National Metabolomics Platform at NWU:CHM

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬.    At the National Metabolomics Platform, we are advocating for every South African baby to have the fundamental right to early detection through  𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. This vital screening can identify 22 rare conditions that, which when detected and treated early, can be successfully managed.   You can help us raise awareness and drive change! 💜 #RareDiseaseDay #NewbornScreening #EarlyDetectionMatters

📢 Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Nanotechnology 📢 We are inviting applications for a postdoctoral position focused on the synthesis mechanisms of gold nanoparticles and bio-conjugation. This research aims to advance the understanding of nanoparticle formation, stability, and biocompatibility to enhance their diagnostic applications. For more details on the position and application process, please refer to the attached PDF. 💻 We look forward to receiving your application!

PhD and MSc research projects available in the Mitochondria Disease Group, NWU! Apply here on LinkedIn (se job posting on my profile) or email your application as indicated below. If you do not hear anything by the end of March, consider your application unsuccessful.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Puseletso Manyaka 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗠𝗣? I work as a Medical Lab Analyst. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗠𝗣? Being part of a team that advances newborn screening and metabolic and rare disease research and diagnostics is incredibly fulfilling because it directly impacts early disease detection and patient outcomes. Additionally, the collaborative environment at NMP allows me to continuously expand my knowledge and skills. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Adaptability has been the biggest skill I’ve developed—quickly learning and adjusting to metabolomics techniques while also enjoying the process. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁? If I could have a superpower for a day, it would be the ability to instantly provide universal healthcare solutions. I would use it to ensure that every person, regardless of their background, has access to life-saving health services. #MeetTheTeam #NewbornScreening #RareDiseases #Metabolomics #HealthcareForAll #Diagnostics 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙉𝙈𝙋!

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Elmarie Davoren 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗠𝗣? I am a Principal Investigator at the National Metabolomics Platform (NMP), specialising in small molecule analysis. My work focuses on contract research services, particularly targeted and untargeted metabolomic analyses across various biological matrices. I also develop, modify, and validate methods on GC-MS and LC-MS/MS for both diagnostic and research applications. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗠𝗣? The most rewarding aspect of my work is contributing to the diagnosis of rare disease patients in South Africa. Many families face long and uncertain diagnostic journeys and providing accurate metabolic analyses that help confirm a diagnosis is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that our work directly impacts patient care, guiding treatment decisions and improving quality of life, makes every challenge worthwhile. I also enjoy collaborating with researchers from diverse disciplines, helping them translate hypotheses into meaningful data. This interdisciplinary approach keeps my work exciting and allows me to contribute to scientific advancements beyond diagnostics. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂? One of the most unexpected skills I’ve developed is problem-solving and innovation. While my background is in Biochemistry, my role requires constantly troubleshooting complex analytical challenges, optimising methodologies, and finding solutions to improve data quality and efficiency. Whether it’s refining a mass spectrometry method, addressing unexpected instrument issues, or designing a novel analytical approach, I’ve learned to think critically and adapt quickly. This skill has helped me streamline workflows, enhance research outcomes, and contribute more effectively to both diagnostics and research projects. #MeetTheTeam #Metabolomics #RareDiseases #ResearchInnovation #Diagnostics #ScientificAdvancement 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙉𝙈𝙋!

We are so proud to have you on our team! Congratulations!

💡 #ForFactsSake: Rare Diseases South Africa offers essential resources, including information, advocacy, and a supportive community to those navigating rare conditions. Together, we make a difference. #RareDiseaseSouthAfrica #RDD2025 #SupportRare #AdvocacyMatters

We are proud to collaborate with Vertice MedTech to advocate for and promote newborn screening. Early detection can save lives, and we are committed to raising awareness about this vital initiative. Together, we can make a lasting impact! 👶💙 For more information on newborn screening in South Africa, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dTMfFWy3

Rare diseases, when considered together, are not so rare—yet they remain overlooked in healthcare systems worldwide. The newly announced Rare Diseases International- RDI-Lancet Commission on Rare Diseases (RDI-LCRD) is committed to changing that. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, the Commission will develop evidence-based recommendations to drive policy change and improve the lives of Persons Living with a Rare Disease (PLWRD) everywhere. We’re especially proud that our very own Prof. Helen Malherbe was commissioned to work on this vital initiative. Read more in the official post below. #RareDiseases #RDILancetCommission

🚨 Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in Proteomics 🚨 The Centre for Human Metabolomics at North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, is seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team! 🔬 Key Focus Areas: ✅ Proteomics profiling of rare disease cohorts ✅ Integration of proteomics profiles with metabolomics and genomics data ✅ Advancing proteomics for characterizing and diagnosing undiagnosed patients