Page 144 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

Cardiometabolic Health
Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof Tandi Matsha
matshat@cput.ac.za

Advancing Research Priorities: biomarkers that could identify at-risk individuals.
Strategic Objectives and Impact These studies and investigations have the potential
to significantly impact the increasing burden of
Non-communicable diseases which include disease and will lead to strategies that could
diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. The
and cancers are increasing rapidly in the Western unit has investigated cardiometabolic disease using
Cape and South Africa. All these conditions have an integrated approach that focuses on 4 areas.
the potential to result in cardiovascular disease These include the role of epigenetic and genetic
which is life-threatening. This rapid rise is most mechanisms, the oral microbiota, immune and
likely due to complex interactions between genetic endothelial dysfunction as well as the impact of
and environmental factors which result in chronic environment and lifestyle factors. During 2024, the
inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Many unit completed projects on the oral biome as well
individuals in Africa and South Africa remain as identifying novel MiRNAs in patients with pre-
undiagnosed and untreated. diabetes and diabetes.

To address this challenge, the Cardiometabolic
Health Research Unit’s top priority is to investigate Key Milestones and Achievements
the unique risk factors and mechanistic changes that Research: The Director, Prof Tandi Matsha, is part of
underly this group of diseases and to propose early the NCD Risk Factor collaboration which published

MiRNA course sponsored by Fogart grant.

142 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25