MRC PhD students

Research Intern within the MRC Diabetes Research Group (DRG) and registered with the University of the Western Cape

The prevalence of obesity has increased to epidemic proportions world-wide. This increase is associated with increases in the prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers, which indicates that obesity is a major risk factor for these diseases. Animal models have been extensively used to study the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the development of obesity. However, the effect of mutations in genes responsible for body weight regulation account for 1% of the current obesity burden in the human population. This suggested that protein products of various genes could be modified by environmental insults and cause post translational modifications that could be responsible for the development of disease. Therefore, the change in protein profile during the disease development and progression can be used as an early indicator of the disease. The aim of my research is to investigate the gene-x-environment interactions during the development of obesity and its associated comorbidities, using molecular techniques.

Prof. J. Rees: Supervisor (University of Western Cape)
Dr. A. M. Madiehe: Co-supervisor (Diabetes Research Group)
Dr. B. K. Ndimba: Co-supervisor (University of the Western Cape)