Professor Rob Slotow, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head
of the College of Health Sciences (l), and Mr Brian Daniel,
CEO and Country Manager for Pfizer South Africa (r)
congratulated award winners at the symposium.

Stimulating research was presented by young health scientists from various South African universities that united at UKZN recently.

This was at the annual National Pfizer Research Symposium which was held on the Westville campus by the pharmaceutical company together with the College of Health Sciences (CHS).

Competing in the categories of clinically-based, community-based and laboratory-based research, students impressed adjudicators with studies from multiple disciplines they had conducted in and around their respective institutions. Prizes went to student groups from the University of Witwatersrand (WITS), University of Free State and the University of Cape Town.

The event was attended by Mr Brian Daniel, Chief Executive Officer and Country Manager for Pfizer South Africa, parents and academics who agreed that research in Southern Africa was in an upward trajectory.

The panel of adjudicators was made up of representatives from WITS, Rhodes University, the provincial Department of Health and UKZN. One of the adjudicators said the research they had seen from the various institutions and disciplines was ‘well thought out and very relevant to the South African health context’. The students were encouraged to keep their passion going, and step into the workforce knowing that research was the stronghold for future innovations in healthcare.