Faculty of Health Sciences
Prof TJ Mariba, Dean
Telephone number: 012 354 2386
Fax number: 012 329 1351
E-mail address: thanyani.mariba@up.ac.za
Message by the Dean
The Faculty of Health Sciences makes a contribution to health and science through research into diverse topics, ranging from maternal and child health to forensic anthropology.
The faculty has two South African Medical Research Council (MRC) research units: one focusing on various aspects of inflammation and the other on maternal and child health care. These two units illustrate the diversity of the faculty in their focus, but also vary between laboratory-based, cutting-edge science and finding solutions to the burden of maternal and childhood-related morbidity and mortality in Africa.
Among the many exciting projects performed by research groups in the School of Medicine are the Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC), which is not only involved in South African research, but also in international collaborations. The Applied Morphology Research Centre (AMRC) published an article in the journal Homo, which was the third most accessed article in that journal. The Clinical Anatomy Focus Group was also active in research.
Research in immunology and all its related research focus areas, such as inflammation, HIV/AIDS and pneumococcal disease, had a large research output. Pharmacogenetics and stem cell research have started. Physiology research in sudden, unexpected death has led to a number of publications and collaborations with the Department of Forensic Medicine. Osteoporosis research is ongoing, as is research in insulin resistance and basic cancer research.
The School of Health Systems and Public Health has an ongoing focus on alcohol use in women and the prevention of foetal alcohol syndrome in collaboration with the MRC and other South African universities, notably the University of Cape Town.
In the School of Dentistry, research in the departments of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology has focused on the impact of HIV on the oral cavity. Human papilloma virus oral pathology and its consequences are also being actively researched.
Overall, the faculty has had the best research output since its establishment in 2001.
Prof James Ker
Acting Dean: Health Sciences
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