Adrienne Edkins is Professor of Biochemistry at Rhodes University and Director of the Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit (BioBRU). She holds a Tier 1 South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Eukaryotic Stress Response from the Department of Science and Innovation/National Research Foundation (DSI/NRF). Adrienne completed her BSc, BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees at Rhodes University, graduating with distinction in her majors. Adrienne’s PhD was completed on a prestigious Wellcome Trust Four-year PhD fellowship to Glasgow University, working with Professor Bill Cushley in cellular biochemistry. Adrienne has been recognized for her research achievements with the Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Medal (2015) and the DSI South African Women in Science (SAWiSA) Award for Distinguished Young Scientist in the Natural/Engineering Sciences (2018). Adrienne’s research is focused on understanding the cell biology of molecular chaperones in health and disease, and application of this fundamental research to chaperone-based drug discovery. She uses a range of molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches to understand protein homeostasis in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Her studies of human chaperones led to understanding how protein homeostasis controls cancer hallmarks and led to identification of protein-protein interaction inhibitors as new therapeutic strategies. In addition, her research on comparative studies of molecular chaperones from other organisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses and parasites) aims to understand the species-specific features of chaperones and assist for designing of selective drugs against the pathogen.