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Celebrating 100 Years of Health Sciences
and development, thereby integrating medicinal
chemistry, biology and pharmacology, as well as
drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies, as
reflected in the processes of absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion. H3-D also focuses on
the beneficiation of clinically used drugs, including
generic medicines. Drug beneficiation, among
other things, involves the selection of the optimum
form of a solid drug candidate for pharmaceutical
development and (re)formulation.
Director: Professor K Chibale
E-mail: kelly.chibale@uct.ac.za
Web: http://www.h3-d.co.za
MRC/UCT Immunology of
Infectious Diseases Research Unit
Human infectious diseases are a high-priority area for
South Africa and Africa, where they continue to be a
leading cause of childhood and adult morbidity and
mortality. Thus the MRC/UCT Immunology of Infectious
Diseases Research Unit focuses on the understanding of
host-protective immune responses and the development
of effective vaccine strategies for the eradication of
diseases that are identified as priority areas by the
World Health Organisation: tuberculosis, leishmaniasis,
helminthis diseases (bilharziosis) and African
trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). The unit's mission
is to be relevant as an excellent multidisciplinary and
international team, embracing both basic and applied
research, in order to improve capacity, teaching, and
training in the immunology of infectious diseases.
Director: Professor F Brombacher
E-mail: fbrombac@mweb.co.za
Web: http://www.health.uct.ac.za/research/
groupings/iidu/
MRC/UCT Oesophageal
Cancer Research Group
The MRC/UCT Oesophageal Cancer Research Group
is an inter-disciplinary and inter-institution group
(UCT, MRC and the University of Stellenbosch),
established by the MRC in 1997. Squamous cell
carcinoma of the oesophagus is one of the eight most
common cancers worldwide. High-incidence areas
include China, Japan, and certain hot spots in France,
Iran and South America. More important is the fact
that the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of
the oesophagus is very high in Southern and Eastern
Africa, but virtually absent in West Africa. This group
is investigating the environmental and genetic factors
that predispose Africans to this disease.
Director: Professor MI Parker
E-mail: iqbal.parker@uct.ac.za
Web: http://www.iidmm.uct.ac.za/iparker/index.htm
MRC/UCT Receptor Biology
Research Group
The mission of the group is to study the structure and
function of G protein-coupled receptors and to apply the
research to understanding and treating diseases that have
major effects on the social and economic welfare of South
Africa. The group focuses on the gonadotropin-releasing
hormone receptors and on the kisspeptin receptor, which
are central regulators of the reproductive function, on the
prostaglandin receptors and their role in cervical cancer,
and on the CCR5 chemokine receptor and its role in
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) entry and infection.
Co-Directors: Associate Professor AA Katz, Dr CA
Flanagan and Professor RP Millar
E-mail: arieh.katz@uct.ac.za
Web: http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/iidmm/akatz/
research.htm
UCT Leukaemia Unit
The UCT Leukaemia Unit was established with the
objective of fostering basic and clinical research in the
area of haematological stem cell disorders and blood
malignancies. Some of the current interest includes
the marrow microenvironment in multiple myeloma,
molecular genetics of acute or chronic leukaemias,
and clinical studies in lympho-proliferative disorders.
As a consequence, a laboratory with a comprehensive
array of equipment is available where honours,
master’s and doctoral students are running research
projects. Based on these studies, a number of clinical
and laboratory programmes have been developed. In
this regard, the only university-based haematopoietic
stem-cell transplantation programme in the country
is located at Groote Schuur Hospital. Parallel studies
focusing on haematopoietic stem-cell biology and
immune reconstitution after transplantation are
ongoing.
Director: Professor N Novitzky
E-mail: nicolas.novitzky@uct.ac.za
Web: http://www.health.uct.ac.za/research/
groupings/leukaemia/
Research Groupings
associated with this theme