Research focus: Heart

Current research/role focus: Research focus is on maternal environment and health of the child. Specifically, current research is centered on identifying, 1) the influence of maternal methyl donor nutrients (such as folic acid and vitamin B12) on fetal epigenetic programming of breast cancer risk at adulthood, and 2) identifying determinants of high neonatal and child mortality rates in the rural areas of Limpopo province, South Africa.

Biography: Dr. Lawrence Mabasa, is a senior scientist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Parow Valley, Cape Town. He obtained his PhD in Nutritional Physiology at North Dakota State University (NDSU) (Fargo, North Dakota, USA), performing research on maternal nutrition and health of the offspring using a rodent animal model. Prior to working as a Senior Scientist at the SAMRC, he had postdoctoral research experience at NDSU, University of Cape Town, and the SAMRC. Dr. Mabasa is an alumnus of the Fulbright Student Program, having received the scholarship to pursue an MS degree in Nutritional Physiology at NDSU. Over the years, he has mentored and con-mentored Honors, MS and PhD students, while also generating over R10 million in research grants from agencies such as the NIH, Northern Canola Growers Association, North Dakota Soybean Council, the US Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, and the South African National Research Foundation.