Dr Vuyo Mavumengwana is a specialist scientist of the SA Medical Research Council (in the division of molecular biology and human genetics, Stellenbosch University). He obtained his PhD from the University of Cape Town (division of chemical pathology) focusing on the synthesis and subsequent evaluation of subversive substrates as anti-TB potential drug leads and as targets for a mycothiol disulfide reductase. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in medicinal chemistry in the department of chemistry and polymer sciences at Stellenbosch University.

Dr Vuyo’s research interests mainly involve generating magnetic nanoparticles as alternative anti-TB agents and as potential drivers of host directed therapeutic platforms. Utility and comprehensive application of photochemistry approaches are also fully explored to produce even more complex bioactive chemical scaffolds.