Glenda Elisabeth Gray MB BCh, FC Paeds, DSc (hc), OMS is a South African physician, scientist and activist specializing in the care of children and in HIV medicine.

In 1996, Gray started the UNAIDS PETRA study, in five urban settings in South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, to determine the effectiveness of a shorter anti-retroviral regimen.

[16] Gray is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, a foreign associate of the United States Institute of Medicine, an A-rated National Research Foundation of South Africa scientist,[5] a co-principal investigator for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network[18] and a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.

[29] Subsequent research on the topic demonstrated high deaths in formula fed compared to breastfed children of HIV-infected mothers.

[8][32][33] However, the South African government, under president Thabo Mbeki and health minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, refused permission for the drug to be used, as it was considered too expensive.

[8] Only after Gray received the 2002 Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and the legal battles in 2003 involving the TAC, were nevirapine, a drug more effective than AZT in preventing mother to child transmission of HIV,[34] and other anti-retrovirals officially sanctioned by the government for use in South Africa.

[35] By then, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had been replaced as Minister of Health by Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and the argument against anti-retrovirals had changed from one of affordability to the endorsement of traditional African medicine over conventional treatment.

On 15 May 2020, Gray said, "Initially, there was good reason to implement the lockdown to slow down the spread of the virus and buy time to ready the health system, and this was largely achieved".

She now felt that "the lockdown should be eradicated completely, and that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), such as handwashing, wearing masks, social distancing and prohibitions on gatherings, should be put in place.

He said that the thumb-suck comment "undermines the joint work and effort that the National Coronavirus Command Council, Cabinet and government as a whole have been engaged in.

"[38] Subsequent to Mkhize's comments, the acting director general of the Department of Health, Anban Pillay, said that an investigation into Gray's conduct was needed.

[41][42][43] On the following day, 26 May 2020, Mkhize said that he "considers the Professor Glenda Gray matter closed", and he mentioned that "there is no basis to suggest any interference with academic freedom".