Professor Valerie Mizrahi, director of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), has been awarded the coveted Grand Prix Christophe Mérieux by the Institute de France in Paris for her tuberculosis (TB) research and her ability to mentor young researchers.
The €500,000 award (over R6 million), made by the Institute’s Academy of Sciences, is a highly prestigious international accolade and was presented to Professor Mizrahi at a ceremony in Paris on 5 June 2013.
Paying tribute to Professor Mizrahi’s research, Pascale Cossart, a member of the Academy of Sciences, said: “What characterises Valerie Mizrahi’s work is not only her excellent research on Mycobacterium TB and TB, but also her very active involvement in the TB community in South Africa, on the African continent, and internationally.”
The Academy of Sciences, which makes awards to the most meritorious scientists and promising research projects, also lauded Mizrahi for her special qualities in mentoring students, particularly those engaged in TB research.
Professor Mizrahi plans to use most of the prize money to hire senior researchers, who are able to bring new skills to the laboratory that she runs with IDM colleague Dr Digby Warner, particularly in chemical biology and bioinformatics. She also plans to purchase laboratory equipment to provide opportunities for students from the laboratory to travel abroad for specialised training.
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