University of Cape Town's Faculty of Health Sciences Research

From research to impact: How VACFA is transforming vaccine policy in Africa World Immunization Week, commemorated on the last week of April, brings a spotlight to the work of UCT’s VACFA which works across the continent to rid Africa of vaccine-preventable diseases.

In the wake of #nationalimmunizationweek we focus on the work of Vaccines for Africa Initiative: an organisation at the University of Cape Town that prides itself on serving as the bridge between research and translation.

www.news.uct.ac.za/news/researc...

Effective couple communication alters diabetes care, health outcomes Good communication between two partners improves self-diabetes management, which improves overall health outcomes.

Would you have guessed that couple communication plays a critical role with managing type 2 diabetes? According to recent research, good communication between two partners improves self-diabetes management, which improves overall health outcomes.

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...

Every 10 seconds vaccination saves a life. Immunization for all is Humanly Possible

It’s #WorldImmunizationWeek

Vaccines have saved 154 million lives in the last 50 years. That’s 6 lives every minute.

A reminder of what is #HumanlyPossible. Science saves lives.

#VaccinesWork
bit.ly/wiw2025

The World Health Organisation have just released the latest consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis treatment and care. @uct-fhs-research.bsky.social
who.int/publications...

Congratulations to Emerita Professor @valmizrahi.bsky.social of the UCT Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine who was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, announced last night.

See the full list of new members: www.amacad.org/new-members-...

Comorbidities - co-occurring infectious or chronic conditions in a person - is a major exacerbating factor for #TB in South Africa, with high rates of #HIV and #NCDs. Cutting edge research at University of Cape Town is tacking this:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...

Anurag Bhargava, Mohammed Yassin, and Swarup Sarkar on TB elimination - The Lancet Regional Health in conversation with March 24 serves as a reminder to evaluate our progress in eliminating the centuries-old scourge of tuberculosis. Dr Swarup Sarkar, Dr Anurag Bhargava, and Dr Mohammed Yassin speak with  Shal...

On #WorldTBDay, listen to a podcast episode from The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia exploring historical efforts & current challenges with #tuberculosis in the WHO south east Asia region.

Experts share their vision of how we can achieve the SDG goals on TB.

🔊Listen: tinyurl.com/yc2acury

This #WorldTBDay we put a spotlight on some of the excellent work researchers at the University of Cape Town to #StopTB in sub-Saharan Africa:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...

Turn PEPFAR funding freeze crisis into opportunity The PEPFAR funding freeze has impacted millions of South Africans living with HIV.

PEPFAR funding to South Africa constitutes around 18% of the country’s HIV response. The funding freeze will have a significant impact on the South African HIV programme. But we can turn this crisis into an opportunity, suggests Prof Linda-Gail Bekker: www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...

The Neurogenomics Lab at the University of Cape Town's Neuroscience Institute is working to expand our understanding of neuromuscular disorders in African populations and transforming patient care by improving access to genomic testing.

#BrainAwarenessWeek2025

neuroscience.uct.ac.za

Mental disorders are highly prevalent both locally and globally, and the burden of disease due to these conditions is predicted to continue to rise. In South Africa, they are already the 3rd largest contributor to burden of disease.

Last day of #BrainAwarenessWeek and we continue to spotlight the research groups working on #neuroscience at the University of Cape Town.

The Brain-Behaviour centre works address key brain-behaviour issues relevant to South Africa
neuroscience.uct.ac.za/research-res...

Sustainable African vaccine manufacturing will save lives Now is the time to continue the momentum towards achieving African vaccine sovereignty. We must work to both increase the continent’s vaccine manufacturing capacity and then develop strategies to prom...

Interesting piece in today’s Daily Maverick on vaccine manufacturing in Africa - which is sorely needed, if we are not to be left out AGAIN if a new pandemic hits. @isv-news.bsky.social www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

It is still #brainawarenessweek2025 and we are proud to showcase our Neuroscience Institute. Working through an interdisciplinary network of scientists and clinicians they are improving lives and advancing our understanding of the human brain in the African context.
neuroscience.uct.ac.za

Innovative translational neuroscience research which improves the lives of children with brain injuries in Africa, for the world

This #BrainAwarenessWeek we showcase the incredible research teams at the University of Cape Town's Neuroscience Institute. The African Brain Child Initiative is working to ensure children in Africa with conditions that affect their brain can maximize their potential.

africanbrainchild.com

Poster images advertising the LMIC and non-LMIC awards.

