Medical Physiology
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Medical Physiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Lecturing Staff

Prof Faadiel ESSOP

Professor and Director of CARMA

Email: mfessop@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 769019474
Fax: +27 21938 9476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae

>>Publications​​



Qualifications: BSc degree (Biochemistry and Microbiology, 1984, UCT), BSc (Med) (Hons) degree (Medical Biochemistry, 1985, UCT), PhD degree (Chemical Pathology, 1992, UCT), BA (Hons) degree (Arabic studies, 2005, UWC).
Research Group: Director: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA).
Research Focus: Cardio-metabolic diseases, HIV-related cardiovascular diseases onset and progression, Stress-related cardio-metabolic diseases onset and progression.​
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc. Hons.:
MSc: Logan Smith, Minette van Wyk, Cassidy O’Brien, Caitlin Odendaal, Litha Mfiki (Main Campus) and Tara Michaels (Main Campus)
PhD: Megan Cairns and Nyasha Mukonowenzou (Main Campus)
Postdoctoral: Dr Eman Teer (Main Campus)

Dr Erna MARAIS

Senior Lecturer

Email: et4@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 983 9254 (w)
Fax: +27 21938 9476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae​​

>>Publications​​



Qualifications: B.Sc. degree (Biochemistry and Physiology, 1988, SU), B.Sc. Hons. degree (Biochemistry, 1989, SU), M.Sc.degree (Biochemistry, 1997, SU), Ph.D. degree (Medical Physiology and Biochemistry,2002, SU).
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA).
Research Focus: Cardiovascular disease, Ischaemic/Reperfusion injury, Obesity, Cardioprotection; Vasculoprotection; Cardiovascular signal transduction, Cell signalling (Western blotting technology), Rat heart perfusion technology; Melatonin; Rooibos; Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) signalling.
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc. Hons.
MSc: Atarah Rass, Ilze Willemse, Kauthar Parker,  Sara Shaboodien
PhD: Dr Megan Rajah​

Dr Shantal WINDVOGEL

Senior Lecturer

Email: shantalw@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9613
Fax: +27 21 938 9476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae

>>Publications​​​



Qualifications:  BSc (Physiology, Medical Microbiology); BSc Hons (Physiology); PhD (Medical Biosciences).
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA).
Research Focus: The modulating effects of indigenous plants (e.g. Rooibos, Honeybush and Sutherlandia) on vascular function and antioxidant enzyme activity in various animal models at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc. Hons.: 
MSc: Dintle Molopi, Carmen Payne, Ilze Willemse​
PhD: 

Dr Lihle Qulu

Senior Lecturer

Email: qulul@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27219389391
Fax: +27 21 938 9476


>>Curriculum Vitae


Qualifications:  BSc (Biochemistry), BSc Hons., MSc Medical Science, PhD medical Science.
Research Group: Neuroscience Research Group.
Research Focus: The role of early life stress and its impact on brain and behaviour. Currently my main focus on answering this question about the impact of early life stress on brain and behaviour is on sexual violence. Our current research focuses on understanding the factors that influence sexual violence in males. This question is answered translationally using a human and animal model.
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc Hons.: 
MSc: Michaela De Kock, Celsi Fortuin and Lisa Marie Ferguson 
: Elvis Ngala

Dr Derick VAN VUUREN

Senior Lecturer

Email: dvvuuren@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9390
Fax: +27 21 938 9476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae

>>Publications

Qualifications:  BSc Hons (Physiology, UNW), MSc, PhD (Medical Physiology, SU).
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA).
Research Focus: Protein phosphorylation in the context of signalling cascades in cardioprotection against myocardial ischaemia / reperfusion injury.
Current Postgraduate Students
PhD: Nonhlakanipho Sangweni

Dr Gerald MAARMAN

Senior Lecturer

Email: gmaarman@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9392
Fax: +27 21 938 9476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae​​​​​

>>Publications


Qualifications: BSc.Hons (SU), MSc.BSc. (SU), Ph.D (UCT), NRF Y-2 Rated researcher.
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA).
Research Focus: Cardio-Pulmonary physiology and pathophysiology (clinical and basic science). Underlying mechanisms of pulmonary arterial hypertension and heart failure in the context of infectious diseases (TB and HIV).
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc. Hons: Dinisha Giga
MSc: Chrisstoffel Jumaar, Amy Pretorius, Pamela Sithelo, Carmen Payne, Kgatla Thato Mmathapelo, Sharnay Naidoo, Steve Jacobs, Sara Shaboodi
D: Melisse Erasmus and Siddiqah G
eorge
Postdoc.: Dr. Sanni Olakunle​

Dr Bongekile SKOSANA

Senior Lecture

r

 bts@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9531
Fax: +27 21 938 9
476

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae

>>Publications

Qualifications:  BHSc (Biomedical Science, Wits), BSc. Hons. (Medical Sciences, SU), PhD (Medical Physiology, SU)
Research Group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)​
Research Focus: Male infertility, andrology, reproductive physiology. Our research focuses on the effects of pharmaceutical interventions, lifestyle factors and metabolic disorders on male fertility, performed using in vitro human models and animal models.​
Current Postgraduate Students
BSc. Hons.: Nicola Louw and Yash Ramsunder
MSc: Kriston Basson and Nadia van Niekerk