At the University of Pretoria’s Annual Academic Achievers’ Awards, 63 C-rated researchers were celebrated for their sustained excellence and impact, including 10 from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Among them were Dr Rodney Hull, Dr Mankgopo Kgatle, Professor Razia Khammissa, Professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson, Professor Kgomotso Mokoala, Dr Jabulani Ncayiyana, Professor Nanette Oberholzer, Professor Natalie Schellack, Professor Nombulelo Sepeng, and Professor André Uys, recognised for their groundbreaking research, mentorship, and contributions to advancing healthcare and science.

C-rated researchers are established scholars whose ability to tackle complex problems with rigorous methods reflects UP130’s focus on transdisciplinary inquiry and societal relevance.

Dr Rodney Hull is the research manager for the Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI) within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria. He completed his honours and doctorate at the University of the Witwatersrand. His doctorate involved studying the stress response of insects following exposure to DNA-damaging compounds. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at both Unisa and the Mangosuthu University of Technology before joining PACRI in 2019. In July 2022, he was appointed as the research manager for PACRI. Dr Hull is involved in translational cancer research and is interested in improving outcomes and promoting personalised medicine. His research interests lie in the role of alternative mRNA splicing in the development and progression of cancer, especially in the process of angiogenesis. He is also interested in the use of natural compounds isolated from various sources as treatments for cancer. He has been a visiting scientist at Professor Clement Penny’s laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he has co-supervised students registered in the Oncology Division within the Division of Internal Medicine. Dr Hull has published over 90 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters.

Dr Hull has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Dr Mankgopo Kgatle is an extraordinary lecturer in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria and Head of Basic and Translational Research at the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI). Her work focuses on molecular biology, virology, epigenetics, and oncology, emphasising cancer and infectious disease research. Through cutting-edge methodologies, she investigates disease pathways, epigenetic modifications, and therapeutic innovations that contribute to advancing diagnostics and treatment strategies.

She is strongly committed to advancing scientific research and has published extensively in high-impact journals. Her contributions extend to international research collaborations, including postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oxford and participation in global conferences such as the EMBL Conference on Transcription and Chromatin and the Viral Hepatitis Congress (Germany). Her EASL Young Investigator Travelling Award (2014) and the Viral Hepatitis Congress Young Investigator Award (2014) further highlight her recognition as a promising researcher. In recent years, she has been honoured as a 2023 nominee for the NSTF-South32 TW-Kambule Award and spotlighted in the University of Pretoria’s Women in Science feature, recognising her impact in the field.

Beyond research, she actively mentors postgraduate students, ensuring the next generation of scientists is equipped to drive innovation. Her commitment to scientific excellence, mentorship, and translational research positions her at the forefront of advancing healthcare solutions locally and globally.

Dr Kgatle has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Professor Razia Khammissa is a clinician-scientist with a specialist background in periodontology and oral medicine. She joined the University of Pretoria in 2019 and currently serves as an associate professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. Her research interests focus on oral manifestations of systemic disease, oral mucosal pathology, HIV-related oral conditions, and chronic inflammatory conditions of the periodontium.

Professor Khammissa has published extensively in national and international peer-reviewed journals, including Oral Diseases, Clinical Oral Investigations, the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine, and the South African Dental Journal. Her work is characterised by a translational approach that bridges clinical relevance with fundamental science, and she has contributed significantly to the advancement of understanding in oral-systemic interactions and the pathogenesis of oral disease in immunocompromised populations.

Over the course of her academic career, she has been recognised for her contribution to research excellence, including receiving awards for best clinical research presentations and recognition by professional societies. In addition to her research and teaching, she plays an active role in postgraduate supervision and teaching in oral medicine and periodontology.

Professor Khammissa has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson is the founding director of the Centre for Development and Implementation of Point-of-Care Diagnostics (CPOC-Dx), a registered medical scientist in molecular biology, and an internationally recognised leader in diagnostics research. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and has a Google Scholar h-index of 37. In recognition of her contributions, she received the 2022 SAMRC Bronze Scientific Merit Award as an outstanding emerging researcher.

Her academic journey includes an honours in applied biomedical sciences (University of Surrey, UK), a master’s in pharmaceutical chemistry, and a doctorate in public health (University of KwaZulu-Natal). She further advanced her expertise through a postdoctoral fellowship with the Canadian Clinical HIV Trials Network, Global Clinical Research at Harvard Medical School, leadership training at Harvard Kennedy School and the International Association of Universities.

Deeply committed to creating inclusive research environments and capacity building, she has supervised and mentored more than 50 postgraduate students, including master’s, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and emerging researchers. During her tenure as Deputy Dean: Research and Postgraduate Studies at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Health Sciences, she spearheaded the establishment of the Research Support Hub to dismantle systemic barriers and enable equitable access to research resources.

She chairs the NHLS Research and Innovation Committee, is deputy chair of South Africa’s National Health Research Committee, and contributes internationally as a scientific advisor to Abbott International and advisory board member at Cornell University’s PORTENT Centre. She is also one of the PIs for the ARUA/Guild Cluster of Excellence in Multi-morbidity.

Professor Mashamba-Thompson has received a C1 rating from the NRF.

