Dr Phiwayinkosi Vusi Dludla, a Specialist Scientist within the SAMRC’s Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP) has received the Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers at the recent National Research Foundation (NFR) Awards.
He was among the eleven young scientists in this category which recognizes outstanding research performance by current Early Career / Emerging Researchers in any discipline, who are NRF grant holders.
The annual NRF Awards recognise recent outstanding achievements made by individuals and teams whose excellence has significantly advanced science for the benefit of society. Their internationally competitive work is assessed for, among other things, the contribution to the field of study focusing on quality and impact. One of the objectives of the awards is to encourage the continued culture of advancing South Africa’s scientific knowledge and technological innovation by rewarding those that make use of research for the advancement and betterment of humanity.
Dr Dludla’s main research focus is on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms that are implicated in the development and progression of metabolic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, with the special focus on complications of oxidative stress and inflammation. His work is further directed at uncovering novel therapeutics, especially dietary supplements or plant derived compounds that can protect against metabolic complications or to limit side effects of available pharmacological treatments.
He joined the SAMRC as an MSc Biochemistry student in 2011 under the supervision of Prof Rabia Johnson (BRIP Deputy Director) and Prof Andy Opoku (University of Zululand) and was permanently employed as a Senior Scientist after receiving his PhD from Stellenbosch University in 2016. Since then, the world has been his oyster. He recently (March 2021) completed a three-year Postdoctoral Fellowship with Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy), where he trained on advanced laboratory techniques relating to nutritional biochemistry. His Postdoctoral research included investigating the impact of dietary compounds on cholesterol metabolism, inflammatory response, low-density lipoprotein oxidation and coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis. These basic science approaches have become important for application in the development of functional food and functional feed for human and animal wellbeing.
This collaboration with both locally and internationally established researchers including Prof Bongani Nkambule at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Prof Sithandiwe Mazibuko-Mbeje at North-West University, and Prof Luca Tiano of the Polytechnic University of Marche, has led to him supervising several Master’s and PhD students to completion.
The NRF-Y2 rated researcher with more than 90 published peer-reviewed journal articles, says although this is his first major scientific award, he is grateful and adds that his goal is to continue conducting high impact research that will benefit the community of South Africa at large. “This includes contributing significantly to capacity development, especially the training of young black African scientists to be internationally competitive and be future leaders in research,” said Dr Dludla, adding that this will certainly enhance our research standing as a nation, in order to reach new frontiers in research internationally.
Speaking on what the award means to him as a young scientist, he said the recognition is of great significance not only to him but other young upcoming scientists – and that it signals how hard work and dedication remain important to achieve research excellence and reach one’s goals. “This award also serves as an essential reminder and motivation for leading research organizations like the SAMRC to continue investing in capacity development, in order to increase a pool of competent scientists to be future leaders in research innovation and excellence”.
“As a young black scientist, coming from a disadvantaged background, I believe the NRF-Awards serve as a big motivation that anything is possible in life, and importantly, that research can be used as a tool to alleviate poverty and empower young people,” he concluded.
In congratulating him, Prof Rabia Johnson said: “Science plays a vital role in the challenges we are currently facing as a global community, but central to that is the training and mentoring of young scientists like Dr Dludla who has the potential to become national leader and whom this award is well-deserved as he rightly earned his place as an emerging researcher.”