Andreas Diacon is emeritus Professor of Medicine at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. He received his MD from the University of Zürich, Switzerland, in 1987, specialised in Internal Medicine and Pulmonology, and earned a PhD from Stellenbosch University in 2007. He is the founder and CEO of TASK, an organisation focused on clinical studies with novel TB treatments, vaccines and diagnostics.
Prof Diacon developed an early interest in Tuberculosis while training to become a pulmonologist in a former sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. After qualifying he relocated to Cape Town to work in a large public hospital and an academic institution where tuberculosis was a focus area of research. His professional mission became to retire only once significantly better tuberculosis treatment regimens were available. He was named as one of Bill Gates’ Heroes in the Field through his contributions to and continued search for better treatment solutions for tuberculosis.
Prof Diacon has been involved with the clinical development of all novel agents that are currently rolled out in new regimens. He continues to contribute to efforts that promise to make tuberculosis treatment more effective, safer and affordable for all that need it.
