Health Sciences News

Major funding awarded to large-scale collaborative projects at NWU

“In this period of economic austerity, governments are forced to cut their spending and budgets in order to remain financially viable or sustainable. Universities are therefore more and more challenged to find alternative means to meet the growing demands of financial resources to fulfil the academic project.”

Prof Refilwe Phaswana…

New drug discoveries are a triple offensive against malaria and TB

Researchers from three South African universities are unleashing the power of oxygen in a triple-drug treatment strategy against disease-causing parasites and bacteria.

Oxygen is the key to life – and that applies as much to parasites and bacteria that cause malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and certain other related diseases as it does to…

Graduation ceremony signals dawn of new generation of impact makers

“A graduation ceremony is essentially a symbolic recognition of a new generation of leaders, opinion-makers, experts, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs. In short: a day when the doers of tomorrow step to the fore to be counted as proud stewards of sustainability, innovation and progress.”

This is according to Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy…

Research identifies novel treatment options for rare disease

The research of a brilliant postgraduate student at the North-West University (NWU) is a breakthrough in the understanding of mitochondrial disease and identifying novel treatment options for patients.

Karin Terburgh investigated mitochondrial disease as part of her MSc studies, using mice already suffering from this disease, known as…

Come and experience racial differences through the eye of technology

The North-West University recently launched an initiative to put racial differences among staff and students under the spotlight and to emphasise the importance of understanding these differences.

Organisers of the event feel that confronting race at a South African university involves studying the relationship between race and…

Who is the healthiest university?

In their efforts to promote wellness in the workplace, the Employee Wellness Division of the University of the Free State introduced the “Healthy4Health” Pedometer Challenge 2019, challenging all employees of the North-West University (NWU) to take part.

This challenge has been designed to get employees more physically active and…

NWU’s innovations impress abroad

Two staff members from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) subject group Psychology recently rubbed shoulders with scholars in the innovation space in London.

 Dr Petro Erasmus and Irene Tsele were selected to be part of the South African cohort of 14 people to participate in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leadership in…

Quality medicines for the world

When it comes to the quality of medicines, there can be no compromise. This is why the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy®, incorporating CENQAM®, is a trusted partner of the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

The institute houses a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Quality Assurance…

Researcher is first in Africa to lead global hypertension society

Normal heart rates range from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Anything above that means blood is racing at an alarming speed through your veins. One person whose blood is pumping with passion in the fight against a deadly health condition, hypertension, is Prof Alta Schutte.

Part of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Hypertension in…

International centre will fight neuromuscular diseases

The North-West University (NWU) will play a prominent role in establishing a new International Centre for Genomic Research in Neuromuscular Disease, and South Africa’s participation in this virtual centre. The centre will bring scientists, academics and clinicians from six nations in four continents together in the fight against…