Growing up in East London during the pre-antiretroviral era, Gabriela Cromhout, 35, witnessed the devastating effects of HIV. She now plays a leading role in paediatric HIV cure research as a clinical coordinator and research clinician for the Ucwaningo Lwabantwana (Learning from Children) Study at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The cohort follows 325 children who acquired HIV in utero, providing insights into how very early treatment can influence long-term health outcomes. Gabriela is also a research clinician for the ORCHID study, investigating the interactions of HIV and tuberculosis treatments in children. Her work is at the forefront of global HIV cure efforts. She was the lead author of a Nature Medicine article describing children maintaining viral suppression without antiretrovirals and has presented her research on global stages, including the International Aids Society and CROI conferences. She has a medical degree from Stellenbosch University, an MSc in tropical medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a PhD in progress. Gabriela also serves on international committees to advance HIV cure education.
I have had the privilege of being exposed to many incredibly inspiring people in my career. However, I believe that my father, Paul Cromhout, and his work in social development — along with the work that both my parents did during the pre-ART HIV epidemic on HIV education and advocacy — have been pivotal in inspiring me, particularly in my formative years. While there was no access to ART in South Africa, they showed the importance of community education and advocacy in addressing societal issues, and how powerful these can be in changing perceptions and actions. My father’s work through his NGO continues to support and empower the most underserved communities in the rural Eastern Cape. I hope to make the same kind of impact, but in my own way — in the field of paediatric HIV cure — with the communities that I serve.