In the late 1970s, the University of Manitoba's Dr. Allan Ronald unwittingly became an expert in a sexually transmitted disease rarely seen outside of the developing world.

Chancroid is a bacterial infection characterized by painful genital ulcers. Ronald immersed himself in the science of the disease that had infected a string of men in Winnipeg, most likely from a local prostitute who had sexual relations with someone from India or Africa.

Ronald's investigations led him to Nairobi, Kenya, where many commercial sex workers suffered from the ulcers.

It was this tie to Africa that placed Dr. Ronald, an expert in infectious diseases, at the centre of the emerging acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in the early 1980s. His partnership with the University of Nairobi, forged 30 years ago, continues to this day.

The University of Manitoba's work in Kenya has led to some profound discoveries, including the fact that STDs like chancroid and gonorrhea accelerate HIV transmission and that circumcision can help protect men from contracting HIV.

Ronald has kept busy in Africa since his retirement, involved with developing Uganda's HIV/AIDS care and prevention program. "The Number 1 focus is training Africans," he said.

Ronald is receiving this year's Wightman Award for outstanding leadership in medical science from the Gairdner Foundation.