Lauded scientist lived up to dad’s expectations

THE “great people are coming” is what Dr Glenda Gray‚ paediatrician and medical research scientist‚ would say jokingly to her late father‚ after she was chosen as one of Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world.

She is the second South African to make the list‚ following Thuli Madonsela in 2014.

Her work in determining which drugs would stop HIV-positive mothers transmitting the virus to their babies and which drugs the HIV-exposed babies should be prescribed‚ was recognised by the prestigious magazine.

This year, less than 1% of all babies with HIV positive mothers are born HIV positive in South Africa. Before Gray’s work‚ about 25% of all infants born to positive mothers contracted the virus.

Gray’s father died when she was a child‚ but she recalled him using the phrase “great people are coming” in reference to his six children’s talents.

“He would always say this to us. My father expected the best from us.”

James McIntyre‚ Gray’s partner in setting up the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital‚ said: “South African research‚ including Gray’s‚ directly contributed to the global policies and success in preventing mother to child transmission.

“Whether standing up to President Thabo Mbeki’s denialism‚ or fighting for the advancement of South African researchers‚ Glenda’s courage and determination have always been evident.”

Their work led to people getting their HIV results on the same day that they tested‚ which is now standard practice in South Africa.

Gray is currently leading the world’s only trial that is advanced enough to lead to an HIV vaccine if the trial is successful.