Page 108 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THIS PROGRAMME

Biomedical Research

and Innovation Platform

Deputy-directors:

Prof. Rabia Johnson Prof. Carmen Pheiffer

Prioritising responsive research Medicine scheme, emphasising the importance of
through impactful interventions international cooperation in tackling global health
challenges. The study uniquely combines proteomics
In the 2023/24 financial year, the Biomedical and metabolomics to identify known and novel
Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP) embarked ethnic- and sex-specific biomarkers that will improve
on several pioneering research endeavours aimed at early prediction of type 2 diabetes in European and
addressing the health challenges of South Africans African populations. By elucidating these biomarkers
and advancing medical knowledge. While and their relationship with dietary intake, the study
traditionally focused on cutting-edge pre-clinical aims to inform personalised preventive strategies
research in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), tailored to diverse populations, with a keen focus on
BRIP expanded its scope to include innovative cost-effectiveness and community perceptions.
clinical studies, particularly in the realm of African
Traditional Medicine (ATM), reflecting a commitment By generating robust evidence for the efficacy and
to addressing health disparities and harnessing safety of ATM and elucidating novel biomarkers
indigenous knowledge. for diabetes prediction, BRIP is poised to make
significant contributions towards improving health
BRIP and its partners have developed a outcomes and reducing the burden of NCDs on a
pharmaceutical-grade green rooibos extract, global scale.
Afriplex GRT™, with demonstrated pre-clinical
health benefits. For the first time BRIP will perform Equitable capacity development
a phase 1/2 study to assess the safety, tolerability, for empowering communities
and pharmacodynamics of Afriplex GRT™ in healthy
volunteers and adults with insulin resistance and/or BRIP has developed a strong track record of
capacity development through collaborations with
hyperlipidaemia. The second study is a randomised South African Universities, including historically
controlled trial exploring the effects of Baobab fruit disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) such as the
powder on gut and cardiometabolic health in obesity. Universities of Zululand and Limpopo. In the 2023-
Both studies have South African Health Products 2024 fiscal year, BRIP celebrated 12 MSc and PhD
Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approval, which graduates (10 female, 3 Black African), who gained
represents a significant step towards establishing skills and expertise doing cutting-edge research
the scientific foundation for using ATM in promoting in fields of molecular biology, epigenetics, and 3D
public health. Furthermore, BRIP spearheaded cell culture. These capacity development efforts are
a multidisciplinary collaboration funded by the supported by 7 post-doctoral fellows (5 females,
European Research Area Network for Personalised 2 Black African), who are mentored and trained by

106 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24