Wamkelekile, Welkom
UCT scholar wins global science award for children’s heart research
27 May 2026 | Story Myolisi Gophe. Photos Supplied. Read time 7 min.
A childhood dream that began in the shadow of the University of Cape Town (UCT) has culminated in one of the world’s most prestigious honours for women scientists.
UNESCO and the Fondation L'Oréal have named Professor Liesl Zühlke as the 2026 laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the internationally acclaimed L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards.
The award recognises Professor Zühlke’s groundbreaking work in improving care for children with cardiovascular disease – particularly rheumatic heart disease (RHD) – a preventable condition that continues to affect poor and vulnerable communities disproportionately.
One of only five global laureates selected from a record 504 nominations across 89 countries, Zühlke will be honoured at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 11 June.
For Zühlke, a clinician-scientist and the vice-president of the South African Medical Research Council, the recognition is both deeply personal and profoundly political.
“I am deeply humbled by this award,” she said. “To me, personally, it is an affirmation that our work – to conduct, support, advance and empower children’s heart disease research in Africa – has been recognised and has made a meaningful impact.”
“I hope this recognition will draw greater attention to the contributions of African women scientists and underscore the importance of women in science.”
She added that she hopes the honour will shine a spotlight on African women scientists and inspire young researchers across the continent.
“I hope this recognition will draw greater attention to the contributions of African women scientists and underscore the importance of women in science. Above all, I hope it inspires those embarking on a career in science to see that it is possible to pursue this path in a way that is authentic, compassionate and deeply fulfilling.”
A disease of inequality
For decades, Zühlke’s research has challenged the way rheumatic heart disease is understood globally. Rather than viewing it solely as a medical condition, she has consistently argued that it is rooted in poverty, inequality and systemic injustice.
“Rheumatic heart disease is, at its core, a disease of poverty, inequity and injustice,” she explained.
“It has been eradicated in high-income countries, yet it remains 100% preventable.”
She pointed to the harsh realities still faced by many patients across Africa, including reliance on “antiquated, painful injections” and the lack of access to life-saving surgery.
“It is a neglected, under-resourced and underfunded cardiovascular disease – and framing it in any other way would deny the fundamental truths of this condition,” she said.
Her work has not only advanced scientific understanding of the disease but has also influenced advocacy and policy efforts aimed at eliminating RHD globally.
Faces and stories that remain
While her research has achieved international acclaim, Zühlke said it is the patients she has encountered throughout her career who continue to shape and motivate her work.
“So many of my patients stay with me – their faces, their stories and the lessons I have learnt along the way,” she said.
She recalled treating a mother who went into cardiac failure shortly after childbirth due to previously undiagnosed mitral stenosis, as well as witnessing the joy of another mother whose cardiac condition was identified and treated in time for the safe birth of her child.
“These moments – of challenge, resilience and hope – continue to inspire and sustain my work every day.”
‘Lift as you rise’
The award also recognises Zühlke’s commitment to mentorship, leadership, and the building of scientific capacity across Africa.
As a mother of young children while pursuing her PhD and research career, she described the path to becoming a clinical scientist as challenging but made possible by the support of mentors and colleagues.
“It is therefore important to me to continue this journey by mentoring and encouraging the growth of new talent wherever I can,” she said.
Central to her philosophy is a mantra she inherited from her late mentor, renowned cardiologist Professor Bongani Mayosi: “Lift as you rise.”
“Today, many of the glass ceilings are being broken, the rungs on the ladder are being strengthened, and the leaky pipelines are slowly being repaired.”
Zühlke said she has tried to embody this principle by openly sharing both the triumphs and sacrifices of her journey, especially with young women entering male-dominated fields such as cardiology and scientific research.
“I have endeavoured to be an example to other women in my field by sharing my journey – both the highs and the lows – to show that success does not come without hard work, sacrifice and the support of others, but that it does not have to mean losing who you are.
“In my case, that means being a wife, a mother and a friend and making time for those parts of my life.”
‘This is your time’
At a time when women still make up only one-third of researchers globally, Zühlke believes meaningful change is slowly taking shape.
“There was a time when these proportions were far lower,” she said.
“Today, many of the glass ceilings are being broken, the rungs on the ladder are being strengthened, and the leaky pipelines are slowly being repaired.”
Her message to young African women aspiring to careers in science and medicine is one of determination and belonging.
“This is your time. We are taking up our rightful places in science and medicine,” she said.
“Do not be discouraged by what has come before. Instead, be part of shaping a future where science and research are inclusive, equal and equitable for all who wish to contribute.”
A lifelong UCT connection
Zühlke described UCT as both her academic home and a place deeply intertwined with her personal history.
“I completed my undergraduate degree in medicine, my MPH [Master of Public Health], and my PhD here,” she said.
“As a child walking in Mowbray, I would look up to the university and dream of the opportunity to study there, so it holds deep personal meaning for me.”
Part of her doctoral research was conducted in Langa and Bonteheuwel, communities close to where she grew up, grounding her work within the realities of the people most affected by cardiovascular disease.
She credited UCT and its community of researchers, clinicians and collaborators for helping shape the globally impactful work that led to the award.
“The support and academic home that UCT has provided has been invaluable,” she said.
“The Children’s Heart Disease Research Unit members, past and present, as well as colleagues in the Departments of Paediatrics, Paediatric Cardiology, Cardiology and Medicine, have my particular thanks and appreciation.”
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