…Dr. Nyaradzo Mgodi wins HVTN Service Award for her leadership in the groundbreaking AMP study, placing Zimbabwe at the heart of global HIV prevention efforts.
By Bunmi Yekini
Dr. Nyaradzo Mgodi, a leading Zimbabwean clinician-researcher, has received the prestigious HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Service Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership in the global Antibody Mediated Prevention (AMP) study, a landmark trial that tested whether broadly neutralising antibodies can prevent HIV infection.
The award was presented during the recent HVTN Full Group Meeting, a key gathering of the world’s top HIV researchers. Dr. Mgodi, who serves as the Site Leader for the University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre (UZ-CTRC) in Zengeza, played a central role as principal investigator for the Zimbabwe site and as one of the global protocol co-chairs.
“This award doesn’t belong to me; I just represent all the people that got this award,” Dr. Mgodi told HealthTimes in an interview. “AMP was a very unique study. It was a proof-of-concept — the first ever in medical history to show that monoclonal antibodies can prevent HIV. It had never been done before, and we did it across 46 clinics on four continents, including here in Zimbabwe.”
The AMP study evaluated VRC01, a monoclonal antibody administered via intravenous infusion, and its potential to mimic the immune response typically triggered by a vaccine. It marked a new frontier in biomedical HIV prevention.
Reflecting on the early stages of the trial, Dr. Mgodi admitted to initial doubts.
“As a Zimbabwean, at first I thought I had been set up for failure, this is going to be difficult,” she said. “But we had strong global collaboration, supportive regulatory frameworks, and robust community engagement. That made all the difference.”
She emphasised the vital role of community trust and involvement, crediting participants and local support systems for the success of the study.
“Community engagement was key. We couldn’t have done it without the participants who believed in the science. This is as much their award as it is mine.”
Her recognition comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe intensifies its efforts to reduce new HIV infections, especially among high-risk groups like young women and adolescent girls.
Dr. Mgodi sees the award not only as a personal honour but also as a spotlight on Zimbabwe’s growing leadership in global research.
“I hope I have been a good ambassador for the University of Zimbabwe and for the country,” she said. “I wasn’t just representing myself. I carried the flag of the country wherever I went.”
The UZ-CTRC hailed her achievement in a statement:
“A big congratulations to Dr. Mgodi for this special recognition of her leadership. Her work continues to inspire a generation of researchers in Zimbabwe and across Africa.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Mgodi says she is motivated to support young African scientists and advance research-led solutions to health challenges.
“This award motivates me to keep pushing boundaries in science and to support the next generation of researchers, especially women, who want to make a difference,” she said.
Her leadership in the AMP study not only reinforces Zimbabwe’s relevance in the global scientific arena but also signals the growing influence of African researchers in shaping the future of HIV prevention.