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02 September 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied
Dr Satyajit Tripathy
Dr Satyajit Tripathy, a postdoctoral fellow from the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, won the medal for the best oral performance at a UNESCO/UNITWIN network web seminar attended by more than 300 people from various institutions around the world.

A postdoctoral fellow in Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS) was awarded a medal for the best oral e-poster presentation (Postdoctoral Fellow category) at a UNESCO/UNITWIN Network web seminar.

The two-day webinar with the theme Current concepts of Environmental Pollution by Electromagnetic field and Coronavirus was held in early August and was attended by more than 300 delegates from approximately 30 institutions from different countries.

Dr Satyajit Tripathy from the Department of Pharmacology won the medal for his outstanding research presentation on Employment of old options to control novel Coronavirus: Pros and Cons (authors: Barsha Dassarma, Satyajit Tripathy, MG Matsabisa). His presentations looked at immunotherapeutic techniques, such as the convalescent plasma (CP) therapy and possible diverse modes of action of the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) against COVID-19 infection.

The award will serve as motivation

He was excited to hear that he had won the award, says Dr Tripathy.

“I never thought I would win, but I tried my best. On the topic of possible modes of action of HCQ against the viral infection, we have published in the ‘International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents’ (S Tripathy, B Dassarma, H Chabalala, S Roy, and MG Matsabisa / International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 56 (2020) 106028). All the authors are grateful to Prof Glen Taylor, Research Director at the UFS, and the UFS Department of Pharmacology, for giving us the opportunity,” says Dr Tripathy. 
According to him, receiving this award is a validation and boost to his confidence. “I am thankful to Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa (supervisor) and Dr Barsha Dassarma (my wife), who are also contributing actively to this project. Moreover, the award is a symbol of respect for my work and the acceptance of a greater responsibility to keep the UFS flag flying high.”
Dr Tripathy goes further to say that it will motivate him to work on HCQ or nano-HCQ delivery research on Coronaviruses. In his doctoral study, it has been found that chitosan-based nanochloroquine delivery increases antimalarial efficacy against rodent parasites. Against the Coronavirus, this type of approach might work to reduce the dose and increase the efficacy of HCQ, explains Dr Tripathy. 

Immediate saviour from the pandemic

In his presentation, Dr Tripathy argues that while the world is finding expedited approvals for the development of vaccines that are time-dependent, preventative, and possibly not a cure, physicians are considering the convalescent plasma (CP) therapy as an immediate saviour, and the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as therapeutic options against COVID-19 infection, after assessing results from larger prospective, randomised, dose-determining controlled clinical trials. 
He concludes that, “Overall, in this situation of unavailability of specific medication, the CP therapy and HCQ treatment might act as an immediate saviour for society from the pandemic.”

News Archive

Culture contributes to success of UFS rugby teams
2015-12-15

The Sevens team of the University of the Free State followed in the footsteps of the Shimlas when the team was crowned national champion. The Kovsies Sevens team beat Tukkies April in the final of the Varsity Sevens tournament. Photo: Supplied. 

The University of the Free State (UFS) Rugby Club has succeeded once again in creating a culture of values.

Marius van Rensburg, Chairman of the UFS Rugby Club, believes this was one of the reasons why Kovsies had so many rugby successes this year.

The UFS knows that money, which is more abundant at bigger universities, won't change the club into a rugby force, but "there is something special here," he said.

Van Rensburg added that the success of Shimlas, who won the Varsity Cup for the first time, also helped to build a winning culture.

Seven finals

Seven of the UFS Rugby Club's teams played in finals during 2015.

Shimlas beat the Pukke in the Varsity Cup final at Shimla Park on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The Kovsie Young Guns (against Tukkies) and Vishuis (Mopanie from Tukkies) got stuck in Bloemfontein in Varsity Cup finals.

The Shimlas won Section B of the USSA tournament in Johannesburg (against Madibaz in the final).

A strong Irawa rugby team beat Shimlas in the City Cup.

The Kovsie Sevens team was crowned as the Varsity Champions in Cape Town after beating Tukkies in the final. The team was beaten by Maties in the final of the USSA Sevens tournament in George.

Shimlas lays foundation

According to Van Rensburg, the Varsity Cup triumph by Shimlas laid a good foundation.

“After what happened in the Varsity Cup, the winning culture kind of washed over the other teams,” he said.

He also thinks the 2015 successes didn't happen overnight, but that the club managed to bring back good values. He feels that Franco Smith, the former Shimlas coach who is the Cheetahs’ current coach, also played an important part.

Greater pressure in 2016

In 2016, the UFS's rugby teams will have a greater target on their backs.

Van Rensburg agrees that there will be greater pressure, but the structures are in place.

He feels that Varsity Cup success goes together with a touch of luck, of which Shimlas had some this year.

“Looking at the draw, Shimlas will play their first two matches away against Ikeys and Tukkies. Therefore, after two matches, one might have no league points, and that would place the team under immediate pressure.”

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