The International Society for Vaccines (ISV) is organising the 2025 ISV Congress taking place in South Africa from October 28–30, 2025. They are excited to offer awards for Early Career Researchers and PhD students from both LMIC (Low- and Middle-Income Countries) and non-LMIC countries.

Vaping hits alarming levels among South African teens – new study of fee-paying schools Nicotine use during adolescence harms the developing brain. South Africa needs to act to stop this harmful habit.

Nearly 17% of South African learners currently #vape, a figure that rises to nearly 30% by the end of high school years. University of Cape Town pulmonologist Richard van Zyl Smit unpacks why this is a problem and what we can do about it:

theconversation.com/vaping-hits-...

Seatbelt non-use drives South Africa's child brain trauma crisis Every year thousands of children suffer brain damage from not belting up. It’s a national crisis, so why aren’t alarm bells ringing?

"When a car travelling at 60km/h crashes to a stop, a 10kg child in your arms becomes a 600kg projectile.

This #brainawarenessweek2025 we put the spotlight on UCT's Neuroscience Institute's African Brain Child's #BeQuickToClick campaign

Buckle them up:
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...

Low literacy levels exacerbate rapidly rising lower limb amputations New research by Dr Katleho Limakatso demonstrates some interesting findings on patients predisposed to lower limb amputations.

Dr Katleho Limakatso's recent finding of a strong correlation between lower leg amputations and low literacy levels underscores the need for better education and health literacy programmes to empower patients to take control of their own health:

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...

Approximately 12.5% of in-hospital patients in Africa are gravely ill, and they are not getting the care they need. Bruce Biccard of UCT's Global Surgery Division found 21% of these patients die within 7 days of admission:

www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-202...

Meet the team: Contributing Investigator A/Prof. Esmita Charani's research interests include understanding the role of social constructs in relation to health-seeking and health-providing behaviours in infection, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship.
#CIDRITeam

We hosted our final Wellcome Photography workshop with IkamvaYouthSA & Profs. Esmita Charani & Sipho Dlamini! We explored ethical global health imagery, followed by a showcase of learner-captured photos & stories. The images will be exhibited in London and Khayelitsha.

A health care provider places an adhesive bandage on the injection site of a patient who just received a vaccine.

We are pleased to announce that the IMAGINE clinical trial has successfully kicked off and is vaccinating volunteers at our facility at Site B CHC in Khayelitsha! 🌍💉

IMAGINE is a large-scale Phase 2b efficacy trial of the #tuberculosis vaccine candidate MTBVAC.

Learn more here: bit.ly/4khAkw1

While PPCM remains a serious disease, the reduction in mortality rates and permanent damage to the heart is greatly reduced as a result of our increased understanding of the condition

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a life threatening heart disease which afflicts pregnant or postpartum women. Prof Karen Sliwa and her team at the Cape Heart Institute have made major strides in the treatment and understanding of PPCM.
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...

Women with pre-eclampsia have a 50% increased risk of high blood pressure by about 40 years of age. This is younger than average and occurs before it is common to start screening for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease

Women who experienced pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are at high risk for hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure. Associate Prof Erika Jones and Dr Bianca Davidson are advocating for better follow-up screening for this high-risk group:
health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...

Professor Wendy Burgers | University of Cape Town Division of Medical Virology Selected publications |  Contact details | Group members | Collaborations Professor, Division of M

Meet the team: A/Prof. Wendy Burgers, CIDRI-Africa Contributing Investigator. Research interests: HIV, cellular immunology, HIV/TB co-infection, vaccines, mucosal immunology
https://buff.ly/4aDcQgA
#CIDRITeam

Women who experience pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are at high risk for early-onset of hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure

Erika Jones and Bianca Davidson from University of Cape Town's Department of Medicine are working to challenge thinking around pre-eclampsia, advocating for appropriate follow-up and screening that can save the lives of countless women.

health.uct.ac.za/news-publica...

Congratulations to Professor Sandrine Lecour of UCT's Cape Heart Institute on being awarded on being honoured with a Gold Award at the SA Medical Research Council's Research Capacity Development and Transformation Awards:

youtu.be/c5QNZibcxb8?...

Image of Associate Professor Yumna Albertus and quote which involves her praising her team for their hard work and dedication and impactful research

Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport research centre (HPALS) climbs in the international rankings from #31 to #25 in the ShanghaiRanking #2024rankings.

Centre director Assoc. Prof Yumna Albertus congratulates her team: health.uct.ac.za/articles/202...

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Marie Curie, Physicist and chemist.

Today is International Day of Women & Girls in Science.

Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of science & health & continue to inspire generations of scientists & innovators. 🔬 #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM