Research Focus

The current projects of the group fall within three topics:

  1. Mitochondrial disorders in the SA population: molecular genetics and metabolomics
    • Cohort investigations with national and international researchers and clinicians

 

  1. Adaptive responses and treatment strategies in mitochondrial dysfunction
    • Metabolomics and transcriptomics of mitochondrial deficiency using mouse, stem cell and C.elegans disease models
    • Metabolic transporters and alternate pathways as treatment strategies 
    • Metallothionein expression in mitochondrial deficiency

 

  1. Mitochondrial dysfunction in non-communicable diseases
    • Metabolomics of cardiovascular disease
    • Mitochondrial toxicity of HIV as well as anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment of HIV
    • mtDNA involvement in cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases
    • Oxidative stress and biotransformation involvement in oestrogen metabolism and its role in cancer development