Good News

BULLETIN 28 July 

Good afternoon, here is your Good News:

# Grammy-winning South African star, Tyla, is set to perform at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival on Central Park’s Great Lawn in New York in September. The festival will be headlined by The Weeknd and Shakira. Nigeria’s Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist are also featured on the lineup. This year’s edition will spotlight African voices not only on stage, but also at the heart of its advocacy campaigns, including a major drive to deliver energy access to one-million people across the continent.

# University of Cape Town researchers are part of a groundbreaking global clinical trial using a gene-editing technology to treat hereditary angio-edema. HAE is a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder that causes recurrent episodes of swelling in the limbs, face, intestinal tract, and airway. According to the Allergy Foundation of South Africa, early results show promising reductions in angio-edema attacks. UCT’s involvement marks a major step for gene therapy in South Africa and positions the continent at the forefront of global gene-editing innovation.

Meanwhile, Wits University’s Johnny Mahlangu is part of a global team behind a breakthrough gene therapy for haemophilia A. The development of this treatment marks a major milestone in international gene therapy research. A Phase 1 trial in India showed patients remained bleed-free for over 27 months after having been injected with this modified virus. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it could become the second gene therapy for haemophilia A, offering a long-term alternative to lifelong Factor-Eight replacement therapy.

Also, Stellenbosch University researchers, led by Shahida Moosa, are using Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to diagnose ultra-rare genetic disorders. Combining facial analysis with exome sequencing, their approach achieved a 51-percent diagnostic yield in their first 100 patients. The initiative aims to expand across Africa, addressing underrepresentation in global datasets. The team is building local capacity in genomics, with tools made accessible to non-profits, bringing precision medicine closer to underserved communities.

# And finally: Marvel‘s latest comic book adaptation, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, topped the North American box office on its debut weekend. The film stars Pedro Pascal as scientific genius Reed Richards, who leads a space expedition with his wife, Sue Storm, played by Vanessa Kirby, and her brother, Johnny Storm, played by Joseph Quinn. Superman starring David Corenswet dropped to second in its third outing, with Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth in third. Apple’s F1: The Movie moved up to fourth spot with Paramount’s animated musical Smurfs rounding out the top five.

Stay tuned for more news………….