Qualifications: BSc Hons (Physiology, UNW), MSc, PhD (Medical Physiology, SU).
Research Focus: Protein phosphorylation in the context of signalling cascades in cardioprotection against myocardial ischaemia / reperfusion injury.
Dr Shantal Windvogel (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: shantalw@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9613
Qualifications: BSc (Physiology, Medical Microbiology); BSc Hons (Physiology); PhD (Medical Biosciences).
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.
Dr. Gerald Maarman (PhD)
Lecturer
Email: gmaarman@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9392
Qualifications: BSc.Hons (SU), MSc.BSc. (SU), Ph.D (UCT), NRF Y-2 Rated researcher.
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).
Dr Hanél Sadie-van Gijsen
Senior Researcher/Principal Investigator
Email: hsadie@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9814
Qualifications: BSc (Biochemistry and Microbiology), BSc Honours (Biochemistry), MSc (Biochemistry), PhD (Biochemistry) (all from Stellenbosch University)
Research Focus: Metabolism, obesity, animal models of obesity, adipose tissue and adipose stem cells, ex vivo stem cell models of obesity and metabolism (fat and bone), anti-obesity products, nutraceuticals, Rooibos.
Stellenbosch Campus
Dr Balindiwe Sishi (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: bsishi@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 808 3153
The Cardio-Oncology Research Group (CORG) investigates the side effects of the chemotherapeutic drug Doxorubicin on the heart.
Qualifications: B.Sc. degree (Human Life Science), B.Sc. Hons. degree (Physiological Sciences), MSc. degree (Physiological Sciences ), Ph.D. degree (Physiological Sciences) (all from Stellenbosch University).
Research Focus: The group's interests lie in understanding the basic mechanism of cardiovascular damage induced by Doxorubicin by paying particular attention to Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Endoplasmic Reticulum and Oxidative Stress, Protein Degradation systems, Calcium dysregulation, and microRNA expression within this context.
Dr Danzil Joseph (PhD)
Lecturer
Email: danzilj@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 808 3154
Lifestyle-associated diseases including cardio-metabolic diseases, diabetes and links with communicable diseases and psychosocial stress are research interest areas.
Qualifications: B.Sc. degree (Human Life Science), B.Sc. Hons. degree (Physiology), Ph.D. degree (Physiology) (all from Stellenbosch University).
Research Focus: Our research group aims to investigate the infectious and cardio-metabolic diseases double burden, with focus on cardio-metabolic and molecular factors that drive detrimental outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant interactions with human cells. Collaborative projects further explore topics involving the cardio-metabolic links with psychosocial stress and with metabolic aspects of chemotherapeutic toxicity.
Dr Theo Nell (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: tnell@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 808 3147
The “Human as Unit" is the focus. We focus on diseases of lifestyle mainly in which metabolism plays the central role but integrated with other physiological systems and also interdisciplinary systems.
Physiological associations are investigated in an epidemiological as well as molecular/cellular approach. The research group has a very high socio-health impact with a pragmatic focus. The research blends well in the social impact vision and mission of the University of Stellenbosch, and Faculty of Science.
Qualifications: B.Sc. degree (Physiology & Microbiology, NWU), B.Sc. Hons. degree (Physiology, NWU), M.Sc.degree (Nutrition, SU), Ph.D. degree (Nutrition, NWU), MSc Medical Science degree (Clinical Epidemiology, US).
Research Focus: Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation, Body Composition,
South African Medical Research Council Principal Investigators
Prof Christo J.F. Muller (PhD)
Chief Specialist Scientist for MRC
Email: christo.Muller@mrc.ac.za
Tel:
+27 21 938 0824
Prof Muller focuses his research on the potential role of phenolic compounds in the prevention and treatment of metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance, dysbiosis, obesity and type 2 diabetes. He is also involved with a proteomics study to identify early markers for type 2 diabetes. These markers are currently being tested in human subjects.
Research Focus: includes Metabolic disease (pathophysiology, prevention and treatment), phytotherapeutics and early detection of type 2 diabetes.
Prof Rabia Johnson (PhD)
Associate Professor
Email: rabia.Johnson@mrc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 0866
In her current focus area, she has published 58 articles (Scopus h-index of 20 with 1158 citation) and filed one patent application. She has built both local and international collaborations and graduated young black students from various Under-Resourced institutes. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has played an active role in setting up and managing the SAMRC/BRIP's SARS-Co-V2 wastewater surveillance program.
Research Focus: Her main research niche is on understanding the disease pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
Prof Carmen Pheiffer (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: carmen.pheiffer@mrc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 0292
Research Focus: Using molecular and epigenetic mechanisms to elucidate the pathophysiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, the identification of biomarkers capable of predicting disease risk, and investigating the therapeutic potential of indigenous plant extracts against these conditions.
Dr Nireshni Chellan (PhD)
Lecturer
Email: nchellan@mrc.ac.za
Tel: 021 938 0362
Research Focus: Currently, my research focus is on the development of a more physiologically relevant pancreatic beta cell model in vitro. The model will ideally reflect more of the pathophysiology seen in human type 2 diabetes, and will form an intermediate between standard cell culture and the use of sentient animals.
Dr Sylvia Riedel-Van Heerden (PhD)
Lecturer
Email: sylvia.riedel@mrc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 0844
Research Focus: The role of intestinal inflammation and immune status in the development of metabolic diseases using cell culture and animal models.
Dr Tarryn Willner (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: Tarryn.Willmer@mrc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 0269
Research Focus: Identification of epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets against obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, with a special focus on the role and regulation of DNA methylation in these diseases. My research also includes the use of cell culture and rodent models to explore the potential of indigenous plant extracts in reversing pathogenic epigenetic modifications in these diseases.
Dr Lawrence Mabasa (PhD)
Senior Lecturer
Email: Lawrence.mabasa@mrc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 0271
Research Focus: Maternal environment and health of the child. Specifically, current research is centered on identifying the influence of maternal methyl donor nutrients on fetal epigenetic programming of breast cancer risk, and to an extent, cardiovascular complications.
Dr Ruduwaan Salie (PhD)
Specialist Scientist
Email: rsalie@mrc.co.za
Tel:
Research Focus: The main focus area my work is to identify cardiovascular complications associated with the metabolic syndrome. The development of cell signaling and cardioprotective strategies to overcome cardiovascular pathologies in various animal heart failure models.
Additional Staff/Research Members
Dr Amanda Genis
Senior Research Assistant
Email: amanda_g@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9072
Qualifications: BSc Psychology (UNISA); HSc Psychology (UNISA); MSc Medical Physiology (US); PhD Medical Physiology (US)
Research Focus: Effect of HIV proteins and ART on endothelial function.
Current Postgraduate Students
Dr Ingrid Webster
Technical Officer
Email: iwebster@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9386
Qualifications: BSc (Physiology, Genetics and Biochemistry); Honours Physiology; MsC Medical Physiology; PhD Medical Physiology.
Research Focus: EndoAfrica, HIV and endothelial function.
Dr Marguerite Blignaut
Part-time Researcher
E mail: marguerite.blignaut@gmail.com
Qualifications: BSc. Animal Biotechnology (SU), BSc. Hons Genetics (SU), MSc. Genetics (SU), PhD Medical Physiology (SU).
Research Focus:
My research focus on the characterisation of molecular pathways as well as mitochondrial function and dynamics, focussing specifically on Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated protein kinase, as a potential biomarker and treatment target in cardiovascular disease, using in vitro cell-based studies, ex vivo animal models and microscopy.
