Medical Physiology
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Medical Physiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Head of Division

 
Prof Hans STRIJDOM

Professor

Email: jgstr@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 938 9387

>>Biography

>>Curriculum Vitae

>>Publications​​​

Qualifications: BMedSc (US, 1991); MBChB (US, 1994); PhD (US, 2006)
Research Group: Co-Director: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)
Research Focus: Vascular biology, cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology, cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial function and dysfunction.
Current Postgraduate Students

Undergraduate Student: Mr Jakob Holm (MBChB V)

BSc Hons: Miss Chanté Kruger

MSc: Misss Kheya Mokoena and Miss Sesethu Ketse
PhD: Miss Charnay Cunningham and Miss Hannah Fokkens ​
Post-Doctoral Fellows: Dr Taahirah Boltman and Dr Jeffery Adoga


For MSc and PhD postgraduate positions contact Prof Hans Strijdom (jgstr@sun.ac.za)

For Hons postgraduate positions contact Dr Gerald Maarman (gmaarman@sun.ac.za​)

For physiology marks relating to the MBChB, Allied Health Sciences and MMed courses, departmental finances and department administration contact:

Admin Officer - Miss Lauren Abrahams
Tel: +27 21 938 9384
E-mail: laurena@sun.ac.za

Lecturing Staff

Prof Faadiel ESSOP

Professor and Director of CARMA

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

>>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
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 

>>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 and Miss Thato Kgatla
PhD: Dr Megan Rajah and Miss Megan Cairns​

Dr Shantal WINDVOGEL


Senior Lecturer

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

>>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: Miss Ilze Willemse

Dr Lihle QULU

Senior Lecturer

Email: qulul@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27219389391





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.: Miss Abigail Kayla Calitz and Miss Tayla Badenhorst
​​MSc: Miss Hannah Midzuk, Miss Chloë Mc Donald and ​Miss Anique Wolmarans 
PhD: Mr Elvis Ngala​​, Miss C​helsi Fortuin and Mr ​​Lindokuhle Ngubane ​​
Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr Thando Shaba
ngu​

Dr Derick VAN VUUREN

Senior Lecturer / Head: MBChB Unit

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

>>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.


Dr Gerald MAARMAN

Senior Lecturer

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


>>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 Sara Shaboodien, Miss Amy Pretorius,  Mr Garth Wentley, Miss Kabelo Mfisa, Miss Tamera Moodley, Miss Lindiwe Malefane and Miss Natasha Marnewick
PhD: Mr Joshua Matthee, Mr Vuyolwethu Mbombela, Miss Thato Kgatla and Miss Amy Buck

Dr Bongekile SKOSANA

Senior Le​cturer

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

>>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 Grove​
PhD: Miss Lisa Ferguson and Miss Yashthi Ramsunder