My primary area of interest interrogates factors of HIV risk in the female genital tract (FGT). I undertake research that is directed to drive innovation in novel basic science research that is focused on elucidating the biological mechanisms and immune correlates of risk or protection secondary to various modalities of PrEP including passive immunization in at-risk populations. The ultimate aim of my research is to prevent infection in women and better protect women with the current HIV prevention modalities that include vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and combination prevention strategies that we have access to, to advance the field of HIV-1 prevention. My Ph.D. focused on looking at the evolution of the envelope glycoprotein (gp160) of HIV-1 subtype C in slow progressors and progressors and the ensuing neutralizing antibody responses during chronic infection. Having completed my Ph.D. in HIV Molecular Virology and Immunology at the University KwaZulu-Natal (Paediatrics and Child Health) in 2012, I joined the Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA). During my post-doctoral training, my research focus shifted from immunology in HIV disease and pathogenesis to mucosal immunology for HIV prevention. This shift was specifically to understand and further define the role of mucosal HIV-1 specific binding antibodies, and biomarkers of risk of HIV-1 acquisition in the context of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). I am currently expanding my research focus to further interrogate the interplay between inflammation and the microbiome in the context of PrEP to understand and define the immune predictors of HIV acquisition for which I was recently awarded a European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Senior Fellowship Grant entitled: “PrEP- Underlying Mucosal immunity Before & After or PUMBA”. Part of this fellowship is to train masters, Ph.D., and Post-doctoral fellows from underrepresented groups to develop the science, research infrastructure, and research capacity in Africa.