START has a focus on two strands of research of global importance but with a particular emphasis on issues that affect the African continent. The development of Energy Materials and understanding Protein Structures through Structural Biology research to identify the cause and mechanism of disease are key topics for the START programme. The research undertaken by the project investigators will expand the knowledge base through scientific publications that will drive the focus of development towards devices/treatments for low and middle income countries. The applied research into disruptive technologies could lead to test structures for novel proof of concept devices or drug targets.
It is an exciting prospect to work together on these challenging problems and this project will enable us to form very strong links at all levels, in particular helping to train the next generation of researchers in nations including South Africa, Lesotho, Ethiopia and Egypt. The work will focus around the development needs of the African countries, driven by the Africa-based investigators and the NGOs like the African Science Leadership programme which is located at the University of Pretoria and has been co-developed by the Global Young Academy.
Principal Investigator Prof. Chris Nicklin