Professor Naicker recognised for pioneering work in drug discovery

Professor Tricia Naicker, a full professor of synthetic chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, won the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher award at South Africa's Women in Science Awards on Thursday for her work developing antimicrobial compounds and drug molecules to combat infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance. Naicker, director of UKZN's Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit, has authored over 130 peer-reviewed publications and supervised 35 postgraduate students. Her research has produced novel compounds now entering Phase 1 clinical trials and strengthened African capacity in drug discovery.