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Professor Bavesh Kana focuses on developing innovative tuberculosis drugs that reduce treatment duration and minimise side effects. Beyond this, his efforts extend to advancing vaccine development and establishing clinical cohorts to better understand treatment responses to tuberculosis and disease transmission.

His research has yielded tangible results, including diagnostic quality assurance products now utilised in over 50 countries and the launch of a biotech spinout company. Professor Kana’s contributions have earned him widespread recognition, such as his appointment as an Early Career Scientist of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and his inclusion among South Africa’s top 200 young achievers. Prestigious honours, including the South African Medical Research Council Scientific Merit Award and the National Research Foundation Societal Impact Award, underscore his transformative impact on communities and global health.

Associate Professor Bhavna Gordhan is an expert in mycobacterial genetics, with a research focus on the heterogeneity of mycobacterial growth in sputum samples from individuals with tuberculosis (TB).

Her work seeks to elucidate how this variability influences diagnostic accuracy, treatment outcomes, and transmission dynamics, with the goal of informing improved clinical and public health interventions. She leads and manages a diverse portfolio of multidisciplinary clinical studies, working closely with a dedicated research team and in collaboration with both local and international partners. In addition to advancing her own research programme, she has played a key role in building molecular research capacity within the department, including the development of technical expertise, student and staff training, and overall research competency.

Associate Prof. Gordhan is also responsible for overseeing all aspects of two internationally accredited BSL-3 laboratory facilities, ensuring compliance, operational efficiency, and biosafety standards. Her contributions to the field have been widely recognised, both locally and internationally, through competitive awards and high-impact publications.

Dr Christopher Ealand is a molecular biologist devoted to advancing the fight against tuberculosis through a combination of fundamental and translational research.

His work focuses on the molecular characterisation of peptidoglycan-remodelling enzymes to identify novel drug targets that could inform next-generation therapeutics. In parallel, he develops innovative diagnostic strategies to improve early detection and patient care, including non-invasive tongue swabs for paediatric TB and point-of-care probes capable of detecting live M. tuberculosis.

By bridging basic biology and clinical application, Dr Ealand’s research aims to accelerate both the discovery of new treatments and the deployment of accessible, effective diagnostic tools.

Astika Sewcharran’s work is focused on clinical research aimed at improving the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using specialised culture-based methodologies, with an emphasis on enhancing sensitivity and recovery from diverse clinical specimens. In parallel, she contributes to studies investigating tuberculosis transmission within households, leading the analysis of transmission dynamics and factors influencing infection risk among close contacts. Beyond her research activities, she plays a key role in managing laboratory grants, coordinating projects, and overseeing day-to-day operations. This includes ensuring regulatory compliance, resource allocation, and maintaining efficient workflows to support the successful execution of multiple concurrent studies.

Dr Dale Liebenberg’s research focuses on engineering the mycobacterial cell wall to develop a novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccine.

His work explores how targeted modifications of cell wall components can alter host–pathogen interactions, enhance antigen presentation, and improve the induction of protective immune responses.

By integrating molecular genetics, microbiology, and immunological approaches, he investigates how structural changes in the cell envelope influence virulence, immune recognition, and vaccine efficacy. Ultimately, his research aims to inform the rational design of next-generation TB vaccines with improved safety and long-lasting protection.

Chandni Madhav’s doctoral research focuses on the early detection of subclinical tuberculosis through the integration of host blood biomarkers and sputum microbiome profiling.

Her work leverages transcriptomics, high-throughput sequencing, and advanced bioinformatics to identify molecular signatures associated with early disease progression and risk. In parallel, in her research assistant position she investigates bacteriophage–host interactions within mycobacterial systems, with a particular emphasis on phage diversity, host specificity, and the functional impact of bacteriophages on bacterial physiology and pathogenicity.

This component of her research aims to elucidate how bacteriophages influence mycobacterial population dynamics and host–pathogen interactions, with potential implications for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in tuberculosis.

Serene Keenan provides hands-on support across multiple clinical research projects focused on understanding Mycobacterium tuberculosis physiology.

She is also actively investigating and optimising bacterial recovery from non-respiratory specimens, including oral swabs, to improve tuberculosis diagnosis.

Dhanishta Patel provides essential scientific research and testing support across multiple clinical projects.

She contributes to experimental work, oversees sample preparation, manages data, and coordinates the procurement of laboratory consumables, ensuring the efficient and seamless progression of project activities.

Lucie Sungu’s work supports research in bacteriophage-based strategies to combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

She applies a range of molecular biology and microbiological techniques to investigate phage-host interactions, contributing to a deeper understanding of their mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Her work also involves experimental design, data generation, and analysis, helping to advance innovative approaches for tackling drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Danishka Moodley is investigating the role of peptidoglycan amidation in Mycobacterium smegmatis through the construction and detailed characterisation of an asnB knockout mutant.

Her work involves generating targeted gene deletions and applying a combination of molecular, microbiological, and phenotypic assays to assess the impact of asnB loss on cell wall integrity, growth dynamics, and antibiotic susceptibility.

By elucidating the functional role of peptidoglycan amidation in mycobacterial physiology, her research aims to provide insight into cell wall biosynthesis pathways and identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited for therapeutic development.

Anest Reyneke’s Master's project is focused on developing robust quality control systems to enhance diagnostic accuracy and expand access to reliable healthcare, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Her work reflects a strong interest in improving the reliability and effectiveness of diagnostic services.