Experience

Red Cross Children's Hospital

• South Africa
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CATHCHAT researcher and manager

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  To facilitate the utilization and expansion of CATHCHAT into a research unit, skills development and teaching platform within the Division of Cardiology of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. The broader aim is to provide educational outreach into regional, national, and African hospitals, as well as to up-skill current practitioners. To facilitate the utilization and expansion of CATHCHAT into a research unit, skills development and teaching platform within the Division of Cardiology of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. The broader aim is to provide educational outreach into regional, national, and African hospitals, as well as to up-skill current practitioners.



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lecturer

  • Jan 2021 - Dec 2021



Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA)

• South Africa
• Health, Wellness & Fitness
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • Feb 2017 - Dec 2020

  Low carbohydrate diets are an effective means for diabetics to improve glucose control. However, critics argue that the high fat component of the diet will negatively impact other aspects of type II diabetes (TIIDM) pathology like cardiovascular disease- a common comorbidity of diabetes. This project investigates the relationship between a very low carbohydrate high fat (VLCHF) diet and these other controversial aspects of diabetes pathology with specific emphasis on cardiovascular outcomes. Low carbohydrate diets are an effective means for diabetics to improve glucose control. However, critics argue that the high fat component of the diet will negatively impact other aspects of type II diabetes (TIIDM) pathology like cardiovascular disease- a common comorbidity of diabetes. This project investigates the relationship between a very low carbohydrate high fat (VLCHF) diet and these other controversial aspects of diabetes pathology with specific emphasis on cardiovascular outcomes.



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • Mar 2016 - Dec 2016

  N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a ubiquitous molecule generated in all mammalian tissues. In recent years the short peptide, Ac-SDKP, has been found to have potent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties on a wide variety of fibrotic disease from silicosis and tuberculosis to cirrhosis. Presently, there has been very little investigation on the mechanistic action of Ac-SDKP and, although it appears to bind specifically and competitively to a putative receptor in… Show more N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a ubiquitous molecule generated in all mammalian tissues. In recent years the short peptide, Ac-SDKP, has been found to have potent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties on a wide variety of fibrotic disease from silicosis and tuberculosis to cirrhosis. Presently, there has been very little investigation on the mechanistic action of Ac-SDKP and, although it appears to bind specifically and competitively to a putative receptor in cardiomyocyte fibroblasts, the identity of the receptor is unknown. This research seeks to identify the receptor of the anti-fibrotic Ac-SDKP through numerous pull down and quantitative mass spectrometric techniques across lung and cardiac cell lines. Furthermore, this work aims to characterize potential mechanistic signalling pathways through which Ac-SDKP acts by screening for the second messenger signals of G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) using Western blotting, luciferase cAMP assays, radioactive IP3 assays and other GPCR activity assays. Identifying and characterizing the receptor for Ac-SDKP would enable the development of small molecular receptor agonists, which are generally more viable drugs than peptide analogues, being orally active with a longer half-life. Such a drug may provide a universal, yet focused therapy, to organ fibrosis Show less N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a ubiquitous molecule generated in all mammalian tissues. In recent years the short peptide, Ac-SDKP, has been found to have potent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties on a wide variety of fibrotic disease from silicosis and tuberculosis to cirrhosis. Presently, there has been very little investigation on the mechanistic action of Ac-SDKP and, although it appears to bind specifically and competitively to a putative receptor in… Show more N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a ubiquitous molecule generated in all mammalian tissues. In recent years the short peptide, Ac-SDKP, has been found to have potent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties on a wide variety of fibrotic disease from silicosis and tuberculosis to cirrhosis. Presently, there has been very little investigation on the mechanistic action of Ac-SDKP and, although it appears to bind specifically and competitively to a putative receptor in cardiomyocyte fibroblasts, the identity of the receptor is unknown. This research seeks to identify the receptor of the anti-fibrotic Ac-SDKP through numerous pull down and quantitative mass spectrometric techniques across lung and cardiac cell lines. Furthermore, this work aims to characterize potential mechanistic signalling pathways through which Ac-SDKP acts by screening for the second messenger signals of G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) using Western blotting, luciferase cAMP assays, radioactive IP3 assays and other GPCR activity assays. Identifying and characterizing the receptor for Ac-SDKP would enable the development of small molecular receptor agonists, which are generally more viable drugs than peptide analogues, being orally active with a longer half-life. Such a drug may provide a universal, yet focused therapy, to organ fibrosis Show less



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Problem Based Learning Facilitator- 2d-3rd year Medical Students

  • Jan 2008 - Mar 2015



Roche Sequencing USA

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Internship

  • Nov 2007 - Mar 2008

  I joined and worked here during the early days of Kapa Biosystems, my responsibilities included creating DNA libraries, product testing and quality control. Despite only a short internship I was well exposed to both research and development in the company and some quality control /manufacturing processes. I was offered a permanent position but decided to pursue my studies further. I joined and worked here during the early days of Kapa Biosystems, my responsibilities included creating DNA libraries, product testing and quality control. Despite only a short internship I was well exposed to both research and development in the company and some quality control /manufacturing processes. I was offered a permanent position but decided to pursue my studies further.