Prof Iqbal Parker is founding director of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), University of Cape Town. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) and Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB); founder of the Sec. Gen. of FASBMB; and Vice President of the Academy of Science of SA. He obtained his PhD from UCT in 1979. He and his research team have identified a novel transcription factor responsible for transcriptional modulation of collagen gene expression and identified several genetic polymorphisms that are important in gene-environment interaction in the etiology of esophageal cancer. His Awards include: DST/NRF Research Chair in cancer biology, an MRC-funded Oesophageal Cancer Research Group; Outstanding Scientist Award by the National Science and Technology Forum; Gold Medal from the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Oettle Memorial Medal from the Cancer Association of SA. He is a founding member of ASSAf and a Member of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences.