Figures & data
About Edward Rybicki Dr. Rybicki received his pre- and postgraduate education from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he has worked throughout his career, gaining experience as a visiting scientist at Plant Genetic Systems, Ghent, Belgium (1984), Boyce Thompson Institute, New York, U.S. (1990–1) and Arizona Biodesign Institute, U.S. (2010). He became a full Professor in Microbiology in 2003, was a founder member of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and is currently Director of the Biopharming Research Unit in the Molecular & Cell Biology Department at the University of Cape Town. His research originally focused on molecular characterization of plant viruses, which brought about pioneering discoveries in recombinant gene expression in plants and in insect cells. Dr. Rybicki developed these “biopharming” techniques to produce candidate vaccines against HPV-16, HIV-1 subtype C, influenza H5N1, and other viruses. He has authored >120 papers and 47 patents. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the President's Award of the South African Foundation for Research Development (1985) and the Meiring Naude Medal of the Royal Society of South Africa (1986).
