Medical Physiology
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Medical Physiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​MSc Students​​​

Class of 2024

Kheya MOKOENA

Email: 23149108@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (Human Life Science) and BSc Honours (Biochemistry) 

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project titleIs mitochondrial dysfunction a putative marker of cardiometabolic disease in people living with HIV?

Supervisor(s): Prof. Hans Strijdom and co-supervisor Dr Ingrid Webster


Sesethu KETSE​

Email: sketse@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (Microbiology and Physiology) and BSc Honours (Molecular Biology) 

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) and Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP) 

Project titleDNA methylation profiling for breast cancer diagnosis in South African women

Supervisor(s): Dr Tarryn Willmer (SAMRC) and co-supervisors Dr Lawrence Mabasa (SAMRC) and Prof. Hans Strijdom



Chloë Mc DONALD​

Email: 22272011@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (​Human Life Sciences) and BSc Honours (Neuroscience) 

Research group: Neuroscience Research Group

Project titleDoes Maternal Exposure to Sexual Defeat and Prenatal Stress Result in a Predisposition to PTSD in Rat Offspring?

Supervisor(s): Dr Lihle Qulu and co-supervisor Dr Thando Shabangu








Hannah MIDZUK

Email: 26748215@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BHSc (Biomedical Sciences) and BHSc Honours (Human Physiology - Cum Laude) ​

Research group: Neuroscience Research Group

Project titleThe role of galanin on maternal behaviours in a female rat sexual defeat model

Supervisor(s): Dr Lihle Qulu and co-supervisor Dr Thando Shabangu






Gemma KRAUSEY

Email: 19038313@sun.ac.za​

Qualifications:​ BHSc (Biomedical Sciences) and BHSc Honours (Human Physiology - Cum Laude) 

Research group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)

Project titleAn investigation into the effects of SSRI antidepressants on sperm parameters - an in vitro study​

Supervisor(s): Dr Bongekile Skosana, Dr Marguerite Blignaut and co-supervisor: Ms Lisa Marie Ferguson



Jasmine ANDREWS

Email: 26746328@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (Medical Bioscience) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Investigating the links between Chronic stress and autophagy in female Wistar rats​

Supervisor(s): Prof, Faadiel Essop and co-supervisor Miss Megan Cairns ​


Amy PRETORIUS​

Email: 22201831@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (Medical Bioscience) and Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Comparing the Effectiveness of Imatinib and Melatonin Against Endothelin-1-Induced Proliferation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman



Stephen SOUTHWAY

Email: 21214328@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:​ ​BSc (Human Life Sciences) and Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Evaluating the biphasic effect of metformin in a ​3-D cardiomyoblast model of insulin resistance

Supervisor(s): Dr Marguerite Blignaut




Anique Wolmarans​

Email: 21785716@sun.ac.za​

Qualifications:​ BSc (Biochemistry and Physiology) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)​ and the Neuroscience Research Group

Project title: Physiological effect of Cannabis and Psilocybin on the brain​​

Supervisor(s): Prof. Barbara Huisamen and co-supervisor Dr. Lihle Qulu


Chrisstoffel JUMAAR

Email: 27421309@sun.ac.za​

Qualifications:​ BSc (Medical Laboratory Science-Distinction) 

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Investigating the usefulness of a novel plasma 5-marker host biosignature to identify pulmonary hypertension in a post-tuberculosis context in a South African cohort​

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman



Garth WENTLEY

Email: 21670951@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Sciences) and Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Delineating the novel effects of melatonin in differentiated C2C12 myotubes in the presence and absence of pathology

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman​



Kriston BASS​ON

Email: 20010834@sun.ac.za 

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Sciences) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)

Project title: The effect of diet induced obesity on fertility: A comparative study between male and female Wistar rats

Supervisor(s): Dr Bongekile Skosana and co-supervisor Dr Shantal Windvogel



Sara SHABOODIEN

Email: 21304637@sun.ac.za 

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Sciences) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology-Cum Laude)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: The novel effect of Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) on platelet derived growth factor-induced proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (RPASMC)

