PROF ROBIN WARREN
Photo: Supplied
What is your field of specialty, and could you please give a brief explanation of it?
I initially trained as a molecular biologist and when I joined Stellenbosch University, I used these skills to develop the science of molecular epidemiology. This field of research investigates genetics signatures in the genomes of pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) to describe the spatial and temporal spread of disease in human subjects. This science has now developed to incorporate next generation sequencing to describe the epidemiology of Tuberculosis with a particular emphasis on surveillance and patient management through the description of genomic variants which measure transmission and or resistance to routinely used antibiotics.
How would you say does your research contribute to the concept of “research for impact”?
Impact is critical in the field of Tuberculosis research. My research continues to impact through the development of new research concepts which subsequently become research themes that are now investigated world-wide (e.g. mixed infection with different Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains). In addition, my recent research findings have contributed to global policies and guidelines through collaboration and sharing of data (e.g., the association between mutations and drug resistance phenotype).
What does attaining an A-rating mean to you professionally, and personally?
Being recognised is great but I acknowledge that research cannot be done in isolation and thus the A rating is a reflection of working in collaboration to achieve international recognition. I am still the same person I was before I became A rated
What do you enjoy most about your job and what are the aspects that you find challenging?
Creating new research ideas and developing these ideas to answer a key knowledge gap is the most rewarding part of being a researcher. Conversely, mind mumming administrative tasks erode time and creativity.
What is the biggest piece of advice that you would give early-career researchers and those who are aspiring to become leaders in their respective research fields?
My advice is know the first principles, think creatively, and have fun. Don’t limit yourself to set goals – reach beyond those goals. Mentorship is essential and be humble – recognise the role of other researchers in your success.
What do you do for fun (apart from research!)?
Gardening.
Professor Robin Warren is the Unit Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research and Distinguished Professor at Stellenbosch University (SU). He also heads the TB Genomics research group in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. In 2015 he was awarded the SAMRC Gold Medal award for scientific excellence and in 2018 the Chancellors award for my contribution to research at SU. Prof Warren has received the Rector’s ward on 6 occasions in the past 7 years for research outputs. He has published over 370 papers and 15 book chapters. His research is based on a foundation molecular epidemiology which has led to numerous landmark publications in the field of Tuberculosis (TB). Through his research he has challenged dogmas with respect to recurrent TB, demonstrated mixed infection, identified outbreaks, mapped acquisition of resistance and highlighted programmatic limitations in the standard of care. Critical questions currently under investigation include determining the association between genotype and phenotype for new and repurposed drugs to enable the transition from culture-based methods to molecular methods for drugs susceptibility testing. This research is directly linked to his whole genome sequencing (WGS) platform to correlate genome sequence variation to phenotype (virulence and transmission). Prof Warren continues to contribute to global initiatives to improve diagnostics by being a major contributor to WHO technical guides, a global repository of WGS data and the development of a WGS analysis pipeline that is being adopted by the WHO. In collaboration with Antwerp University, he has developed a virtual WGS training program to train MSc and PhD students. His research in the field of mixed infection and heteroresistance has highlighted the difficulty of identifying underlying drug resistant populations. This work has also shown the complexity of bacterial populations during the evolution of resistance thereby highlighting how targeted deep sequencing may be a tool to monitor and guide treatment of drug resistant TB. He continues to play a pivotal role in the archiving of clinical TB isolates. The culture bank houses over 50000 drug susceptible and drug resistant isolates and is a national and international resource. Prof Warren’s research continues to demonstrate that the drug resistant TB epidemic is driven by transmission. These findings have important implications for TB control as they demonstrate that infectious cases are not being diagnosed timeously. More recently he has shown that the XDR-TB epidemic is perpetuated through infectious cases returning to the community following a diagnosis of treatment failure. He is collaborating with engineers to develop method to purify Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli from complex mixtures, purify DNA from cell lysates and build tools for co-culture under BSL3 conditions. He is also investigating whether cough sounds can be used to triage patients for TB diagnosis. Prof Warren collaborates extensively in Africa to ensure skills transfer and postgraduate education. He also has collaborators in Brazil, Mexico, Unites States, Canada, England, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Russia, Germany Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.
Prof Warren is currently the PI, Laboratory PI, or Co-I on five NIH awards, two FWO awards, and two SAMRC awards. He has mentored 24 MSc and 36 PhD graduates, 4 NIH K-awardees, two Wellcome Trust Research Fellows and two NRF career development awardees (SU).