The Centre for Advanced Training and Innovative Research (CATIR) has reached a major milestone, having trained 100 university students in advanced molecular techniques and laboratory skills since its launch in July 2025.
The milestone was reached when 20 students from the University of Zululand (UniZulu) completed CATIR’s intensive five-week training programme, becoming the fifth cohort to graduate from the programme.
The UniZulu students received certificates of completion after undergoing practical training in molecular techniques, technologies and applications, as well as laboratory management and personal development. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical experience, equipping emerging scientists with specialised skills that can contribute to research and healthcare advances in South Africa.
The 20 students are part of CATIR’s growing network of young scientists trained at its Pretoria laboratory, established to expand access to practical, high-quality scientific training, particularly for students from historically disadvantaged universities.
Since the programme began, CATIR has trained students from five universities: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, the University of Limpopo, the University of Venda, Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Zululand.
The 100-student milestone reflects the growing reach of a partnership between the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). Through this partnership, students gain access to advanced products, instruments and technologies while strengthening their practical laboratory and research capabilities.
For the University of Zululand students, completing the programme marks the beginning of applying their newly acquired skills to their academic and scientific careers. For CATIR, reaching 100 trained students since its launch demonstrates the programme's potential to strengthen the pipeline of skilled scientists and expand access to advanced research training in South Africa.
Congratulating the graduates, SAMRC President and CEO Prof Ntobeko Ntusi described the occasion as a celebration of knowledge, perseverance and achievement. He commended the students for their dedication and wished them success as they take their newly acquired skills into the next stage of their scientific journeys.
Prof Khoboso Lehloenya, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering at the University of Zululand, expressed immense pride in the cohort and thanked the partners whose support contributed to the programme’s success. She encouraged the students to return to the university and demonstrate the skills they had acquired during the programme, showcasing this scientific achievement.
Dr Mongezi Mdhluli, SAMRC Chief Research Operations Officer, encouraged the students, including those trained by CATIR before, to “each one, teach one” by sharing what they have learned with other students at their institutions.