Michael Pepper has made significant contributions in cellular and molecular medicine to the fields of vascular medicine/biology and immunology. He has held prominent positions at both the University of Geneva and the University of Pretoria, where he is currently Director of the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council Extramural Unit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy. Dr. Pepper has published over 360 scientific papers and received numerous awards, including the South African Health Excellence Award for Scientific Excellence in 2019. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, and is currently ranked first among biology and biochemistry scientists in South Africa by Research.com (1 November 2023). His work has had an impact on the development of cell and gene therapies in South Africa, and he continues to be a leading figure in addressing ethical, legal, and social implications of research in these areas.