Minja Gerber

Prof
Minja
Gerber
Research Professor
Professor Minja Gerber

Prof Minja Gerber is an NRF-rated (C2 since 2019) Research Professor at Pharmacen™, North-West University (NWU), and a specialist in transdermal, dermal and topical drug delivery, skin diffusion and nano-drug delivery systems.  Her expertise lies in understanding and engineering how active pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients interact with, penetrate and move through the skin.  Her research integrates nano-carriers, including nano-emulsions, nanoparticles, nano-emulgels and vesicular systems, with dermal cytotoxicity and wound-healing research to develop safer, more effective skin delivery technologies.

Prof Gerber leads the Drug Delivery subprogramme and serves as Head of Cutaneous Drug Delivery and Cosmeceutical Research (CDDCR), Head of Pharmacen™ Skin Studies Services, and Chairperson of the Scientific Committee: Drug Delivery.  She is also the internal facilitator of the Postgraduate diploma (PG Dip) in Cosmetic Product Formulation.

A defining feature of her work is the translation of advanced skin-delivery science into research, innovation and real-world applications.  Through Pharmacen™ Skin Studies Services, Prof Gerber leads collaborative and contract research projects for higher education institutions, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and government.  These projects encompass formulation development, skin diffusion and permeation studies, dermal delivery assessment, safety evaluation and product performance testing; creating a platform for strategic collaboration, technology translation and third-stream income generation for NWU.

Since 2006, Prof Gerber has mentored the next generation of researchers, supervising MSc and PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, while contributing to numerous international scientific publications.  She is an active reviewer for international journals and funding agencies and has presented her research nationally and internationally.  In 2012, she completed a research sabbatical at Leiden University under the guidance of Prof Joke Bouwstra, internationally recognised for her work in skin drug delivery.

Prof Gerber serves on the EXCO of the South African Chapter of the Controlled Release Society, representing Transdermal and Topical Drug Delivery in South Africa and at NWU.

Physical Address

Potchefstroom campus, Building G2, Ground floor, Office G11

Telephone Number
018 299 2328
E-mail
Minja.Gerber@nwu.ac.za