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.: Miss Caitlin Bossenger and Miss Laura Gilardi
MSc: Miss Jasmine Andrews, Miss Minette van Wyk, Miss Cassidy O’Brien, Miss Litha Mfiki (Main Campus) and Miss Tara Michaels (Main Campus)
PhD: Miss Megan Cairns and Miss Nyasha Mukonowenzou (Main Campus)
Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr Eman Teer (Main Campus)

Prof 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
MSc: Miss Sara Shaboodien, Miss Corné Grobler and Miss Thato Mathapelo
PhD: Dr Megan Rajah and Miss Megan Cairns​

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.: Miss Montana Robinson
MSc: Miss Tamryne Brink
PhD: Ilze Willemse

Dr Lihle QULU

Senior Lecturer

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




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.: Mr Thembinkosi Mkhabela
MSc: Miss Hannah Midzuk, Miss Chloë Mc Donald, Miss Anique Wolmarans and Miss Lisa Marie Ferguson 
PhD: Mr Elvis Ngala
Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr Thando Shabangu​

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
MSc: Mr Chrisstoffel Jumaar, Miss Amy Pretorius, Miss Pamela Sithelo, Mr Garth Wentley, Miss Kabelo Mfisa, Miss Tamera Moodley, Miss Lindiwe Malefane and Miss Natasha Marnewick
PhD: Mr Joshua Matthee, Mr Vuyolwethu Mbombela and Miss Amy Buck
Post-Doctoral Fellow.: Dr. Sanni Olakunle​

Dr Bongekile SKOSANA

Senior Le​cturer

Email: bts@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9531
Fax: +27 21 938 9476

>>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.: Miss Amy Jade Harding
MSc: Miss Gemma Krausey, Miss Sharnah Uys and Miss Suné Venicia
PhD: Miss Lisa Ferguson and Miss Yashthi Ramsunder