Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS and CUT research projects get funding

07 September 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Pexels

Researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Central University of Technology (CUT) have recently learned that their research projects will be funded, with one research project even getting double the amount of funding requested.

The research project of Dr Doors Fonternel, an MMed student working under Dr Edwin Turton in the Department of Anaesthesiology at the UFS, and Prof Ihar Yadroitsau (Igor Yadroitsev), Research Chair in Medical Product Development through Additive Manufacturing and the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at CUT, titled 3D Printed laryngoscope for endotracheal intubation, received R400 000 in funding. The project only requested half the amount, but in granting the funding, the evaluation committee was of the opinion that due to the relevance of the research and the long-term sustainability of the project, funding should be adjusted to R400 000.

Another research project receiving R400 000 in funding, is a project by Dr Alice Brink, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the UFS, and Dr Tshepiso J Makhafola, Assistant Dean: Research, Innovation and Engagement and Senior Lecturer: Clinical Technology in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at CUT. The committee supported the novelty of the project and the contribution towards both applicants’ participation in the Future Professors’ Programme.

These projects are part of nine collaboration projects between researchers from the UFS and CUT that were approved for funding between 2019 and 2020. The funding ranges from R50 000 to R400 000.

Using 3D printer technology

Dr Fonternel says getting more funding than expected gives them the motivation to push through the obstacles presented by a project like this.

“It is innovative and uncharted, so it helps to know that others also believe in the possibilities. Apart from the design, testing, and validation that this project aims to achieve, we are looking to broaden the scope into materials and sterilisation. We are also looking at acquiring equipment to enable the UFS to be able to design and manufacture devices of similar need and purpose,” says Dr Fonternel.

According to Dr Fonternel, who designed, developed, and then prototyped the video laryngoscope with the help of the Product Development and Testing Station (PDTS) at CUT, he hopes that with this new research, the validated technology of video laryngoscopy could be provided to a much larger medical community.

Prof Yadroitsau’s role is the overall project management, mechanical testing, project analysis, and possible additional fundraising.

“This can be beneficial to rural hospitals and centres with limited funds and equipment and can make a difference in the quality of care we provide to our patients. It has the potential to improve the safety of patients and healthcare workers in our current COVID-19 battle by bringing First World technology to the front line.”

Valuable contribution to cancer research

Drs Brink and Makhafola will be collaborating on the development and testing of organometallic complexes, primarily model pharmaceuticals that can carry a radioactive metal centre. Their collaboration will develop model lead compounds and then test their biological activity, particularly for anticancer and antimicrobial activities, including toxicological profiling to determine if it is a viable option for future cancer treatment.

“Drug development has significant challenges, particularly for academic institutions that do not have access to the focused and integrated specialty networks as developed by Big Pharma such as Roche, Novartis, Bayer, etc. The research and development pathway of a new pharmaceutical agent that becomes commercially available, takes on average 12 years and costs approximately £1,15 bn.”

“For every single drug that receives approval, an estimated 10 000 compounds have been considered as viable options but have failed for one reason or another. Our research collaboration focuses on addressing these two main challenges that hinder academia from successfully entering the drug market. We hope to identify potential lead compounds with novel mechanisms of action for the development of cancer therapeutics,” says Dr Brink.

This collaborative team hopes to promote and make a valuable contribution to cancer research, specifically towards the discovery of new effective cancer treatments/drugs.

New ways of imaging patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Dr Evbuomwan Osayande, a nuclear medicine specialist at the UFS/Universitas Academic Hospital, says his research will compare the efficacy of EC-DG (ethylenedicysteine-deoxyglucose) imaging with ultrasound imaging in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. At this stage, the research is still in the protocol phase. A protocol has been submitted to the Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee of the UFS for approval. The project received R350 000.

“If this imaging modality proves to be highly accurate and can detect disease activity, including low disease activity, much earlier than other investigational tools, it might become a routine imaging modality in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr Osayande, the principal investigator in this research.

If we can detect low disease activity with the EC-DG imaging, says Dr Osayande, it will ensure that the rheumatologists will continue patient treatment and thus prevent them from having complications, such as bone erosions and joint destruction. “It is an exciting project and we are all looking forward to the outcome.”

