Brian Fox, Chair of the Biochemistry Department at UW–Madison, has received a fellowship from the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. His six-month residency will begin July 2026.
The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) was founded in 1999 by Stellenbosch University and is supported in part by gifts from the Wallenberg Foundations. Located near Cape Town, South Africa, STIAS provides a supportive space for established and early-career researchers to work across disciplines and tackle issues with societal impact.
Fox’s lab studies enzymes to learn their three-dimensional structures and how they carry out biological functions. His current research focuses on adapting enzymes from plants and bacteria to produce ingredients used in synthetic fibers and as precursors to pharmaceuticals and biodegradable plastics. Inspired by the pandemic preparedness work done at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University, Fox will pivot as a STIAS Fellow to combine their expertise in genome sequencing with his knowledge of enzyme function and AlphaFold structure prediction to enhance our capabilities for pandemic preparedness.
“I will bring a different look to what a genome sequence is about. It’s exciting to be going to a highly successful and technologically adept organization, finding a niche I can contribute in, and making an impact,” says Fox. “I’ll be meeting people who have similar interests, and I’m looking out for ways that I can make introductions that might lead to collaborations, not just about my own research, but to expand capacity and opportunity for others.”
In this spirit and in parallel with the STIAS Fellowship, Fox is working with CERI and WARF on the African STARS Fellowship Programme. The STARS program aims to create jobs and start businesses in Africa that can address emerging and reemerging health crises by enhancing expertise in genomics, diagnostics, and vaccine design.
“I’ve been at UW–Madison for a long time, and through that entire time, I’ve paid attention on what needs to be done here at home base,” says Fox, who formerly served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Policy and Integrity and as Director of the Biotechnology Training Program. “The STIAS fellowship is a unique opportunity to have a new and expanding scientific and tech transfer impact.”
UW–Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) have been developing a relationship with Stellenbosch University for years. The partnership was formalized in 2024 and continues to expand.