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People First, Science Forward: Power of Partnership in Global Biotech Innovation
What happens when two institutions, separated by continents but united in purpose, come together to transform science?
According to Professor Brian G. Fox, it begins with people, grows through trust, and thrives on shared curiosity.
Professor Fox, Chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, recently visited Stellenbosch University as part of a deepening partnership between the two institutions. His visit reflects a growing collaboration rooted in a simple yet powerful belief: that science is at its best when it’s collaborative, human-centred, and forward-looking.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Stellenbosch University and UW–Madison outlines joint goals in biotechnology, data science, and global health. But beyond the paperwork, it’s the people who make this partnership work. “When people enjoy working together, when there’s mutual respect and shared values, the science becomes even more meaningful,” said Fox.
Connecting People, Ideas, and Institutions
“I can only be as healthy as the nature next to me,” Fox reflected, capturing the spirit of the One Health approach that guides much of this work.
The partnership between Stellenbosch University and UW–Madison resonates deeply with the One Health philosophy, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. “One Health doesn’t solve the problem,” Fox explains. “It puts the right questions on the table—questions no single discipline can answer alone.”
This mindset shapes one of the collaboration’s core focus areas: the establishment of a One Health Program. By bridging sectors and engaging communities, the program aims to tackle global challenges like antimicrobial resistance, emerging diseases, and sustainable agriculture through systems thinking and shared scientific capacity.
Linking Biochemistry and Epidemic Response
With a strong background in enzymology and structural biology, Fox sees exciting intersections between his work and the cutting-edge infectious disease surveillance at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI).
“CERI’s response to public health emergencies, like sequencing outbreaks in Malawi, shows the impact of science in motion,” said Fox. “It’s not just about publishing papers; it’s about solving real problems, in real time, across borders.” He believes biochemical approaches could further accelerate such efforts, offering new tools for diagnostics, drug development, and disease response.
Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation
A major focus of the partnership is building capacity through academic exchange. Fox envisions a pipeline of opportunities that embeds students in long-term collaborative projects, allowing them to co-author, co-learn, and co-create.
“Learning to collaborate at an early stage changes how young scientists view the world,” he explained. “They get to be part of something bigger than themselves; something international, interdisciplinary, and impactful.”
On the faculty side, the partnership opens doors for joint research projects, workshops, and co-supervision of graduate students, reinforcing a two-way learning experience between South Africa and the United States.
Turning Science into Solutions
With both CERI, Stellenbosch University and UW–Madison committed to translational research, innovation sits at the heart of this collaboration. But Fox is quick to emphasise that innovation doesn’t begin with funding or infrastructure; it starts with relationships.
“People don’t just give you money because you have an idea. They give you support because you’ve shown that your science matters; because you’ve made the connection between curiosity and community need.”
For Fox, turning an idea into a diagnostic test or a bioengineered product is about reducing complexity to practice: “What does our science do to lead us to make what other people want or need? Science is a systematic way of improving lives. That’s our job.”
As this partnership unfolds, one thing is clear: People First, Science Forward isn’t just a tagline. It’s a philosophy; one that reminds us that the future of biotech, of global health, and of science itself will be shaped not just by knowledge, but by connection, compassion, and collaboration.
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Historic Agreement with Stellenbosch University, UW–Madison’s Global Health Institute and Department of Biochemistry
