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The fungal fighter
Mail & Guardian
|01 August 2025
Neuroscientist Dr Rachael Dangarembizi tackles deadly brain infections head-on
A deadly fungal infection is claiming more lives in sub-Saharan Africa than tuberculosis among people living with HIV, yet few outside the continent even know its name. Cryptococcal meningitis is a silent killer, but Dr Rachael Dangarembizi is making sure it doesn't stay that way.
As a neuroscientist, a rising star in African biomedical research, and now the winner of the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher, she's leading the fight against this overlooked epidemic.
"My research is focused on studying the causes of brain injury in cryptococcal meningitis," she explains. "It's a neglected but deadly fungal infection that's extremely difficult to treat and is a leading cause of death for people living with HIV/AIDS in subSaharan Africa."
This story is from the 01 August 2025 edition of Mail & Guardian.
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