Medical Biochemistry is the research field that sets Dr Alisa Phulukdaree’s eyes sparkling. It is also of intense personal significance to her.
What interests her most is evaluating the molecular mechanisms involved in chronic inflammatory diseases such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, which are major contributors to the high mortality rate associated with non-communicable diseases in South Africa.
Non-communicable chronic diseases are those that are not caused by infection and that cannot be transmitted from one individual to another. Instead, they result mostly from sedentary lifestyles.
Joining the University of Pretoria as a young researcher has provided Dr Phulukdaree with many opportunities, including an NRF Y-rating in 2015, membership of the Tuks Young Research Leader Programme, and the Dean’s Young Research Leader Programme.
“As a young researcher,” she says, “the support of colleagues and mentors in my research network has greatly facilitated my progress and success.”
Her role model is Professor Anil Chuturgoon who was her lecturer during her undergraduate studies and who supervised her postgraduate degrees – BMedSc Hons (cum laude), MMedSc (summa cum laude) and her doctorate. “Undoubtedly he has had the greatest influence on me as a passionate researcher, constantly motivating me to publish and contribute to the body of knowledge.”
She is in the process of establishing a microRNA analysis molecular laboratory that will complement current research in the Department of Physiology and is creating the protocols and collaboration needed to make the link between clinical research and laboratory-based research. This will allow clinicians access to a research laboratory capable of assessing genetic and epigenetic changes and evaluating pathological mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level.
