Academic Sector

Research In Practice

The Spirit of Post-Modernism, Intellectual Property and Evidence-based Understanding

Professor Uys (Executive Dean, Health Services),
Professor Hoosen Coovadia (Victor Daitz Chair, HIV/AIDS
and Head: Biomedical Unit, HIVAN)
and Smitha Maharaj (Head, Communications)

The University of KwaZulu-Natal hosted an HIV/AIDS Research Showcase on the eve of World AIDS Day. Presentations and panel discussions highlighted research agendas and programmes within the various University schools, departments and faculties. Research across the medical and social sciences was presented, as were critical socio-political and legal issues.

In a keynote address entitled ?HIV/AIDS: Science, Technology and Innovation ? issues in addressing the challenge?, Dr Adi Paterson addressed standards for the practice of ethical research and treatment of AIDS patients. Referring to the social consequences of
HIV/AIDS, Dr Paterson questioned values that
promote product-centric access to treatment. An example cited was individual packaging of different AIDS drugs to protect the property rights of different companies, which makes it impossible to offer AIDS patients a single pill containing all products. Dr Paterson called for patient-centric approaches that facilitate fair and equitable ease of access to treatment. The ongoing legal debate surrounding pricing for the sale and distribution of medicines in South Africa has relevance.

Addressing diversity from another angle at the research showcase, Dr Paterson admonished a ?spirit of post-modernism? that rendered all voices equal in research and development. While acknowledging the challenge of listening and engaging with a ?diversity of voice?, Dr Paterson encouraged an ?evidence-based understanding? to rigorously challenge the ?political priesthood? that science can represent in closed networks.
With the admonition ?Science must Communicate?, he encouraged scientists across disciplines to embrace a spirit of messaging that promotes equitable access to information, and therefore, informed choice. Specifically, he called for redress of male-dominated messages that proliferate in HIV/AIDS texts.
In a spirit of collaboration Dr Paterson asked scientists to challenge views that place funding for ?social vaccines? at odds with funding for ?clinical vaccines?. Calling for rigorous debate and review of alternative forms of understanding, Dr Paterson called on scientists to move from ?explanation to mobilisation?. He concluded by noting: ?the role of scientists is to constantly ask questions of quality and transformative power?.

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