The Chair contributes to developing scientifically proven African traditional medicines and also to the institutionalisation of the African traditional health care system. Various projects currently exist and include the United States government-funded Biomedical and Traditional Healing Collaboration on HIV/AIDS, the NIH/NCCAM-funded traditional medicine clinical trial at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg; and the Department of Science and Technology IKS Bioprospecting Programme.

This platform promotes bidirectional referrals between Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) and public health centres, documents ethnomedical evidence, bioprospecting and other mechanisms to evaluate plant-based and herbal mixtures for biological activity with therapeutic efficacy in the areas of cancer, TB, and HIV/AIDS. It also conducts clinica trials and equips THPs to conduct their own clinical research on traditional medicine. Above all, the indigenous health care systems research enhances scientific knowledge on traditional medicine and attracts young scientists to this field.

Gqaleni obtained his PhD in Bioscience and Biotechnology from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. He is a former Deputy Dean at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine and was also Operations Director at the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute.

Gqaleni is a member of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, Chair of the IKS Bioprospecting and Product Development Platform of the Department of Science and Technology and has served on the PreExpert Committee on Traditional Medicines.