​Prof Resia Pretorius, a haematologist in SU's Department of Physiological Sciences, was named the first runner-up in the Department of Science and Technology's Women in Science Awards (WiSA) in the category “Distinguished Women Researchers in the Natural and Engineering Sciences".

The awards were handed over during a ceremony on Thursday evening, 15 August 2019. Prof Pretorius was also named a finalist in the Standard Bank Top Women Awards in the category “Top Women in Science", of which the awards function also took place last night.

WiSA recognise and reward excellence by women scientists and researchers, and profile them as role models for younger women. The theme for the 2019 awards is “making the fourth industrial revolution work for women". The Standard Bank awards aim to recognise those who have played an active role in changing the role of women in both the public and private sector.

The three WiSA-wenners are Prof Michele Ramsay from the University of the Witwatersrand, Prof Lunic Khoza from the University of Venda, and Prof Tania Douglas from the University of Cape Town.

Professor Louise Warnich, Dean of the Faculty of Science at SU, says Pretorius has made several constructive and innovative contributions to her field of expertise, and she is a true inspiration and model to students and her peers.

More about Prof Pretorius

Professor Resia Pretorius is full professor and head of the Department of Physiological Sciences at SU. Over the past two decades she has made several seminal contributions to the understanding of different disease mechanisms in humans, with a particular focus on thrombosis and clotting disorders. In the process she has pioneered the use of advanced electron microscopy in studying different blood cells.

She follows an integrated approach, which combines microbiology and neurodegeneration, illustrating the link between the blood microbiome and inflammation in chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other progressive neurological conditions. Her work has major health, social and economic impacts. It includes the filing of six patents for treatment methods and a biosensor for early detection of inflammation.

With over 260 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, she is highly regarded by her peers worldwide. Previous awards include the African Union's Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award in the category Basic Science and Technology: African Women in Science (2011); and an NSTF-BHP Billiton Award in 2018.