TB control community mourns loss of colleagues to COVID-19

With deepest sadness, the TB community faces the loss of three highly valued colleagues in the Asia-Pacific due to COVID-19 complications.

On March 24th in Paris, Professor John F. Murray, a UCSF Emeritus Professor of Medicine, died at the age of 93. Professor Murray was a huge contributor to the TB control effort over a long time. His tireless work in advocating for and treating respiratory disease in marginalised peoples, and his immense mentoring and training contributions are a legacy which will be felt for generations. CRE investigator and UNION President Professor Guy Marks comments in a memoriam in honour of Professor Murray here.

Also on March 24th in Yogyakarta, Professor Iwan Dwiprahatso, a Professor and once Vice President of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), died following COVID-19 complications at the age of 58. Professor Dwiprahatso was a national pioneer in the field of Pharmacology, and a much loved teacher and mentor for many, including members of our Centre. Professor Dwiprahatso's commitment to TB global health, his collaborative spirit, and his exceptional work will be sorely missed.

On March 26th in Manila, Associate Professor Salvacion (Sally) Rodriguez-Gatchalian, President of the Philippine Paediatric Society and co-creator of the Philippines Coalition against TB, died after succumbing to the novel coronavirus. A well-known and beloved colleague of CRE chief investigators Prof Steve Graham and Prof Ben Marais, Prof Graham remembers Dr. Gatchalian as a very warm and special person who was a strong national advocate for child TB care. Dr. Gatchalian served as the assistant director at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine that houses the country’s lone testing centre for COVID-19.

Lest we forget.