Press conference: New HIV antibody research opens up possibilities for preventing and treating HIV infection
27 February 2014
Date: Monday 3 March 2014
Time: 10h00-12h00 [SAST]
Where: Pula Room, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Tyrwhitt Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196
Accredited journalists are invited to attend a press conference to announce a new discovery on HIV infection. The CAPRISA consortium of scientists, working jointly with USA researchers, have discovered a new pathway for the development of potent broadly neutralising antibodies that could potentially prevent HIV or be used as an adjunct to antiretroviral drugs for treatment of HIV infection. These breakthrough findings are being published in the prestigious scientific journal, Nature, next week.
Journalists will be welcomed by Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim, Director of CAPRISA & President of the Medical Research Council, after which Professor Lynn Morris of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases will explain the new findings. The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, will comment thereafter on the findings followed by a question and answer session and media interview opportunities. Please see below for the programme.
To register for the press conference, please contact Judith Annakie-Eriksen of CAPRISA by:
Tel: +27 (0)82 782 1276 (cell)
Email: annakieeriksen@ukzn.ac.za
Programme
| 09h30 | Arrival and registration |
| 10h00 | Welcome and introductions: Professor Salim S Abdool Karim |
| 10h05 | Presentation: Professor Lynn Morris, National Institute for Communicable Diseases |
| and National Health Laboratory Service, Wits School of Pathology | |
| 10h25 | Dr Michelle Mulder, Medical Research Council |
| 10h35 | Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health |
| 10h45 | Mr Derek Hanekom, Minister of Science and Technology |
| 11h55 | Closing remarks: Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim |
| 11h00 | Questions |
| 11h30 | End of press conference & refreshments |
| Opportunity for one-on-one interviews until noon |