

The HIV Diversity research group in the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town was central to the initial elucidation of HIV-1 diversity in South Africa and has been one of the lead research groups to investigate the role of diversity in vaccine development and HIV pathogenesis. The current focus of research involves characterising the evolution of recently transmitted viruses in the context of host immune responses and disease progression; HIV transmission and viral escape; the impact of diversity on pathogenesis; as well as the implications of diversity on vaccine design.