Affiliateship: 2020-2024
Cohort 5
Country (Nationality)
South Africa
Discipline
Medical & Health Sciences
Bio
Dr Lenine Liebenberg, PhD is a Scientist at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) Mucosal Immunology Laboratory, an honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and a Future Leaders – African Independent Researcher (FLAIR) Fellow. Dr Liebenberg’s combined training in medical virology, microbiology, genetics, and immunology direct the scope of her research in understanding immune responses at the human genital mucosa. She has documented methods to improve genital cell isolation from men and women, methods to facilitate genital cellular immune responses in multicentre studies, and has characterised genital and systemic immune factors that facilitate HIV infection, viral shedding and HIV transmission.
Her research has highlighted the role of poor female genital health in enhancing HIV acquisition and focuses on understanding the causes of genital inflammation and the mechanism of its association with HIV acquisition to inform on the design of effective interventions that prevent HIV infection in women.