Discovery Foundation alum becomes SA's first specialist immunopathologist

Over the last decade, the Discovery Foundation has invested over R189 million in grants to support academic medicine through research, development, and training of medical specialists in South Africa. Back in 2013, Elizabeth Mayne was chosen as one of 13 recipients of a Discovery Foundation Academic Fellowship Award. A hardworking married mother of one, Prof Mayne used the funding she received for postgraduate research.

Prof Mayne completed her PhD at Wits and then transferred to the University of Cape Town as a Professor. She is now a specialist haematologist and the country's first immunopathologist - a super-specialist who looks at how people respond to disease, how the immune system can go awry, and how immune problems can be treated. We caught up to hear more about the incredible impact she's having in her field of expertise and on a new next generation of doctors and academics.

You're considered a policy leader in your field. What's your career been like since you won Academic Fellowship Award?

If the most recent pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the immune system is fundamental to health and impacts everything from vaccines to infectious disease research and cutting-edge therapies for diseases like cancer. Even though we know how important immunology is, in the clinical fields it often takes a back seat to other disciplines. It has long been a dream of mine and of the immunology community in South Africa to promote immunology to the forefront in both undergraduate disciplines and in the postgraduate space.

The Discovery Fellowship award was really a game changer in providing the independence I needed to look at things a bit differently. Independent funding has enabled me to assist more junior researchers who are looking at different aspects, including things like transplant immunology and immunology of cancer, as well as immunology of HIV and Tuberculosis.

What would you consider your biggest career accomplishment to date?

South Africa, like with many African countries, espouses the principles of Ubuntu or 'I am because you are.' For me, the key career highlights are not linked to my own research but to research that has resulted in upliftment of others - either more junior research staff or the South African population more widely.

Many of the applications of immunology are not widely available in the public sector in South Africa. So any patient who has received a transplant, obtained state-of-the-art therapy or been included in a clinical trial, even if I was only indirectly involved, feels like an accomplishment. Speaking personally, I have experienced a number of health challenges (including cancer) myself and I was fortunate to have access to excellent care. I need to pay this forward!

Your field of expertise is immunopathology - a branch of medicine that deals with immune responses associated with disease. What first drew you to this field and why do you think immunopathology research is so valuable?

HIV has been front and centre of health dialogues in South Africa. But typically the mechanisms of disease are poorly understood by the very doctors who work in the primary healthcare clinics, where most of these patients are seen. We speak casually about things like "CD4 counts" but often clinicians don't really understand what these are and what they mean. Immunology is really the science behind all of our success stories, including vaccination. Everyone should love it!

Throughout your career, you've worked exclusively in the State sector. What is it that keeps you in public healthcare?

Public healthcare is where we train all new health professionals. Private healthcare can only be as strong as the training we provide and the research which impacts all South Africans. So I believe I can make the most impact here.

You've said before that you believe that medicine must be built on a good foundation of basic science and teaching. How do you live that belief out?

Medicine lies at the cross-roads between basic and social science. It is a vocation, and many health professionals are affected by burnout and mental health challenges. I believe we need to provide the tools that will help to support them. This means the science behind the cure - which is pathology, generally, but more specifically immunology. We have been working throughout the country to bolster immunology teaching - creating syllabi for medical students, for registrars and for clinicians. Into the future, we hope to have access to a group of specialists who can help advocate for the discipline going forward.

The Discovery Foundation certainly shares your passion for research and training medical professionals! Given your experience, would you encourage others to apply for a similar award?

Absolutely. In busy clinical practice, time to teach and time to research is often at a premium. The Discovery Foundation freed my time and that has enabled me to give back. I believe there is no aspect of health that would not benefit from homegrown consideration and talent. Congratulations to all awardees and to those considering applying - reach for the stars!