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Prof Jo-Ann Passmore, one of South Africa's leading voices in women's health immunology, joins CERI at Stellenbosch University.

Prof Jo-Ann Passmore, one of South Africa’s leading voices in women’s health immunology, joins CERI.

text: Katrine Anker-Nilssen photo: Supplied

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) is set to welcome one of South Africa’s leading voices in women’s health immunology, Professor JoAnn Passmore — a move that signals not only a strengthening of scientific depth, but a clear commitment to translating discovery into impact for women and girls across the continent.

For Jo-Ann, the timing feels deliberate. “I’m really excited to join CERI at this stage,” she says. “My work is increasingly focused on translating research into real-world impact, especially in women’s health. CERI has incredible sequencing, bioinformatics and collaborative capacity, which creates a powerful environment for turning discoveries into tools that can actually benefit communities across Africa.”

Describing herself as a pragmatist, she is clear about the direction she wants to take. “My research has always aimed to move immunology and microbiome science into practical solutions — like diagnostics and prevention strategies — that address health challenges facing African populations. CERI’s strengths and rapid-response culture are a perfect fit for that vision.”

Her work in mucosal immunology

and the vaginal microbiome adds a critical new dimension to CERI’s already formidable strengths in genomics and pathogen surveillance. “Many of the most important health challenges in Africa — from HIV and sexually transmitted infections to adverse pregnancy outcomes — are shaped not only by pathogens themselves, but by how they interact with the immune system and resident microbial communities,” she explains. “By integrating mucosal immunology with CERI’s worldleading sequencing, bioinformatics and systems-level approaches, we can move toward a more complete understanding of disease risk, transmission and resilience.”

Jo-Ann sees her role as both contributor and collaborator. “I’m bringing a focus on women’s health, mucosal biology and microbiomes, while leveraging the Centre’s extraordinary capacity to translate science into rapid, population-level impact.” She is also particularly enthusiastic about reuniting with CERI Director Lenine Liebenberg. “We share a deep commitment to advancing women’s health. This creates an opportunity to combine complementary expertise and strategic leadership to push these agendas forward together.”

At CERI, Passmore plans to accelerate two major initiatives: GIFT and VMRC4Africa, programmes designed

to transform how genital inflammation is detected, understood and prevented. “We have only just begun to explore the scientific and translational potential of these initiatives,” she says. “That includes new diagnostics, targeted interventions and population-level insights relevant across Africa.” Her ambitions stretch further.

Conditions such as adverse birth outcomes, preeclampsia and endometriosis — often under-recognised despite their profound impact — are firmly in her sights. “These are complex disorders where immune and microbial factors are increasingly implicated, and where accessible biomarkers could dramatically improve early detection and management,” she notes. “More broadly, my goal is to build integrated, Africa-led research programs that move from discovery to practical tools.”

“The health needs in South Africa are immense, particularly for women. And the inequities are impossible to ignore.”

– Prof Jo-Ann Passmore

Jo-Ann has spent years reshaping the scientific conversation around HIV risk in women. “What I’m most proud of is helping to shift how the field understands HIV risk in women — from focusing only on behaviour to recognising the powerful role of biology, particularly genital inflammation and the vaginal microbiome,” she reflects. In the early years, she recalls, it was “deeply frustrating to document high levels of risk without having tools to improve care or prevention for the women most affected.”

That frustration has evolved into tangible innovation. “Seeing this science translate into practical solutions, such as the development of the GIFT device to detect genital inflammation, is especially meaningful to me.” The work also revealed the central role of bacterial vaginosis in driving inflammation. “Moving toward novel live biotherapeutics that could restore a healthy microbiome, treat BV and prevent inflammation is something I am particularly proud of, because of the potential it has to improve women’s health at scale.”

Ultimately, the motivation is simple. “Young women want to get on with their lives and their relationships without the constant threat of HIV hanging over them. Being able to offer something that helps make that possible is deeply rewarding.”

Yet she remains candid about persistent frustrations. “What still frustrates me is how uneven access to reproductive healthcare remains across much of Africa,” she says. “Too many women still lack access to simple diagnostics, early detection and timely treatment for conditions that are entirely preventable or manageable.” Women’s health research, she argues, has long been underfunded relative to its societal impact. “The potential return on investment — in terms of health, economic stability, and

intergenerational wellbeing — is enormous.”

Her approach is grounded. “I focus on developing accessible, locally relevant tools and implementation strategies that can work in real-world settings, while also advocating for stronger investment in women’s health science. It’s about closing the gap between what is scientifically possible and what women actually experience in their daily lives.”

South Africa has profoundly shaped both her scientific priorities and leadership style. “The health needs here are immense, particularly for women, and the inequities are impossible to ignore,” she says.

“That reality has driven me to focus on research that is not only scientifically rigorous but also relevant, practical and capable of improving care where it is needed most.” As a leader, she prefers to “lead from behind,” creating opportunities and building teams that can carry the work forward.

“Mentorship and nurturing the next generation of women’s health leaders is something I care deeply about.”

At CERI, she hopes to help foster a culture that is both ambitious and humane. “People need to feel safe to ask bold questions and pursue innovative ideas, but also supported through the inevitable challenges of research,” she says.

“We need to instil curiosity and bravery in our students, and to let them know that it is okay to fail. That licence to fail is what allows people to take risks and sometimes do things that truly change the world.”

At the same time, she adds with characteristic pragmatism, “I strongly believe in finishing what you start, following through on commitments and always giving your best — because this work ultimately matters to the women and communities we serve.”

Beyond the lab, Jo-Ann’s grounding forces are deeply personal. Born and raised in Durban, she remains most at peace near the ocean. “I recharge in quiet spaces, spending time outdoors and stepping away from the intensity of the lab,” she says. She married her high school sweetheart — “I still find him inspiring and incredibly funny” — and balances her selfdescribed workaholic tendencies with creativity, art and a love of animals. “Dogs and horses are both calming and restorative for me. Those simple things — family, nature, creativity, laughter and animals — keep me inspired and remind me why the work we do matters.”

Her arrival at CERI represents more than a new appointment. It marks an expansion of the Centre’s scientific horizon — integrating pathogen genomics with host biology, surveillance with prevention, and discovery with delivery. For Prof Passmore, it is, as she puts it, “a natural next step — shifting from generating knowledge to making sure that knowledge translates into meaningful benefits for women and girls across the continent.”

News date: 2026-03-03

Links:

https://issuu.com/the.gem/docs/the_gem_feb_2026