Page 134 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

Platform for
Pharmacogenomics
Research and Translation
Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof. Collet Dandara

Prioritising responsive research Science for creating a
through impactful interventions healthier society

Revolutionising Precision Medicine in South Africa By spearheading the initiative of Learner's Open
and aiding Transformation by empowering the Day, it has promoted science education for high
next generation of scientists, particularly those of school learners across the Western Cape by
marginalised backgrounds. Furthermore, building allowing learners to have access to researchers
collaborations with other researchers to disseminate and experience basic experiments within a tertiary
knowledge of African-specific pharmacogenomics setting. This has resulted in positive feedback from
research. the learners.
Equitable capacity development In celebration of 30 years of
for empowering communities democracy in South Africa

The EMU held several seminars collaborating with Striving to make therapeutic drug treatments safer.
the African Pharmacogenomics Network. The group We are set on a path that will allow the administering
also held internal group seminars. Several students of the right drug, to the right patient, at the right
affiliated to the group graduated. We graduated dose, at the right time.
1 PhD, 3 MSc, and 2 Honours students. In 2023,
we also welcomed Dr Khuthala Mnika, as a senior
scientist in the group, bringing along her research
funding from NRF.

Honours students working at the lab.

132 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24