Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology

Director: Prof. Paul van Helden
E-mail: pvh@sun.ac.za

Under the directorship of Prof. Paul van Helden, this Centre is incorporated within the Department of Medical Biochemistry, housed in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch.

Prof. Paul van Helden and Dr Tommie Victor of the Centre recently developed a new molecular technique for predicting drug-resistant Tuberculosis.

The department and the US/MRC Centre provide a strong teaching and research environment to approximately 50 scientists, technicians and postgraduate students. We also host scientists and students from other regional institutions, whose work is complemented by our facilities and research interests. Visitors from Europe, America and other African countries also pursue specific research and training projects at MRC.

In addition to servicing the needs of scholars and teachers , department members are involved in outreach programmes aimed at promoting community awareness of the work done at MRC. We are also involved in a collaborative endeavour with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which focuses on technology transfer to researchers working in a rural third-world environment.

Participants from African countries are trained during the course of three to six month fellowships. This collaboration has also enabled department members to pursue fellowships at institutes in Europe and the USA.

Baseline funding is obtained mainly from the University of Stellenbosch and MRC. External funding sources include CANSA, the NRF(SA), Wellcome Trust (UK), IAEA (Vienna) and various commercial institutions such as GlaxoSmithKline.