Professor Kgomotso Mokoala is a senior lecturer and nuclear physician in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, where she contributes to registrar training, postgraduate supervision, and curriculum development, and also serves on the MMed Research and Postgraduate Committees. Her research focuses on the application of radionuclide techniques for imaging and therapy, with particular emphasis on three areas: gynaecological malignancies, prostate cancer theragnostics, and Rhenium-188 therapy for non-melanoma skin cancers and keloids, where her group is among the first in Africa to pioneer this approach. These projects align closely with UP’s strategic focus on health and biomedical sciences and contribute to advancing personalised cancer care. Over the past three years, her contributions have been recognised through a C2 NRF rating, the Chris Jansen Award from the South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM), and the University of Pretoria Young Exceptional Researcher Award. She has also been invited to speak at numerous international and national scientific meetings, reflecting her growing reputation as a thought leader in the field. She also serves as president of SASNM and is in the organising committee for the Theragnostic World Congress in Cape Town next year, further amplifying her academic and clinical leadership nationally and internationally.

Professor Mokoala has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Dr Jabulani Ncayiyana is an associate professor of epidemiology in the Division of Health Measurement Sciences at the School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria. He earned his doctorate in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, in 2015. He is the founder and director of the Epidemiology in Action Research (EpiAction) Lab (www.epiactionlab.org), which aims to bridge research and action to promote lifelong health across Africa.

His research focuses on infectious and non-communicable diseases, with a strong emphasis on adolescent and young adult health across the life course. He has led and collaborated on multi-country studies addressing tuberculosis, HIV, nutrition, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Over the past three years, Dr Ncayiyana served as co-principal investigator on major international projects, including the Adolescent Longitudinal Health Study and the NUTRINT Project on adolescent nutrition and non-communicable diseases and has served on editorial boards of leading international journals, including the International Journal of Epidemiology.

Dr Ncayiyana has received a C3 rating from the NRF.

Professor Nanette Oberholzer is a professor in the Department of Anatomy within the Faculty of Health Sciences. She began her research career in 2006 as an honours student in cell biology, followed by a master’s and doctorate in anatomy with a specialisation in cellular biology at the University of Pretoria, completed in 2007 and 2010, respectively. She joined the Department of Anatomy as a junior lecturer in 2008 and was subsequently promoted to senior lecturer in 2012, associate professor in 2018, and professor in 2024.

During her postgraduate studies and later as an independent researcher, she specialised in applied cell and tissue biology, using histological and ultrastructural techniques to assess cell and tissue structure. Her research aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on improving health and well-being. Currently, she investigates the effects of heavy metal exposure, a growing concern in South Africa due to water contamination from mining and industrial activities. Many South Africans rely on this contaminated water for daily use, yet the long-term cellular effects of metal mixtures remain poorly understood. Her research simulates real-world exposure scenarios using animal models, highlighting oxidative stress-related damage that affects multiple organ systems.

Professor Oberholzer has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Professor Natalie Schellack is a professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Pretoria, as well as editor of the South African Pharmaceutical Journal (SAPJ) and serves as an elected member of the South African Pharmacy Council. She has been rerated as a C1 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) effective January 2025, having previously held a C2 rating.

Her research focuses on implementing and evaluating antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies; developing digital tools for antimicrobial surveillance; and capacity-building for clinical pharmacists nationally and internationally. She has an extensive publishing record (https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/559273/publications), supervised more than 60 master's and doctoral candidates, and served as principal or co-investigator on numerous national and international AMR grants. Professor Schellack was recently internationally profiled as a global trailblazer in the 2025 publication ‘Women trailblazers shaping the global future of antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial resistance,’ highlighting her transformative impact on AMS policy and advocacy.

Significant recognitions over the past three years include: elevation to NRF C1 rating, appointment as the editor of the South African Pharmaceutical Journal, re-elected to the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), and intensive leadership in the WHO and the Lancet Microbe global AMR priority projects.

Professor Schellack has received a C1 rating from the NRF.

Professor Nombulelo Sepeng is an associate professor of nursing science and the research and postgraduate manager in the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Pretoria. In 2026, she was awarded a pre-doctoral scholarship and spent three months at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she gained advanced training in research methodologies for vulnerable populations and strategies for securing research funding.

Her research focuses on improving access to medical and mental healthcare for vulnerable groups, including survivors of sexual assault, adolescents, and children, as well as the prevention of HIV among young women, by decentralising services within primary healthcare settings. Currently, she is developing mobile health interventions to improve service access to health care services for rape survivors. She is also leading an NRF-funded project using participatory action research to manage and prevent teenage pregnancy. Professor Sepeng has presented papers to disseminate the findings of her research projects at national and international conferences and has successfully supervised 13 master’s and 9 eight doctoral students.

She has received multiple Departmental awards for research publications and postgraduate supervision and was a finalist for the HERS-SA Emerging Young Woman Leader Award (2023). She was handpicked by SowetanLIVE’s SMag as Woman of the Year in Health and Education in 2024.

Professor Sepeng has received a C2 rating from the NRF.

Professor André Uys is an associate professor of clinical anatomy in the Department of Anatomy of the Faculty of Health Sciences. His academic journey includes degrees in physiology, dentistry, maxillofacial and oral Radiology, and a doctorate in anatomy.

Professor Uys’s research primarily focuses on forensic odontology and anatomy, specialising in population-specific age estimation methods and maxillofacial imaging. His work has significantly enhanced accuracy in medico-legal contexts, particularly for South African populations. Current projects include integrating dental and skeletal maturity indicators to refine age estimation techniques and establishing an imaging centre within the Department of Anatomy to support interdisciplinary research.

He has an extensive publication record, with research spanning forensic age estimation, head and neck radiology, and dental morphology. His work has influenced forensic practice in South Africa and informed global methodologies in age and maturity assessment. He also mentors and supervises emerging researchers and collaborates with international institutions, fostering innovation and advancing his field.

Professor Uys has received a C2 rating from the NRF.