Discipline-related research:  Physiology

Discipline-related research studies:  Physiology studies

Project title: An investigation into the inflammatory properties of Tenofovir in HepG₂ human liver cells. Mr  S Vazi, Main Supervisor: Dr C Tiloke

Project title: The hepatoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera against antiretroviral induced cytotoxicity in HepG₂ cells. Ms M Saki, Main Supervisor: Dr C Tiloke

Project title: Investigating the potential antiproliferative effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Ms MM Moremane, Main Supervisor: Dr C Tiloke

Project title: The in vitro effects of Moringa oleifera on chaperone-mediated autophagy in human HepG2 liver cancer cells. Mr MA Bopape, Main Supervisor: Dr C Ntsapi

Project title: Elucidating the effects and mechanism(s) of high fructose diet on selected metabolic parameters, kidney function and hippocampal insulin signalling pathways during infancy and adolescent stages. Ms Z Mvelase, Main Supervisor: Prof MV Mabandla (UKZN)

Project title: The time-dependent role of Sorafenib-acquired resistance on autophagic flux in human HepG₂ cells. Ms R Thubisi, Main Supervisor: Dr C Ntsapi

Project title: Application pharmacogenetics to reduce drug resistance in prostate cancer treatment. Researchers: Mr Abrahams, Dr Sekhoacha; Dr Nyaga

Project title: Chronic diseases of lifestyle: a risk assessment and health promotion framework for a rural and urban primary health care setting in the Free State Province. Researcher:  Dr S van Zyl (completed)

Project title: The effect of various combinations of different classes of anticancer drugs and tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the human MCF-7 and triple negative MDA-MB231 breast carcinomer cell lines. Researchers: Mr Abrahams (completed)

Project title: The relationship between obesity, leptin, adiponectin and the components of the metabolic syndrome in urban African women in the Frees State Province.  Researchers: Dr S van Zyl, Dr L van der Merwe, Prof C Walsh (completed)

Project title: Testing and cortisol levels. Researchers: Dr FP Venter, Dr AM Gerber, Ms PC De Wet Vorster (completed)

Discipline-related research: Anatomy studies

Project title: Profiling Baseline Data for Health and Physiological Stress in a Free State Skeletal Population. Ms D Van Der Merwe. Supervisors: Dr P Maass; Ms S Govender

Project title: Morphology, morphometry and relations of the coeliac trunk in a Free State cadaveric sample. Mr MJ Nkoi. Supervisor: Ms S Govender; Dr H Potgieter; Dr P Maass

Project title: Anthropological research on the skeletal collection of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State.

Principle Investigator: Dr P Maass. Team: Dr S van Zyl; Dr H Potgieter; Ms S Govender; Ms R Masiu; Mr E Anirudh

Project title: Anatomical research on cadavers available in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State.

Principle Investigator: Ms S Govender. Team: Dr C Vorster; Dr P Maass; Ms S Singh; Ms R Masiu; Mr E Anirudh; Mrs N Mhobo; Ms A Kalicharan; Ms Y Benadé

Project title: Cadaver profile of human remains received at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State. Principle Investigator: Dr P Maass

Project title: Virtual Anthropology: The Use of Photogrammetry in Forensic Anthropological Analysis in South Africa. Staff member & student: Ms R Masiu, Supervisors: Dr D Brits & Dr A Meyer (University of the Witwatersrand)

Project title: Evaluation of sacral osteometry for anthropological stature estimation. Researchers: Ms L Malangeni, Dr P Maass (completed)

Project title: Assessing the sexual dimorphism of the upper limb in a Free State skeletal population using univariate measurements. Researchers: A Smal, Dr P Maass, Dr H Potgieter (completed)

Project title: The association between lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) and surgery, in patients with low back problems Researcher: Dr C Vorster (completed)

Project title: Controversy regarding Da Vinci’s gut feeling. Researcher: Dr C Vorster, A Nel (completed)

Collaborative research studies

Project title: Diagnosing tuberculosis in the skeleton with the use of decision trees

Staff member: Ms Masiu. Collaborators: School of Anatomical Sciences (Wits)

Project title: Perceived barriers and challenges to the implementation of chronic diseases of lifestyle experienced by patients and primary healthcare teams in an urban and rural primary healthcare setting in the Free State.

Staff member: Dr S Van Zyl. Collaborators: Prof W Kruger (Department Community Health, UFS), Prof CM Walsh (Department Nutrition and Dietetics, UFS)

Project title: A comparative analysis of drug efficacy in a 2D, and 3D Triple negative breast cancer cell model: An assessment of ABC transporter associated drug resistance.

Staff member: Dr B Abrahams. Collaborators: Department of Pharmacology (UFS), Pharmacen (NWU)

Project title: Investigating MDR-1 protein drug efflux function in a drug-resistant prostate cancer spheroid model

Staff member: Dr C Ntsapi.

Collaborator: Prof Chrisna Gouws – Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacen™) at North-West University

Project title:  3D modelling of an amyloid precursor protein overexpressing in vitro cell model of Alzheimer’s disease.

Staff member: Dr C Ntsapi. Collaborators: Department of Biosciences (UWC), Department of Physiology (SUN), Department of Pharmacology (UFS)

Project Title: Investigating the potential therapeutic effects of multi-cannabinoid treatment on autophagy and cell survival in an in vitro model of Alzheimer’s disease: Implications for Pharmacology and Physiology. Principle Investigator: Claudia Ntsapi. Collaborators: Prof Ben Loos – Stellenbosch University; Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa – Director African Medicines Innovation and Technology Development Platform (AMITD), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), UFS Indigenous Knowledge (IKS) Platform at UFS (Department of Pharmacology). Co-investigator: Dr Beynon Abrahams – Basic Medical Sciences department at UFS

Project Title: A comparative analysis of multi-cannabinoid treatment on autophagy and cell survival in an amyloid precursor protein overexpressing 2D and 3D cell culture model. Principle Investigator: Claudia Ntsapi. Collaborators: Prof Ben Loos – Stellenbosch University; prof Motlalepula Matsabisa – Director African Medicines Innovation and Technology Development Platform (AMITD), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), UFS Indigenous Knowledge (IKS) Platform at UFS (Department of Pharmacology). Co-investigators: Dr Beynon Abrahams – Basic Medical Sciences department at UFS; Dr Angelique Lewies - Cardiothoracic Surgery at UFS; Dr Anand Krishnan - Chemical Pathology at UFS.

Project title: Impact of extended reality modalities on nursing students’ learning and peer learning.

Staff member: Dr A Mostert. Collaborators: School of Nursing (UFS)

Project title: Estimation of living stature from direct and photographic measurements of the lower limb in a young South African sample. Staff member: Dr P Maass

Collaborators: Division of Forensic Sciences, Department of Genetics (UFS)

Project title: Burnout and mindful self-care in undergraduate nursing students at the University of the Free State (Undergraduate medical student MSSM project)

Staff member: Dr A Mostert. Collaborators: School of Clinical Medicine (UFS)

Education-related research studies

Project title: Quality of life and academic performance of University of the Free State first-year health sciences students. Principle Investigator: Dr A Mostert

Project title: Learning Osteology: What do Anatomy students really need? Principle Investigator: Dr A Mostert