With the award of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to three pioneers in cryogenic electron microscopy, the world was awakened to the cutting-edge technology of ‘cryo-EM’. When a Betacoronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 put the entire world in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the spike protein which is crucial for its infectivity was characterized by cryo-EM, this high-resolution technology became a household term, even popularized on social media. Cryo-EM proved to be essential in the development of vaccines, and yet, South Africa does not host a single advanced cryogenic Electron Microscope to contribute to these global efforts. Additionally, the need to upscale vaccine development in Africa has been emphasized internationally, and cryo-EM is a critical tool in structure-based drug design.
I will firstly explore historical reasons for the existing gap in cryo-EM in SA, and ultimately document guidelines to bridge the divide, and investigate ways to renew the focus on electron microscopy in biosciences. South Africa is home to excellent scientists, and needs to keep them well-resourced, trained and supported through local and international efforts. The ‘resolution revolution’ is continuing, and SA needs to join the race and be a team player in the international arena of cryo-Electron Microscopy.