Professor Liesl Zühlke has been named the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, bringing global recognition to South African medical research.
Paris (12 June 2026) – A young girl in South Africa dreams of becoming a scientist. She looks up at the stars, peers through a microscope or wonders how to solve the challenges facing her community. This week, she has a new role model to look up to.
Professor Liesl Zühlke, one of South Africa’s leading medical researchers, has been honoured with one of the world’s most prestigious science awards, earning international recognition for work that has transformed the lives of children living with heart disease.
The University of Cape Town professor and Vice President of the South African Medical Research Council has been named the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Laureate for Africa and the Arab States. The award recognises her groundbreaking contributions to improving care for children with heart conditions, particularly rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a preventable illness that continues to affect millions of vulnerable children around the world.
Announced in Paris and celebrated at UNESCO Headquarters on the 11th of June, the awards honour five extraordinary women scientists from across the globe whose research is helping tackle some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. From regenerative medicine and agricultural innovation to mental health and genomic science, this year’s laureates are advancing knowledge in ways that will shape the future.
Professor Zühlke’s work has helped reposition rheumatic heart disease as more than a medical condition. Her research highlighted the links between the disease, poverty, healthcare inequalities and social systems, helping drive policy changes and greater awareness across Africa and beyond. Through decades of dedication, she has improved how childhood heart disease is detected, treated and managed, giving countless children a better chance at a healthy future.
“I hope that the results of our research are shared around the world, transforming the lives of individuals with childhood-onset cardiac disease,” she said. “This will help to ensure that those living with heart disease in low and middle-income countries are diagnosed promptly and receive the necessary care and support to live their best possible life.”
Her impact extends far beyond the laboratory. Professor Zühlke founded and directs the Children’s Heart Disease Research Unit and has championed initiatives that dramatically improved patient outcomes following cardiac surgery. Through her leadership, loss-to-follow-up rates after surgery have dropped from more than 20% in 2017 to less than 1% today. Her scientific discoveries have also helped influence global health policy. The evidence generated through her work contributed to the World Health Assembly Resolution against Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in 2018, while her advocacy has taken her findings to the United Nations General Assembly, major global health forums and cardiovascular conferences around the world.
The recognition comes during a milestone year for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme, which celebrates 28 years of supporting women researchers. More than 5,000 women from over 140 countries have now been recognised through the initiative, including 142 international laureates and seven Nobel Prize winners.
This year’s awards drew a record 504 nominations from 89 countries, reflecting the growing influence and excellence of women in science globally.
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9-Year-Old Shaka Madida is Putting South African Art on the Global MapDespite this progress, women still make up only one in three researchers worldwide. That reality has prompted UNESCO and the Fondation L’Oréal to renew their partnership for another six years, continuing efforts to inspire girls, support young researchers and recognise established scientific leaders.
“By reaching the milestone of 5,000 female researchers supported worldwide and renewing our historic partnership with UNESCO, we are mobilising more than ever to defend the place of women in science,” said Jean-Paul Agon, President of the Fondation L’Oréal. “Our faith in research is absolute; it is the only answer to the world’s complexity. From high school students to the world-renowned Laureates we celebrate today, we are building an intergenerational chain of excellence where every woman can shape the future of progress.”
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany added, “Women scientists are not only advancing research, but they are also expanding what we believe is possible. As we enter the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme is proof that excellence and equality must advance together. These five Laureates are an inspiration to their peers, and to the millions of girls who will, in turn, follow in their footsteps.”
For Professor Zühlke, the journey began in Cape Town, inspired by stories of scientific discovery and the knowledge that the world’s first successful heart transplant took place almost within sight of her childhood home. Along the way, she overcame obstacles linked to race, language, circumstance, and a field traditionally dominated by men. Today, she is helping pave the way for the next generation of scientists.
Her message to young women considering a career in science is simple and powerful: “You are free to do anything you choose. It’s a wonderful, rewarding and intriguing field. You’ll succeed by being authentic, finding good mentors and collaborators, and cultivating positive relationships.”
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