Dr Mari van de Vyver has been elected to serve on the executive committee of the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA*). The committee consists of five members, all established scientists or clinicians, who strive to develop and support scientific research and clinical practice in all fields of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes.

Van de Vyver is a researcher in the Stephen Hough Research Laboratories, situated in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University.

Her research focus falls on stem cell therapy for the treatment of non-healing wounds in type 2 diabetes. "We recently showed that stem cell impairment is a major complication of type 2 diabetes and that this severely affects the success of stem cell therapy for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers," she said.

Her long term vision is to become a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, specifically mesenchymal stem cell therapy for the treatment of diabetic wounds. She is currently investigating the potential mechanisms by which the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes leads to intracellular and extracellular changes that ultimately result in stem cell failure. Through her research, she also aims to identify potential measures to either counteract stem cell impairment or prevent it from occurring.

Although Van de Vyver would like to further expand her research profile and establish herself as a researcher, she also enjoys being involved in the educational side of academia as supervisor to postgraduate students. "As scientists, our responsibilities stretch far beyond just generating new knowledge, it is essential that we mentor and teach students in such a way that they are not only inspired but also able to think critically and independently."

*SEMDSA is the umbrella society for all South African endocrine, diabetes and metabolic disease-related professions. It includes all of the academic units for diabetes in South Africa and oversees the training and registration of endocrinologists, in conjunction with the College of Medicine of South Africa, as well as the Health Professions Council. It is the official diabetes society in South Africa and affiliated to the International Federation.