Embracing 4IR

The research project of Dr Thuthukile Jita, Senior Lecturer in the UFS School of Education Studies, and Dr Carlie Luzaan Schlebusch from CUT, investigates the possibilities and affordances of training student teachers to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, specifically by learning to teach Science in schools using mobile devices and mobile apps. The project received R50 000 in funding.

“The study is perfectly timed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in large-scale disruption of schooling as we know it. The call for teachers and learners and the education system generally to embrace technology and use information and communication technology (ICT) to continue and restore teaching and learning in some way, has been overwhelming.”

“Consequently, there has been an almost overnight surge in the use of mobile devices for teaching and learning in schools. Sadly, the pandemic has further exposed the digital-divide reality that not all schools, teachers, and/or learners are able to engage effectively with the technology.”

“Therefore, this study will assist in repositioning teacher preparation to use mobile devices and applications that are relevant for the topics covered in the national Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document, starting with the subject Natural Sciences for the senior phase, which include Grades 7 to 9,” says Dr Jita, who is the principal investigator of the project and who is also responsible for the conceptualisation and overall direction of the project milestones.

Research projects that have also received funding, include:

• IoT-based early diagnostics of mobility challenges in the elderly by Elisha Markus (CUT) and Paul Kogeda (UFS).

• Impact of urban development on environmental sustainability: Case study of Mangaung Metropolitan municipality by Dr SA Oke (CUT) and Dr Olusola Ololade (UFS).

• Promoting inclusive pedagogies through transformative learning modalities in multicultural educational settings by Dr June Palmer (CUT) and Dr Rantsie Kgothule (UFS).

• Optimisation of imaging protocols for maxillofacial reconstructive prosthesis design and modelling by Prof Deon de Beer (CUT) and Dr Jacques Janse van Rensburg (UFS).

• LET-MI-C project (Lumbar ErecTor spinae block spread using MRI and CT) by Dr Je’nine Horn-Lodewyk (CUT) and Prof Gillian Lamacraft (UFS).

News Archive

SRC Inauguration speech: 22 January 2005

2005-01-22

Campus Head (Prof Peter Mbati). Dean of Students (Dr Natie Luyt). Deputy Director: Student Affairs and my boss (Mr. Teboho Manchu), Members of the University executive and Academic staff members, SRC members, Leaders of trade Unions and Student organizations, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen, most importantly first entering students and Parents receive my heartfelt revolutionary greetings.

Let me extend my word of appreciation to our distinguished guests for adding value and dignity to this event. Your presence here means a lot to us. Program Director what I bring here with me, assisted by facts, and is therefore just the work of my imagination. Like a love letter addressed to a sweetheart miles away, even though you do not know how she feels, what she wants to hear, and do not even know how her face looks like.

To me a speech is just an honest and intimate conversation. That is why I got into the habit of establishing a dialogue, or a debate, with my acquaintances looking at their faces and trying to persuade them of what I am telling them.

Mr. Speaker and Madam Deputy Speaker of the Student Parliament we are gathering at this ceremony, significantly few weeks after the release of grade 12 results, with the exception of those from Mpumalanga because of fraud. The Grade 12 results also show that only 18% of Black learners matriculated with exemptions, as compared to 53, 6% of white learners. This is an indication that our education system needs an overhaul.

We are also gathered here significantly a day after the management retreat held in Bloemfontein, Masselspoort. The retreat discussed, among other things, the transformation agenda, and some possible solutions to challenges we are facing now.

Most regrettably, we are gathered here when the whole world morns the victims of Tsunami tragedy. Let me therefore tore the line and convey our deepest condolences, from the last robot of my heart, to the affected families. Our hearts and thoughts will always be occupied by this horrified tragedy.

Creating a new Institution

I would submit, for purposes of debate and discussions that this Institution should strive to specialize and excel in regional rural development studies. Since our higher education, institutions in South Africa are generally weak in rural development studies. Instead, most of them tend to have an urban orientation to their programmes. Training everybody for the cities, big business and the private sector. This is a big weakness in a country with such large rural areas and population trapped in poverty, disease and ignorance.

