Two researchers in the Faculty of Science, Prof. Bert Klumpermann and Prof. Leon Dicks, were honoured for outstanding academic achievement when they both received a Chancellor's Award at Stellenbosch University's last graduation ceremony for 2016 on Friday 9 December.
The Chancellor's Award focuses on sustained excellence in the fields of research, learning and teaching, and community interaction. This can only be received once in a person's career.
Prof. Klumperman is regarded as a world leader in the fundamental aspects of free radical polymerisation. He is one of only three A-rated chemists in South Africa and has received several awards in recognition of his scientific contribution, including the Gold Medal of the SA Chemical Institute (2013), the Sasol Chemistry Innovator of the Year Award (2015), and the NSTF Lifetime Award (2016).
His research currently focuses on nanomedicine where he works on polymeric delivery systems for known and newly-developed drugs to fight diseases such as malaria and cancer. He is editor of several journals, including Elsevier's European Polymer Journal and Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa.
Prof. Leon Dicks' lifelong research on lactic acid bacteria has led to world recognition and several awards. His research on a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum, when combined with a strain of Enterococcus mundtii, resulted in the probiotic entiro™ commercialised by CiplaMedpro in 2005.
In 2007, the E. mundtii antimicrobial peptide and probiotic properties of the strain was patented in 65 countries. Currently he works on the interaction of bacteriocins and antimicrobial peptides on eukaryotic cells and the use of nanofibers and nanoparticles as drug-delivery systems.
He is a recipient of a Rector's Award (2000, 2010), the Silver Medal from the SA Society for Microbiology (2004), the NSTF-BHP Billiton TW Kambule Award (2014) and the Havenga Award for Life Sciences (2015).
On the photos, Prof. Leon Dicks (left) and Prof. Bert Klumperman (right). Photo's: Anton Jordaan
