UCT researchers honoured at NSTF awards

Lund's research has pioneered the development of mental policies and services to address the growing burden of mental illness in South Africa and other low and middle-income countries (LMIC). His scientific work has had a significant impact on the development of norms for mental health services, drafting of national mental health policies, development of WHO guidelines for mental health policy and services, identification of major social determinants of mental illness in LMIC, interventions that address the cycle of poverty and mental illness, and delivery and evaluation of new models of mental health care.

Harrison is an accomplished bioprocess engineer, integrating the chemical engineering, mineral processing and biotechnology disciplines. Through inter-disciplinary research, her expertise in bioprocess systems, bioreactor design and process integration delivers solutions for bioremediation, mineral bioprocessing, algal biotechnology, fine chemicals and bioenergy. Harrison's research builds a holistic understanding of the biology, engineering and bioprocesses, essential to a sustainable bioeconomy, based on maximising renewable materials and resource productivity while minimising waste burden, including wastewater burden.

Dunsby's strategy for developing human capital has over the past twelve years focused on a pioneering initiative to develop the next generation of astronomers and space scientists – The National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme. He has also developed a highly successful integrated research programme in his own discipline (theoretical cosmology), involving postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and international collaborators, which has led to a significant growth of research capacity at UCT and at other tertiary institutions in South Africa.

Oni's research aims to contribute significantly to knowledge on the changing patterns of disease and the implications this has for the health and wellbeing of the population in the context of urbanisation. Having worked in the field of HIV and TB within the South African urban informal setting since 2007, her current research focuses on urban health and equity. Specifically, it focuses on the understanding of the interaction between commonly co-occurring chronic conditions (HIV, TB and non-communicable diseases), upstream health determinants, the unplanned urban environment and the impact on health outcomes. Her research aims to develop intersectoral interventions to improve health focused on upstream determinants of health. Oni was earlier this year selected, along with 14 of Africa's top scientists as a Next Einstein Fellow.

Up to to 95% of medical devices are imported in South Africa. This is primarily due to lack of innovations related to medical devices within the country. To change this situation, Dr Sivarasu adopted his Frugal Biodesign Process™ and has developed several medical devices in the last five years. These devices are at various technology readiness levels (TRLs) and some of the devices are in pre-clinical devices. During this process, Dr Sivarasu has filed four patent family applications and has three granted patents for medical devices and several MedTech awards for his innovations.

Earlier this year Sivarasu was awarded a Claude Leon Merit Award for emerging researchers.