Women’s studies

Program Director, it is only a moron who can argue against the fact that for us to reposition the institution around the regional development challenge, we need to start first with women empowerment. It is a fact that in most of our poor communities and families, it is women who withstand the worst of poverty. They are the ones who daily have to wipe tears from children who are hungry. It is women who look after the sick, the elderly, those dying from AIDS and the jobless. They are the one who have to fetch water, make fire and cook. There can therefore be no rural development studies without women studies, in particular on how to empower them and assist in the provision of basic services, so that they are relieved from some of the burdensome task of the society.

Registration Process

Mr. Speaker and Madam Deputy Speaker of the Student Parliament let me indicate that the registration is a process and not an event, so it cannot be concluded overnight. This huge process demands for people to stay calm, as there is no crisis. People should stop being excited. At the same time, no organization should use its cheap popularity and unilaterally disrupt the continuous and smooth running of the registration process at hand.

Let me strongly indicate, madam deputy speaker, that I am on record for stating that I have forgiven all those who have wronged us. I harbour no bitterness towards the protagonists of our painful and unfortunate events of the past week. And we will overcome this process not by our own devices but by the help of Almighty God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Concerning registration of first years, we have programs, concerning that of senior students, we have programs, regarding graduations we have programs, and concerning HIV\AIDS we have programs. So, there is no need for people to press panicking buttons.

Mr. Speaker and Madam Deputy Speaker of the Student Parliament let me be opportunistic and welcome the entire student body on Campus for the academic year 2005. May our lovely first entering students have a happy and momentous year as part of Qwaqwa Campus of University of the Free State. May your studies be fruitful and enjoyable.

Student years are generally the happiest years of your life, so please make the most of them. While you are doing, all your preparations bear in mind that University is not an opportunity, it is just creating opportunities for a person.

On behalf of SRC members, our people, our students and management members I would like to welcome you all. Even though your parents are far away, here at Uniqwa you have more brothers, more sisters and more parents. Since we will love you with the same love as if we are from one family, and I have no doubts that management members will love and care for you as if you are their own children. Should you encounter any problem while studying at the Qwaqwa Campus of University of the Free State do not hesitate to contact us at the SRC offices because we need to ameliorate any factor influencing you negatively while on campus. I wish you well in the attainment of your academic pursuit.

Senior Students: We are not faced with just a new year but another academic year where we all have to work together to achieve our common goal of building our Institution through the development of human power. I urge you to invest your whole selves in this SRC.

For quite some time now, a debate has been ranging as to, whether has there been any progress in this incorporation process, or we are just moving with no direction. This debate is important, but I hasten to add not essential. The SRC is also involved in this debate, but with definite shift in emphasis. For us it is not important to participate in the debate than it is in finding solutions for the challenges of this new chapter in the history of humankind.

To my colleagues: Comrades, we are leading this Institution with a sense of pride and duty, and I know very well that we lead men and women, students who are determined to ensure that we all reach our destination safely and on time.

I said in one of our meetings that there are more enemies on our way, more than we can imagine. I think you witnessed that during the course of this week. The excitement and unnecessary confusions caused by some confused and loosed charlatans bear testimony to my statements. We should not reveal our game plans unless we are ready to slam.

Let me also borrow from the words of the late Albert Lethuli when he said and I quote: “There remains before us the building of the new land, from the ruins of the old narrow groups, a synthesis of the rich cultural strains which we have inherited. The task is immense”. Lastly, a navy divided within its ranks will be vanquished and destroyed by the enemy, but a navy united in purpose and action, loyalty and commitment will not drawn but sail on to victory.

In conclusion, let me call upon all political structures, church denominations, developmental structures, clubs, societies and forums to put aside all their differences, ideological insinuations and forge unity towards transforming Qwaqwa Campus of University of the Free State into an institution that is seen playing vigilant role in developing students academically, politically, socially, spiritually, religiously, culturally and otherwise.

Program Director, let me end my speech by indicating that every drop of my blood is telling me that Uniqwa is my home. I firstly became a student here, I became an activist here, I became a leader here, I became a president here, I will become a graduant here and hopefully I will become an employee here. So never, doubt my commitment towards the community of this campus.

Please be informed, in a central University of Technology’s way, that if there is no UNIQWA in HEAVEN, then I am not GOING.

Let us broaden the social base.

Tello Titus Wa-Motloung President General

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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