Conclusions

“START has been empowering; with foundations laid, we are ready to go from START to ‘ACCELERATE’!”

Professor Erick Strauss, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

Structural Biology is a major developmental opportunity. It has significantly impacted modern biology and medicine over the past two decades and will continue to enable the growth of medical, agricultural, and industrial biotechnology worldwide.

African-led innovation in health and bio science must take its rightful place on the global stage of science and innovation – now and in the future. START: Health & Bio Science has proved itself capable of leading the way.

START’s achievements constitute a catalyst for the small Structural Biology community in South Africa to grow, unite and prove that Structural Biology is a powerful tool in Africa. START’s legacy demonstrates several years of proof that funding Structural Biology and synchrotron access yields high returns. Structural Biology addresses many African needs and Africans can bring highly valuable research outcomes and perspectives to global science and innovation.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Konrad Mostert (Centre), demonstrating the process of harvesting protein crystals by hand to PhD student, Vishaal Patel (Left), and MSc student, Jaydee Nel (Right), in the Strauss laboratory at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, before preparing the crystals for shipping to the UK’s national synchrotron – Diamond Light Source – for X-ray diffraction. The crystal harvesting process involves the ‘fishing’ of crystals with looped pins that are about one tenth of a millimeter in diameter, which are then transferred to a special pin-storing puck for shipping. Credit: Francel Wessels. ©Diamond Light Source

“START: Health & Bio Science has shown that the South African Bio Science community can and will contribute to the international Structural Biology endeavour. But we urgently need national and international support and a local resource to support them. Local funding is imperative. We are grateful to everyone who has inputted into the programme.”

Professor Trevor Sewell, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Next: Appendices