Professor Novel N Chegou heads the TB diagnostic biomarker research laboratory within the Stellenbosch University Immunology Research Group. He was trained as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea (Cameroon), prior to completing his postgraduate and postdoctoral studies in the field of Tuberculosis Immunology. 

Prof Chegou's research work mainly focuses on the discovery of biomarkers for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and monitoring of the response to treatment. He is particularly interested in the development of point-of-care diagnostics and conducts research in both adults and children and in both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. Other work that is ongoing in the Chegoulab makes use of animal models to understand the effects of altered composition of the gut microbiota on TB disease development and how polysaccharides that are produced by selected commensal bacteria influence both the susceptibility to TB and the response to TB treatment.

Prof Chegou is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rated scientist, a winner of the UK Royal Society's Africa Prize (2022), an SAMRC Silver Medalist, and an EDCTP Senior Fellow.