Valerie Mizrahi facts for kids

Valerie Mizrahi (born in 1958) is a famous South African molecular biologist. She studies tiny living things and how they work. She is especially known for her important work on tuberculosis, a serious disease.

Early Life and Education

Valerie Mizrahi was born in Harare, which is now in Zimbabwe. Her family came from the Greek island of Rhodes. They are part of a group called Sephardi Jewish people.

She went to university in South Africa at the University of Cape Town. There, she earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in chemistry and mathematics, and then a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in chemistry.

Her Amazing Career

After her studies, Valerie Mizrahi did more research in the United States. She then worked for a big company that makes medicines.

In 1989, she started her own research group in South Africa. This group worked at the South African Institute for Medical Research and the University of the Witwatersrand. She stayed there for many years, until 2010.

Fighting Tuberculosis

Dr. Mizrahi's main focus has been on tuberculosis (TB). TB is a disease that mostly affects the lungs. She studies how to treat TB and why some medicines stop working against it. This is called "drug resistance." Her work helps scientists find new ways to fight this disease.

Since 2011, she has been the director of a special institute at the University of Cape Town. This institute focuses on infectious diseases. She also leads a research unit for the South African Medical Research Council.

Awards and Recognition

Valerie Mizrahi has received many important awards for her scientific work:

• In 2000, she won the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science. This award celebrates women who have made big discoveries in science.
• In 2006, she received the Gold Medal from the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
• She also won the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award from the Department of Science and Technology.
• In 2007, she was given the Order of Mapungubwe. This is a very high honor in South Africa.
• From 2000 to 2017, she was an International Research Scholar for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
• In 2013, she received the Christophe Mérieux Prize for her work on TB.
• In 2023, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very special honor for top scientists in the United Kingdom.

Personal Life

Valerie Mizrahi has two daughters. When she was growing up, she spoke a language called Judeo-Spanish at home. Her father is also a respected leader in his community.

See also

In Spanish: Valerie Mizrahi para niños