Prof Novel Chegou of Stellenbosch University’s recently created Division of Immunology, which he currently leads as acting head, has been elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).

“I felt really humbled but also proud when I learned that I had been elected,” he says. “Given the rigorous peer review process that is undertaken beforehand, it is proof that my contributions to science and innovation have been recognised by the biggest academic minds on the African continent.” The peer review process takes into account excellence in publications, innovations, leadership roles and contributions to policy and society.

Chegou regards the AAS, which was inaugurated in 1986 and is headquartered in Kenya, as the leading scientific society on the continent: “It serves as a central hub for the promotion of science across Africa and is the only body of its kind that is officially recognised and supported by the African Union as well as other governments and international partners.”

He believes that being an AAS Fellow will greatly benefit his own research by providing an opportunity to network and potentially collaborate with other Fellows, “all of whom are top scientists from the continent”. 

Chegou’s laboratory is based in the Division of Immunology within the Department of Biomedical Sciences, where he is currently mainly doing research that aims to discover and validate biomarkers that may be developed further into tools to manage tuberculosis.

“This entails working with individuals from diverse disciplines, including clinicians of different specialties, engineers, people who know how to manage data and companies that work at the interface of translating biomarkers into tools such as developing tests that may be used to manage patients who are presumed to have tuberculosis, amongst others,” he explains.

Chegou anticipates that being part of the AAS will assist his own research and offer early access to funding opportunities. In turn, he envisages playing an active role in the academy that will contribute to its work in Africa: “Being a Fellow will enable me to participate in the formation of policies that may contribute towards the promotion of science, technology and innovation on the continent and globally.

“Just being in a position where you are able to participate in the highest decision-making organ of a continent-wide organisation – providing an opportunity to contribute to activities and decisions that enhance science at the continental level – is a huge privilege.

“Being an AAS Fellow entails having an opportunity to fulfil a leading role in the research agenda of the continent, being able to contribute to important policy initiatives and the mentoring of other researchers, among others.”

According to the obligations set by the AAS, Chegou will be expected to serve as a member of expert review panels, steering committees, the Governing Council and its subcommittees as well as participate in other activities of the AAS and its partner organisations.

He adds: “As I mature as a member of the organisation, I will contribute to any programmes that I feel I can contribute to meaningfully to serve the purposes of the academy. I am very passionate about mentoring junior scientists and look forward to the opportunity to contribute in this way. I also plan to lend my expertise wherever required, for example participating in think-tanks that are relevant to my strengths or areas of expertise.”

Chegou, who is originally from Cameroon, is highly regarded for his research on tuberculosis. “Having been trained as a medical laboratory scientist at undergraduate level at the University of Buea, I sought opportunities to study further in one of the areas that I was passionate about,” he recalls.

“I was lucky to find supervisors who were looking for a student to join them on a project that focused on immunodiagnostic tests for tuberculosis when I joined Stellenbosch University as a BSc Honours student in 2005.

“After completing that initial study, further questions that we had about how the diagnosis of tuberculosis could be made simpler and faster led to a research direction that I have been pursuing since then, which is the discovery of biomarkers that may be translated further into simpler, easier-to-use tests for the management of tuberculosis, especially at points where patients first present with symptoms that require further investigation, especially in areas with limited resources.”

Chegou has been engaged in research on the immunology of tuberculosis since he embarked on his MSc at Stellenbosch University in 2006. The following year it was converted into a PhD, which he completed in 2009. 

Since then he has received several honours, including in 2022 the Royal Society Africa Prize, an annual award by the United Kingdom’s national science academy that recognises the innovative contribution of an African research scientist.

Chegou is clearly an outstanding scholar who has attained the highest level of excellence in his field and has made a significant contribution to the advancement of science on the continent. He therefore richly deserves his election as an AAS Fellow.