---

---

I am a rheumatologist and head of the Division of Rheumatology at Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University in South Africa. My research interests include systemic aspects of rheumatological disease as well as serological and immune pathways involved in these disease processes. I completed my PhD on immune mediated myocardial injury in systemic lupus erythematosus and continue to explore the diagnostic role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, endomyocardial biopsy as well as cytokine profiles involved in the immunopathogenesis of lupus myocarditis. I am also involved in further collaborative research in SLE including lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric SLE, exploring immune pathways and prognostic factors associated with disease severity and progression.
I am passionate about enhancing rheumatology care across Africa though collaborative research efforts. The unique challenges facing our patients, including health inequalities but also an extensive ethnic and genetic diversity significantly impacts on disease presentation and outcome.
Through our SASUF collaboration we will aim to address some of these research questions among the multiethnic rheumatoid arthritis population of the Western Cape in South Africa. We will focus on both genetic and health style factors impacting on disease presentation and also incorporate innovative point of care modalities enhancing our diagnostic abilities. Through an improved understanding of factors that impact on disease severity and also improving diagnostic accuracy we aim to improve the outcome of RA in our population.