Professor Evelyn Madoroba, a University of Zululand (UNIZULU) microbiology professor, is poised to make a significant contribution to tackling antimicrobial resistance after securing five-year funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF) to hold a Research Chair.
The Chair, titled “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance Among Priority Pathogens Through Surveillance Using One Health Approach”, is funded as part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI). This project was launched in 2006 by the then Department of Science and Technology together with NRF. It seeks to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities through the establishment of Research Chairs at these spaces for up to 15 years. At the heart of this initiative is strengthening and improving research and innovation capacity of public universities for producing high quality postgraduate students as well as research and innovation outputs.
Prof Madoroba’s Chair has been funded under Tier 2, an awarding made for established researchers, with a potential to achieve international recognition for their research contributions in the next five to 10 years.
Her Chair is the third to be awarded to a UNIZULU scholar in the past year. This huge milestone is perfectly aligned to one of the university’s strategic goals which speaks driving its growth in research and innovation.
Discovering that her application for the Chair had been successful, Prof Madoroba shared that she was overwhelmed by gratitude as she reflected on her strong support system both personally and professionally.
“As a female Chair holder, the position represents an important milestone, and I will use the opportunity to intentionally be a role model who inspires, mentors, and supports young academics and postgraduate students, especially women so they pursue leadership and higher academic achievements,” she assured.
Through the Chair, Prof Madoroba explained she seeks to establish a concise, multi-pathogen integrated “One Health” surveillance system that links antimicrobial resistance data across human, animal, and environmental sectors. Antimicrobial resistance is a state wherein bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand drug treatments, making treatment for infections more difficult and increasing mortality risk.
“The data generated is expected to reduce the transmission of antimicrobial resistance pathogens, protect public health, and inform policy. The use of a “One Health” approach is important because antimicrobial resistance is a complex, multi-sectoral challenge involving humans, animals, and the environment. Through the Chair, I will evaluate medicinal plants and natural products to discover potential novel antimicrobials, which will contribute to providing solutions to the challenge of antimicrobial resistance using local resources,” she expounded.
Furthermore, research conducted through the Chair will look into current data on antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases and “One Health” concepts in different communities as a way of raising awareness. In the same vein, scholars will “assess knowledge of the role of medicinal plants in the management and cure of infectious diseases and their role in curbing antimicrobial resistance in order to raise awareness”.
The overarching goal for the microbiology professor is to create synergy among health scholars so that knowledge produced in any of the relevant sectors can be easily accessible across the board. She believes that this approach will help contribute immensely to community health, and importantly, reducing the incidence of drug-resistant pathogens.
“The research will place UNIZULU at the forefront of emerging research on antimicrobial resistance and “One Health”. Research on evaluating medicinal plants and natural products for their antimicrobial potential is expected to contribute to innovation that will generate intellectual property (IP). Generation of IP will attract industry partners,” she reckoned.
As a Chair holder, Prof Madoroba is excited to foster an inclusive research culture by supporting early-career academics, facilitating interdisciplinary mentoring, and ensuring a vibrant and evolving intellectual environment.
– Naledi Hlefane
Picture: Samkele Sokhela
