Renowned South African scientist, Professor Kelly Chibale, has been elected as an international member of the prestigious United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS), marking another milestone in a distinguished scientific career dedicated to drug discovery and development in Africa.
Chibale, who holds the Neville Isdell Chair in African-centric Drug Discovery & Development at the University of Cape Town (UCT), is one of only 30 international scientists selected this year, joining 120 US-based researchers. The recognition honours his sustained contributions to original scientific research, particularly in creating solutions for diseases that heavily impact African populations.
“I was on a night shift on April 29 when I received an email at 8:15 pm from a US colleague. Initially, I thought he was congratulating me on my 2024 election to the National Academy of Medicine. But as more congratulatory messages arrived, I realised this was entirely new and significant news,” Chibale recounted.
The NAS, founded in 1863 under a charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln, is a private, nonprofit institution that celebrates scientific excellence and offers policy advice in science, engineering, and medicine to the US government and other bodies. International members, like Chibale, are non-voting but recognized for their global contributions.
Chibale’s election comes just months after his induction into the US National Academy of Medicine, placing him among a rare group of African scientists recognized by both elite American academies.
As founder and director of the Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at UCT, Chibale has led historic achievements, including Africa’s first small-molecule clinical candidate for disease treatment, discovered on the continent by an African-led team.
“This recognition is both an honour and a responsibility,” Chibale said. “I hope to support the academy’s mission by offering guidance on science policy and promoting scientific entrepreneurship. Science should not only be about curiosity—it must also drive economic development and job creation.”
He stressed the need for greater investment in basic scientific research and encouraged support for Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurial scientists. “Young researchers must be empowered and motivated to think beyond the lab. In a world growing increasingly divided, science remains a universal language that connects humanity.”
Chibale’s journey serves as a beacon for African scientists, demonstrating that with consistency, opportunity, and faith, global impact is possible.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
