Giving an overview of the project, the Dean of Science at UB, Professor Motsose Modisi said the two universities have had a student exchange programme since 2006. He related that in 2008, professors Larry Grill and Alan Jones of Pitzer gave a presentation at UB that detailed the technology that forms the basis of the vaccine initiative. A year later, he said, two staff members from the UB Department of Biological Sciences spent two weeks at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, to familiarize themselves with techniques required for the project.
"In 2010 the vaccine development investigators, Prof Grill, Dr Mpoloka, Mr Leteane, Prof Allan Jones and Dr Kebokile-Dengu Zvobgo had extensive consultations with several Botswana stakeholders. This dialogue culminated with the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) coming on board. BVI plays a critical role in vaccine development by clinically testing and distributing not only in Botswana but also the entire SADC sub-region," he said. Following the discussions, a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was drafted among the three institutes.
