For Professor Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Postgraduate Studies, who oversees all UFS nominations (over 40) and led the UFS delegation at the awards, congratulated the winners, saying “our researchers remind us that the highest purpose of knowledge is not only discovery, but meaningful impact on people's lives.”
He is especially proud of the national impact of the work they do through the collaboration with other South African universities. “Our current focus is on Continuing Teacher Professional Development (CTPD) of mathematics and science teachers, especially in the rural South African context. The research includes transformative CTPD strategies as well as effective and innovative mathematics and science teaching and learning pedagogies.” The project implementation strategy includes teachers, learners and parents and during 2026 more than 125 000 project participants were beneficiaries of the different initiatives.
“I want to recognise and applaud the efforts and inputs of the S4F staff members in making project implementation and societal impact possible – this is not an individual but a team effort. Also, for Dr Amaria Reynders, research team member and project manager of the S4F Family Math programme, for her project implementation leadership. I therefore dedicate this award to my colleagues at S4F,” says Dr Van Breda.
Recognising outstanding research performance
For Murray, who received a R75 000 grant for research-related activities, as well as a trophy and certificate, the award came as a surprise as well. “This award is a solid nod that my research and career is moving in the right direction. It attests to the national relevance of our research, the quality of our training and outputs, and the support from the NRF and the UFS,” she says.
The Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers recognises outstanding research performance by current early career/emerging researchers in any discipline, who are NRF grant holders. “I feel so incredibly honoured. I was not aware of the awards, and even the nomination came as a big surprise. The nomination already surprised me! I thought that, even if I don’t get the award, it’s an amazing achievement to just be acknowledged.
“When I then received the communication that I’d received the award, I was especially surprised! It took a few days for that reality to sink in. Even at the awards ceremony, I had a few moments where I wondered if I’m dreaming!” says Murray, who has previously been through the NRF Thuthuka programme for 2024 to 2026.
She credits the research supervision she received from Prof Angélique Lewies, Lead of the Advanced Cell Culture Systems (ACCS) group at the Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre, and Dr Jaco Wentzel, research associate at the Department of Genetics, the invaluable resources provided by the Staff Doctoral Programme, under the guidance of Dr Henriette van den Berg and Prof Liezel Lues, and research support from specific colleagues at the Department of Chemistry; Prof Deon Visser, Prof Anke Wilhelm, Prof Marietjie Schutte-Smith, Prof Lizette Erasmus, Dr Anwar Noreljaleel and Dr Abdul Rashid Issahaku, for the award.
“I think that research shouldn’t be done alone, or in discipline silos. I am a collaborator, not a competitor. With the growing mental health crisis both internationally and in South Africa, researchers are turning to alternative therapies for treatment of mental illnesses.
“One such therapy is psychedelics, of which psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, treatment resistant depression, and others. In clinical trials, a single high dose of psilocybin in combination with therapy has produced complete remission. The mechanisms of action to have such far-reaching effects is still not well-known,” explains Murray.
Her research focuses on the effect of a compound that mimics serotonin (a neurotransmitter produced by the human body, active in the brain, where it modulates different human behaviour) on the expression of genes related to serotonin and other monoamine neurotransmitters by using cerebral organoids (“mini brains”) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. “The serotonin mimetic we’re focusing on is psilocin (the active product of psilocybin), a psychedelic compound naturally produced by Psilocybe (“magic”) mushrooms. We are comparing high and low dosages of psilocin, as well as the effect between pure, synthetically produced psilocin and an extract made from the cultivated mushrooms.”
“Within a South African context, where access to mental health care is not equally distributed, and the financial burden of chronic medication is substantial, this type of therapy could be life-changing. However, we need to establish the safety and efficacy, which is where my research can contribute.”
Prof Reddy remarked: “These NRF honours affirm that world-class research can emerge from local challenges and create national transformation. Research excellence is measured not only by publications, but by the communities, learners, and futures it helps shape. We celebrate our colleagues who have brought the UFS great honour as they connect scientific rigour with tangible societal benefit and sustainable change.
“From science education to genetics and indigenous knowledge systems, our researchers are expanding the frontiers of impact. Recognition at national level reinforces the importance of investing in emerging scholars and nurturing the next generation of research leaders. The most enduring research legacy is not what we know, but what we enable others to achieve through knowledge,” observed Prof Reddy.
• Watch the award ceremony here