Professor Rubeshan Perumal, a distinguished pulmonologist and academic, has been honoured with the 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence UKZN. This prestigious accolade recognizes his exceptional contributions to research and his sustained record of innovation and academic excellence, particularly in the fields of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.
At just 37 years old, Perumal holds multiple prestigious roles, including Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Consultant Pulmonologist in the Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and Head of TB/HIV Treatment Research at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). His internationally acclaimed work addresses critical challenges in TB and HIV care, with a particular focus on optimizing treatments for drug-resistant TB, one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide.
A clinician-scientist with an impressive academic trajectory, Perumal holds multiple degrees, including an MBChB, MMed (Internal Medicine), MPhil (Pulmonology), MPH (Public Health), and a PhD in Medicine, alongside specialized certifications in Pulmonology and Critical Care. Perumal was one of the only students to be granted permission to undertake an MPH concurrently with his medical degree. His doctoral research, which focused on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic optimization of TB treatment, underscores his dedication to advancing patient outcomes through scientific rigor.
Perumal’s scientific journey began in 2005, during his first year at medical school, when he joined the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) as a research placement. ‘From very early on, I felt inspired to maintain an unflinching focus on saving the lives of people living with HIV and TB, especially those with drug-resistant forms of the disease who face the highest risk of death. Despite being a curable infectious disease, TB kills over 1.5 million people each year, and a substantial amount of work remains to be done if we are to turn the tide on this ancient, relentless scourge. My early career mentorship by Professors Salim Abdool Karim, Kogie Naidoo, Nesri Padayatchi, Bilkish Cassim, and Keertan Dheda has been instrumental in preparing me for a life dedicated to reducing human suffering through impactful TB/HIV research. Their examples have been a constant reminder of what can be achieved through pioneering and rigorous science combined with a deeply personal commitment to solving the most pressing problems threatening human health. I hope to pay this forward through my own mentorship activities to ensure that we have a diverse and talented pipeline of next-generation scholars equipped to tackle the complex challenges facing our country and the world’, said Perumal.
Perumal has published over 70 high-impact peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals such as The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Lancet Infectious Diseases. He is also a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, where his work has garnered widespread recognition. As a principal investigator or co-investigator on over 10 clinical trials, his efforts continue to shape the future of TB and HIV treatment and care.
In addition to his academic and research contributions, Professor Perumal plays a pivotal role in medical education, coordinating undergraduate training in Internal Medicine and mentoring postgraduate and doctoral students. His commitment to fostering the next generation of clinician-scientists ensures that his legacy of excellence and innovation will endure.
Beyond his academic and clinical pursuits, Professor Perumal is actively involved in national and international advisory roles, including serving on the KwaZulu-Natal Drug-Resistant TB Advisory Group, the National TB Think Tank, and the Long COVID Task Force of the Global Virus Network. His leadership and expertise have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the GVN Action Award, which celebrated his contributions to understanding and managing Long COVID.
Reflecting on his journey, Professor Perumal acknowledged the profound influence of his mentors and his late father, Professor Ronnie Perumal, whose commitment to scholarship and public service inspired his path. ‘My father exemplified a life of service to scholarship and human progress. All that I hope to be is inspired by his selfless career and his courageous pursuit of advancement for the disadvantaged and underserved,’ he said.
Professor Busisiwe Ncama, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UKZN’s College of Health Sciences, praised his achievements, describing him as a role model for aspiring clinician-scientists and an exemplar of academic, clinical, and scientific excellence.
Receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Award is a testament to Professor Perumal’s unwavering dedication to research and public health. Reflecting on his career, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to balance the scientific rigor of his work with the art of caring for patients. ‘Life as a clinician-scientist straddles the poetic intersection between the austerity of scientific empiricism and the artistry inherent in caring for people in their most desperate state of illness. I feel deeply blessed’, he said.
Professor Perumal’s ground-breaking contributions to TB and HIV research and his commitment to education and mentorship continue to make a profound impact on healthcare in South Africa and beyond.