UKZN Appoints New Head of Discipline of Medical Microbiology
Dr Nomonde Mvelase is the new Head of Discipline of Medical Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), bringing with her more than 15 years of experience as a specialist pathologist, researcher and academic leader.
Mvelase, who obtained her Medical degree in 2002 from the then University of Natal before entering the Microbiology Registrar Programme in 2006, qualified as a specialist in 2010 after obtaining her FC Path (Microbiology).
She also holds a Diploma in HIV Management from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, and a Masters of Medicine degree and a PhD from UKZN.
Her professional career boasts a range of key public health settings, including work in a regional laboratory, a provincial National Health Laboratory Service management office, and most recently, a provincial tuberculosis (TB) laboratory. Throughout this time, Mvelase has played an important role in strengthening diagnostic services within KwaZulu-Natal.
Mvelase’s research focuses on the diagnosis and management of drug-resistant TB, an area in which she has made significant contributions to TB control in the province. She was a key contributor to the rollout of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay in KZN, providing essential scientific and technical guidance. She is also a founding member of the KZN Drug-Resistant TB Forum, which brings together stakeholders to address challenges related to TB management. In addition, she has led training initiatives for clinicians across the province, particularly in the management of complex TB and HIV-related infections.
An accomplished researcher, Mvelase has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and has supervised several postgraduate students to completion. Her PhD research examined challenges in diagnosing drug-resistant tuberculosis, with a particular focus on discrepancies between phenotypic and genotypic rifampicin resistance testing. The findings from this work contributed to the revision of the World Health Organization policy on rifampicin resistance testing in 2021.
Following the award of the National Research Foundation Thuthuka Grant (Post-PhD), Mvelase is now implementing her research findings, with the aim of integrating an improved drug-resistant TB diagnostic algorithm into routine laboratory practice. This work is expected to enhance diagnostic accuracy and support faster initiation of appropriate treatment, strengthening TB control efforts in South Africa.
Words: MaryAnn Francis
Photograph: Supplied
