Prof Vuyo Mavumengwana is a Senior Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research and an academic leader within the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at Stellenbosch University. His PhD studies at the University of Cape Town (Division of Chemical Pathology) focused on the synthesis of subversive substrates as anti-TB potential drug leads. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in medicinal chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Sciences at Stellenbosch University

His research intersects glycochemistry, host–pathogen glycomics, TB drug discovery, and marine natural products, with a focus on tackling persistent challenges in tuberculosis treatment. By utilising various bioactive glyco-units to create Marine-Drug-Glycosides as innovative anti-TB hybrid molecules, it is hoped that this novel approach will open new therapeutic scaffolds capable of overcoming the chemical limitations traditionally associated with conventional treatments.