PhD graduate Cecil Weale’s hope is that his late parents are looking down on him from heaven, proud of his achievements.

Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, he was only eight when his mother passed away.

“I was raised by a single father, during the height of the economic plight in the country.”

His father, Rodney Weale motivated him to excel.

“After work every day, he would sit down with me and help me complete my homework for the day. He maintained this kind of encouragement throughout my tertiary-level studies.”

Weale’s academic prowess earned him a bursary which enabled his retiree father to carry him through high school.

“By the grace of God, I was awarded the Zimbabwean Presidential Scholarship, through which my undergraduate studies at CPUT were fully funded. Following the successful completion of my BHSc in Medical Laboratory Sciences, I enrolled for a Master’s in Biomedical Technology, which I completed with cum laude, in one and a half years.”

He then enrolled for the PhD in Biomedical Sciences.

“Unfortunately, my father was not able to witness the completion of my PhD, having passed on a year before I submitted my thesis.”

Weale’s thesis is titled: MicroRNA profiling and validation in mixed ancestry individuals in South Africa.

He was supervised by Prof Tandi Matsha and Prof Glenda Davison.

“I was fortunate in that both my postgraduate degrees were fully sponsored through NRF (National Research Foundation) grant-holder bursaries from my supervisor, Prof Tandi E. Matsha.”

He said the lecturers in the Department of Biomedical Sciences always had time for their undergraduate students and groomed them to be thorough and competent medical laboratory scientists.

“My supervisor, Prof Tandi Matsha, has always been very supportive…always pushing me to be the best version of myself, and giving me the platform to put myself out there, as a biomedical researcher, sending me to international conferences to showcase our research. If it was not for her, I would not be where I am today, as I had no means to fund my postgraduate studies, and I probably would have been forced to move back to Zimbabwe.”

Weale is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the SA Medical Research Council/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit.

He has the following message to young people who may be in a similar situation as he was growing up: “If you have passion and drive, the only forces that will prevent your success are your own doubts. Believe in yourself and be relentless in your pursuits because one day you will excel.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Senior Researcher in the department of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Shanel Raghubeer’s passion for research has earned her a Y2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Raghubeer joined the South African Medical Research Council /CPUT Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit as a postdoctoral research fellow in July 2019 before taking up her current position in October last year.

“This fellowship was very fruitful; I learned a lot from Prof Tandi Matsha and Prof Glenda Davison and was very fortunate to be involved in several projects at the unit resulting in many publications.

Her research background focuses on molecular biology, genetics, and toxicology.

“During my time at CPUT, I have extended my field of expertise to include diabetes, metabolic syndromes, genetics and epigenetics. I am currently involved in studying the use of natural, easily accessible compounds for the treatment of several illnesses, including metabolic dysregulation, inflammation and glucose metabolism. I am also involved in genetic and epigenetic research with regards to cardiometabolic disorders.”

Raghubeer has always been interested in medical research and became drawn to the mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis and metabolism.

She holds a master’s degree in medical science and a PhD in medical biochemistry, both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Her career highlights include meeting Prof Tandi Matsha, former Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, “and being recruited by her to conduct important community research at her SAMRC extracurricular research unit”.

“The work being done at this unit is invaluable and is changing the landscape of research being conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa. I am also thrilled to have established a cell culture laboratory in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, which will provide valuable skills for many students to come. Additionally, my first PhD student will be completing her studies this year and is set to graduate in April 2024.”

Raghubeer said she was very happy to receive the news of her rating by the NRF “because I knew this would open many doors for me in the research landscape of South Africa”.

“I am excited to be included in the group of esteemed rated researchers across South Africa. This rating represents a cumulative effort as I have worked with incredible, inspiring researchers who have lifted me to this level and continue to inspire me every day. I look forward to training the next generation of scientists at CPUT and improving research uptake at our institution.”

Outside of work, she loves to spend time outdoors, hiking or enjoying a good book and a picnic.

“I enjoy going to the gym and exploring the Cape Winelands. In Cape Town, we are blessed with amazing beaches and mountains, and there is never a moment of boredom!”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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In a bid to delve into the intricate intersection of health and technology, the SAMRC/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health Research Unit recently held a symposium under the theme: Cardiometabolic Disease in the Technological Era.

Guests and scholars convened at the Cape Town Hotel School to explore the symposium's focal point. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Faadiel Essop, Director of the Centre for Cardiometabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) at the Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI), based at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Stellenbosch University. Essop's talk, which was titled: Enhancing Cardiometabolic Research Care: Innovations for a Healthier Tomorrow, set the tone for an intellectually stimulating day.

The symposium unfolded through four distinct sessions, each delving into critical facets of the field, namely: artificial intelligence, point of care and medical devices, e-health, and personalised medicine. Distinguished national experts and academics, among them Dr. Ashlin Rampul, a representative of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) young scientist task team; Prof Annalise Zemlin, Head of Division: Chemical Pathology at Stellenbosch University; Prof Kotsedi Monyeki from the Department of Physiology and Environmental Health at the University of Limpopo; and James Ross, Co-Founder and CEO of BixBio, a biotech company that is disrupting global healthcare by unlocking the power of African genomes for drug development, generously shared ground-breaking scientific advancements and practical experiences. Their collective insights not only expanded the horizons of knowledge but also fostered a deeper understanding of cardiometabolic health within the dynamic landscape of rapid technological evolution.

What set the symposium apart was the active participation of young emerging researchers in pivotal organisational roles. The organising committee, consisting of Dr Saarah Davids, Dr Shanel Raghubeer, Dr Cecil Weale, Dr Dipuo Motshwari and Dr Don Matshazi, who played a central role in the event. All members of the organizing committee are affiliated with the South African Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (SAACB), falling under the auspices of the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry (AFCC) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC). Guiding this dynamic team of emerging researchers are esteemed figures in the field : Prof Tandi Matsha, Prof Glenda Davison and Prof Rajiv Erasmus. These seasoned scientists have provided mentorship, fostering an environment conducive to innovative research in the realm of non-communicable diseases.

This dynamic blend of established expertise and emerging talent underscored the commitment to advancing cardiometabolic research and heralded a promising trajectory for the future of healthcare in the technological age.

Davison, who is the Head of CPUT’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and co-director of the SAMRC/CPUT Cardiometabolic Health research unit, said:

"For me two current themes were highlighted across all the sessions. These were the power of collaboration and the move to toward interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary partnerships. If we are able to work together, I believe the future is bright for South Africa and Africa."

Written by CPUT News
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