Prof Mark Cotton was recently appointed to the board of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

Cotton is a distinguished professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University, and director of FAM-CRU, an infectious disease clinical trial unit within the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the FMHS. The unit participates in many leading international multi-centred studies involving infants, children, pregnancy and adults. He is also principal investigator for SUN-CTU (Stellenbosch University's Clinical Trial Unit) funded through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA.

Over the last two decades he has made major contributions to research in the field of paediatric infectious diseases, and in particular the treatment of paediatric HIV. Earlier this year he was recognised with an A-rating by the National Research Foundation.

As a board member of the SAMRC he will be involved in reviewing the progress of SAMRC funding initiatives. He will hold the position for three years.

"I am looking forward to learning more and contributing to SAMRC activities, interacting with other board members, and learning from them," says Cotton.