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman and co-supervisor Dr Erna Marais



Anri KOTZE

Email: 19222114@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP)

Project titleMaternal methyl donor nutrients and fetal epigenetic programming of breast cancer risk in female Wistar rat of fspring

Supervisor(s): Dr Lawrence Mabasa (MRC)




Nokulunga MLABA

Email: 24542415@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Microbiology and Biochemistry) and BSc Honours (Medical Microbiology)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Establishment and characterization of novel AC16 human ventricular spheroid model

Supervisor(s):​​ ​Dr Marguerite Blignaut



Lindiwe MALEFANE

Email: 27583708@sunac.za

Qualifications:​ BSc (Human Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology - Cum Laude)

Research group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Investigating the effects of Rooibos-enriched, Mitochondrial-targeted Chitosan-alginate Nanoparticles in an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman and Prof. Admire Dube


Sharnah UYS

Email: 23947829@sunac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Human Life Sciences with Psychology) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology-Cum Laude)

Research group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)

Project title: Investigating the impact of obesity on the characteristics of testicular extracellular vesicles and their function in spermatogenesis

Supervisor(s): Dr Bongekile Skosana and co-supervisor Prof. Marais



Anati BURNS

Email: 24034304@sunac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Psychology) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP)

Project title: Maternal micronutrients supplementation and DNA methylation regulation of mammary developmental genes in breast cancer

Superviosr(s): Dr Lawrence Mbasa (SAMRC)




Tamryne BRINK

Email: 22555838@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:BSc(Biological Sciences), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology- Cum Laude)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (C

ARMA)

Project title: Investigating the effects of olanzapine on redox status and vascular function in male and female Wistar rats fed a high sucrose medium fat (HSMF) diet.

Supervisor(s): Dr Shantal. Windvogel, Dr Hanel Sadie- Van Gijsen and Prof. Erna Marais


Natasha MARNEWICK

Email: 21617619@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Human Life Sciences with Psychology-Cum Laude) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology-Cum Laude)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: Comparing the effects of the second-generation anti-psychotic drug olanzapine on adipose stem cell function between male and female Wistar rats against the backgrund of high sugar feeding
Supervisor(s): Dr Hanel Sadie- Van Gijsen and co-supervisor Dr Gerald Maarman



Suné GROVE

Email: 23627786@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Human Life Sciences) and BSc Honours (Clinical Anatomy-Cum Laude)

Research group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)

Project title: Investigating the effects of Olanzapine on the reproductive system of male and femal rat models fed a high-sugar diet.

Supervisor(s): Dr Bongekile Skosana and co-supervisor Dr Hanel Sadie- Van Gijsen




Tamera Moodley

Email: 21675600@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Human Life Sciences with Psychology) and BSc Honours (Clinical Pharmacology)

Research group: Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP)

Project title: Proteomic assessment of trace amine metabolism dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder 


Supervisor(s): Prof. Carine Smith and co-supervisors Dr Lesha Pretorius and Dr Gerald Maarman





Jeffrey PIETERSE

Email: jjp1@sun.ac.za

Qualifications:BSc (Human Life Sciences with Psychology) and BSc Honours (Medical Physiology)

Research group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Project title: High throughput identification and localization of mitochondrial events using deep learning in an in vitro cardiomyoblast model.

Supervisor(s): Dr Marguerite Blignaut and co-supervisor Dr Theart




Mpho MOKOAPE ​

Email: 25973924@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Microbiology and Biochemistry) and BSc Honours  (Molecular Biochemistry)

Research group: Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP)

Project titleThe effect of diet composition on the intestinal barrier in models of metabolic disease development

Supervisor(s)Dr Sylvia​ Riedel (SAMRC) and co-supervisor Dr Hanél Sadie-van Gijsen 


>>>Class of 2023