Penelope Moore

Professor Penny Moore is the South African Research Chair of Virus-Host Dynamics, Research Professor, and Academic Head of the Divisions of Virology and Immunology at the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa. She also serves as Director of the Antibody Immunity Research Unit, an extramural unit of the SA Medical Research Council, and holds a joint appointment as Honorary Senior Scientist in Virus-Host Dynamics at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Professor Moore earned her PhD from University College London and has established herself as a leading researcher in viral immunology. Her educational background has provided the foundation for her extensive work in understanding virus-host interactions, particularly in the context of HIV and emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.

Her research focuses on HIV and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine discovery, combining expertise in Virology, Immunology, and Bioinformatics. Moore's work centers on understanding neutralizing antibodies and their interplay with evolving viruses, with particular emphasis on how these antibodies can be harnessed for vaccine development. Her laboratory investigates the complex dynamics between viral pathogens and host immune responses, seeking to identify vulnerabilities that can be targeted for therapeutic and preventive interventions.

An analysis of Professor Moore's recent publications reveals a strong focus on both HIV and SARS-CoV-2 research, with particular attention to neutralizing antibody responses, vaccine development, and viral evolution. Her work spans basic science investigations of antibody-virus interactions to clinical studies evaluating vaccine efficacy against emerging variants. A notable trend is her laboratory's contribution to understanding how prior infection and vaccination shape immune responses to new viral variants.

• NRF B1 Research Rating
• South African Research Chair in Virus-Host Dynamics

Professor Moore has secured significant research funding from multiple prestigious sources including the NIH, South African Medical Research Council, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, SA National Research Foundation, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She supervises numerous postgraduate students and post-doctoral fellows, demonstrating a strong commitment to mentorship and capacity development in scientific research. Her laboratory serves as a training ground for the next generation of virologists and immunologists in South Africa.

Moore directs a substantial research operation comprising more than 15 scientists and 10 postgraduate students working collaboratively across multiple institutions. Her Antibody Immunity Research Unit functions as a hub for cutting-edge research on viral pathogens, with particular expertise in characterizing antibody responses to HIV and SARS-CoV-2. The team's multidisciplinary approach integrates wet lab virology with computational analysis to tackle complex questions in viral immunology.