2003 Scholarship Winner: Thokozile Lewanika

I am involved in Probiotic development in the anaerobe unit. Probiotics can be defined as live microorganisms, that when ingested, beneficially affect the host. I am currently involved in the isolation and characterisation of oxalate-degrading bacteria for possible future use in the treatment of kidney stones disease. Kidney stones disease is a very painful condition that seems to recur in sufferers, and it is more prevalent in the white population. We are working on an approach that is preventative rather than therapeutic as the latter has been the focus of most pharmaceutical research.

2004 winner>