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Health Sciences
The Western Cape Heart Research Grouping of the Medical
Research Council, of which the Cardiovascular Research
Unit is a member, continues to support essential basic
research, the foundationstone for applied research.
The Unit has in 2012, amongst other grants, been awarded
three separate NRF grants totalling approximately three
million Rand.
A significant breakthrough in our synthetic vascular
graft research was achieved in 2012 where spontaneous
endothelialization of the luminal surface across an
engineered porous graft wall was demonstrated in rats and
shown to be independent of transanastomotic outgrowth.
An endothelial lining in small diameter vascular grafts,
commonly not achievable in humans, is essential for long-
term patency.
International collaboration with Gothenburg and Clemson
universities continued with respect to other vascular graft
technologies.
Research focusing on the cell biology of the process of
neovascularisation has spear-headed our regenerative
medicine approach to facilitating the body’s own ability to
remodel semi-synthetic prostheses. Amodel for assessment
of the regenerative capacity of synthetic hydrogels in the
treatment of myocardial infarction established in 2011
has led to published results and interest from overseas
collaborators. The mechanism through which delayed
delivery of hydrogel to an infarcted heart achieves greater
therapeutic efficacy has been partially elucidated in 2012.
The distribution of hydrogel was found to differ substantially
dependent on the timing of hydrogel delivery. This is
being further examined with micro computed tomography
and promises to hold great significance in the field of
biomaterial-based therapy for myocardial infarction.
Optimisation of treatment regimens to render animal tissue
used in the construction of ‘bioprosthetic’ heart valves,
especially transcatheter designs, more biocompatible
and less immunogenic has in 2012 focused on porcine
pericardium, including decellularisation and non-covalent
‘tanning’ thereof. Further assessment of both porcine and
bovine pericardial candidates is currently in progress.
The Biomechanical Sciences group strengthened
international networking through a 3-year collaboration
grant from the UK Royal Society with Dr Georges Limbert
from the University of Southampton, UK, on constitutive
modelling of tissue-regenerative synthetic scaffolds.
Postgraduate training remained a priority in 2012.
Interdigitation between our clinical staff and researchers
also remains a key goal for which the Division continues
to strive.
Divisional Statistics
Permanent and Long Term Contract Staff
Professor
1
Associate Professors
4
Senior Consultants
3
Senior Lecturer
2
Supernumerary Registrars
2
Surgical Registrar
6
Surgical Rotator
1
Senior Medical Officer
1
Senior Scientific Officer
1
Secretary
1
Medical Technologist Director
1
Senior Medical Technologist
2
Clinical Technologist/Perfusionist
3
TOTAL
28
Students
Doctoral
13
M.Med.
5
Master’s
8
Honours
1
TOTAL
27
Research Fields and Staff
Permanent Staff
Professor Peter Zilla
Head of Division
Associate Professor Johan Brink
Clinical Director
Associate Professor John Hewitson
Section Head: Paediatric Surgery
Associate Professor Thomas Franz
Section Head: Biomechanics
Dr Paul Human
Research Director, Section Head Pathobiology
Dr Loven Moodley
Section Head: Thoracic Surgery
Dr Andre Brooks
Senior Consultant
Dr Deon Bezuidenhout
Senior Lecturer, Section Head Polymer Sciences
Dr Neil Davies
Senior Lecturer, Section Head Biology and Regeneration