Prof Nceba Gqaleni has a masters in biochemistry from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a doctorate from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. His research interests include natural (herbal) medicine, immunology, and infectious and non-infectious diseases. He is leading a project of an HIV Management/Cure based on an herbal medicine undergoing phase 1 clinical trial. 

He previously served as the leader of the Traditional Medicine programme at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and in 2007 was appointed Chair of Indigenous Health Care Systems Research, a prestigious programme funded by the Department of Science & Technology and administered by the National Research Foundation.  Prof Gqaleni has also served in various positions within UKZN, including Deputy Dean, Director of the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, and Director of the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health.

He has served on various national and international bodies including the South African Presidential Task Team on African Traditional Medicine, Chairperson of the Natural Medicines Platform of the Department of Science & Technology, Deputy Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Council on AIDS, and Science and Technology in South Africa and is a member of the WHO (African Regional Office) expert committee on Traditional Medicine.