In remembrance: Dr Annerine Roos

Dear colleagues and students

It is with profound sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Dr Annerine Roos (47), a senior research officer in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She passed on after a long illness on Wednesday, 24 July 2024.

Dr Roos joined the University of Cape Town as a researcher in 2016. She has been described as someone who was passionate about neuroscience research, a devout person of immense faith, and a hard-working, conscientious and trusted colleague. She embodied the phrase 'the salt of the earth'; she was a humble person of great integrity, always quick to acknowledge others and always optimistic about the future.

Dr Roos completed her bachelor’s degree in natural science and psychology, her master's in medical sciences (neuroscience) and her PhD in psychiatry, all at Stellenbosch University. During this time, she developed expertise in brain imaging analyses, particularly near-infrared spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging. She brought these skills to the South African Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety and Stress Disorders, where she led work in these areas. In 2017, she began working on the “Drakenstein Child Health Study” in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and from 2022 she worked on the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis brain imaging collaboration in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health.

She made a wide range of contributions to brain imaging research, including work on the impact of in utero alcohol, tobacco, and methamphetamine exposure on the developing brain. She was rated Y1, having the potential for being a leading scholar, by the National Research Foundation and had an impressive citation index, indicating the growing impact of her work on the field. She supervised several students at master's and PhD level and she played a leadership role in the field, serving as co-chair of the South African Neuroscience Society at the time of her passing. Just weeks before her untimely passing, she submitted her application for ad hominem promotion to associate professor; her portfolio shows her immense contribution to research, teaching, leadership and social responsiveness.

Dr Roos is survived by her mother, Francoise; two brothers, Johann and Daniel; and sister Elzeth. Her memorial and funeral service was held on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 in Bellair, Western Cape.

The university has reached out to offer support to the Roos family and our sincere condolences go out to them and all who knew and loved her during this time of bereavement.

Sincerely

The UCT Executive

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