Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
07 January 2018 Photo Charl Devenish
Researcher tackling drug-resistant TB through molecular methods
Dr Anneke van der Spoel van Dijk is invested in contributing to the global effort of stopping TB by 2035.

The work of Dr Anneke van der Spoel van Dijk investigates the spread of TB in the Free State population using techniques such as next generation sequencing, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk, a senior medical scientist in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of the Free State (UFS) also looks at drug resistance in her research. This work informs decisions about how best to treat patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). 

She employs rapid molecular techniques to track one of Africa’s most serious diseases, tuberculosis (TB). 

Drug resistance
Scientists assist the National Health Laboratory Service and Department of Health in trying to refine the diagnostic tools to identify these cases earlier. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk explains: “Until recently, it took up to two years to fine-tune treatment decisions for patients with MDR-TB. Patients get a cocktail of anti-TB drugs, but it takes time to find the right combination. Re-infection and relapse (patients stopping treatment for several reasons) add to the diagnostic and treatment management challenges.

Enormous impact
“Now doctors can reduce the time needed for diagnostic certainty to about seven days, while new drugs allow reduction of treatment from more than 18 to nine months. This can have an enormous impact on the life of many patients.”

Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk’s work forms part of research in the faculty looking at resistance development in TB strains. She is currently also doing her doctoral thesis on the differences and incidence of MDR-TB among adolescents versus adults. Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says: “It is a complicated picture, but we hope to unravel it to support better diagnostic tools and patient care.”

As part of the National Health Laboratory Service, her department is playing an important role in TB diagnostics and the training of scientists and future pathologists. “Our work is contributing to the global vision to stop TB by 2035,” Dr Van der Spoel van Dijk says.

News Archive

Degrees and diplomas are awarded
2009-09-01



The Spring Graduation Ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) took place in the Arena of the South Campus in Bloemfontein this week. Altogether 832 degrees and diplomas, 34 doctoral degrees, two honorary doctorates and a Councillor’s Medal were conferred.

 
 

All smiles. Three students who received the Advanced Diploma in Disaster Management at the spring graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State, are from the left: Oboneng Cynthia Tshitannye from Vryburg, Ramapulana Nkoana from Tzaneen and Sindisiwe Myide from Pietermaritzburg. The ceremony took place on the South Campus of the university.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
 
 

Diploma ontvang. Sowat duisend studente het in September op die Universiteit van die Vrystaat se lente-gradeplegtigheid grade of diplomas ontvang. Hier is Adri Lourens (links) van Medi-Clinic Bloemfontein wat die Gevorderde Universiteitsdiploma in Gemeenskapsverpleegkunde ontvang het, by haar ma, mev. Helen Lourens, ook van Bloemfontein.
Foto: Leatitia Pienaar
 

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Degrees in die Faculties of the Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, Law and Theology 
 

Three students obtained their PhD degrees in Higher Education Studies. They are, from the left: Dr Liezel Massyn, Dr Andile Dandala and Dr Mpho Moagi-Jama. Dr Massyn, Teaching and Learning Manager in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, completed her thesis titled “A framework for learning design in different modes of delivery in an adult learning programme”. Prof. Annette Wilkinson is her promoter and Dr Rika van Schoor is her co-promoter. Dr Dandala, Director: Quality Assurance at the Walter Sisulu University completed his thesis on “The challenges of designing a new programme and qualification (PQM) mix for a comprehensive university in South Africa”. His promoter is Prof. Johnny Hay and the co-promoter is Dr Louis van der Westuizen. Dr Moagi-Jama, a lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences completed her thesis on “Designing an academic support and development programme to combat attrition among non-traditional undergraduates”. Her promoter is Prof. Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela and the co-promoter is Dr Adri Beylefeld.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

UFS awards degrees in health sciences

This week the University of the Free State (UFS) held its spring graduation ceremony on the  South Campus in Bloemfontein. At this occasion George Visser received his M.Med. (Anes), Wilandi Jacobs received her M.Med. (Surgery) and Deon Menge received his M.Med. (Surgery) in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Megan Murphy (left) and Danielle Rose received their B.Soc.Sc. qualifications in the Faculty of the Humanities.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Dumisane Nxumalo received his Master’s Degree in Labour Law in the Faculty of Law.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
 

Former Kovsies see their daughter graduate
Mr Danie Botha and his wife Alta today attended their daughter, Marali’s graduation ceremony. Marali received her B.Ed. qualification in the Faculty of the Education at the University of the Free State (UFS). Mr and Mrs Botha are alumni of the university.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

 

Spring graduation ceremony held at the UFS

At this year’s spring graduation ceremony of the University of the Free State (UFS) that was held on the South Campus, Cordelia de Waal received her B.Soc.Sc. Honours degree and Danie de Klerk received his B.A. degree in Language Studies and English. Both these qualifications are presented in the Faculty of the Humanities.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

 

Youngest Ph.D. in education awarded at the UFS

Dr Nalize Marais (second from the left), Senior Officer at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development (CHESD), today became the youngest student in the history of the university to receive a Ph.D. in education. Her she is with Dr John Bowes (left), Deputy Principal at Bedelia Primary in Welkom, Prof. Rita Niemann, Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Education and Education Management and promoter of the three students, and Dr Ben Oosthuyse, teacher at Voortrekker High School in Bethlehem. Dr Marais submitted her thesis at the age of 27. All three students received a Ph.D. in Education Management.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Degrees in die Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences were awarded.
 
Two honorary doctorates and one Council Medal were awarded during the Chancellor’s Dinner. Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Senior Professor in the Department Plant Sciences received the Councillor’s Medal for dedicated service to the UFS for more than 40 years, Judge Louis Harms received the degree Doctor Legum (Honoris Causa) and the degree Philosophiae Doctor (Honoris Causa) was conferred upon Mr Johan Loock. At the Chancellor’s Dinner were, from the left: Prof. Grobbelaar, Dr Franklin Sonn, Chancellor if the UFS, Judge Harms, Judge Faan Hancke, Chairperson of the UFS Council and Mr Loock.
Foto: Stephen Collett
 
The degree B.Com. Economics was awarded to Heinrich Brüssow, Springbok and Cheetah rugby player and former Shimla player. Here is Heinrich with Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor – one of his biggest supporters.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
Prof. Helena van Zyl, Director of the UFS School for Business (in the front in the red gown) together with the group of MBA students who graduated.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
Azar Debbo (right) received the degree B.Sc. Genetics. With him is his brother Alec, who received the degree B.A. in Drama and Theatre Arts from the UFS in 2007, and their father Al Debbo, comedian, actor and singer.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
From the left is: Matseliso Phafoli, who received an B.Com.Hons. in Economics, Kenekwe Moumo, who received the degree B.Com.Hons. in Financial Economics and Managerial Accounting, and Teboho Maichu, who also received a B.Com.Hons. degree in Financial Economics and Investment Management.
Photo: Lacea Loader
 
The degree B.Com.Hons. in Psychological Equivalence was awarded to Robynne Sudbury and Siyabonga Nyembe received received a B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry.
Photo: Lacea Loader

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept