Research Overview

The Faculty of Health Sciences research enterprise aims to advance and encourage excellent research, in the context of the vision and mission of the Faculty and of the University of Cape Town. We lead research programmes that are innovative, relevant and transformative, train researchers of the future, and provide advice to health organisations around the world, with a view to enhancing individual, community and population health in South Africa and beyond.

Two young researchers from UCT's Division of Biomedical Engineering.

Research facts and figures

SubjectRankRanking Organisation
Sports Science Schools and Departments10 in the worldShanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2025
Infectious Diseases24 in the worldUS News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Public health36 in the worldShanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023
Public, Environment and Occupational Health44 in the worldUS News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Immunology51 in the worldUS News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Neuroscience and behaviour86 in the worldUS News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Medicine89 in the worldQuacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024
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NameDepartment
Professor Keertan DhedaMedicine
Professor Lucy GilsonPublic Health
Professor Gary MaartensClinical Pharmacology
Professor Valerie Mizrahi Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine
Professor Dan Stein Psychiatry and Mental Health
Professor Ed SturrockIntegrative Biomedical Sciences
Professor Robert Wilkinson Medicine
Professor Heather ZarPaediatrics and Child Health
Professor Linda-Gail BekkerMedicine
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NameDepartment
Prof Nonhlanhla Khumalo       Dermatology and Toxicology
Prof Aqiel Dalvie                Bilateral Chair: Environmental health
Professor Sudesh SivarasuBiomedical Engineering and Innovation
Professor Keertan DhedaSARChI Chair in Interuppting Antimicrobial Resistance Amplification (SINARA)
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NameYearOrder
Professor Lynette Denny2021Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Wieland Gevers (retired)2008Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Tim Noakes2008Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Raymond "Bill" Hoffenberg (Posthumous)2008Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Claire Penn (alumna)2007Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Valerie Mizrahi2007Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Lionel Opie2006Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Dr Ivan Toms2006Order of the Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Allan Cormack2002Order of Mapangubwe (Gold Category)
Dr Stuart Saunders2002Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Francis Ames (alumnus)1999The Order of the Star of South Africa (Category III Member)
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Our researchers are highly collaborative internationally and locally, and work closely with our partners on the health service platform of the Western Cape. The Faculty's research enterprise spans basic, clinical, public health and the allied health sciences, and houses many world-leading groups. Our researchers work across more than 30 University Research Committee accredited groupings as well as many additional research entities and initiatives. Their research is enabled through a range of support services, facilities and committees, and with pump-priming support from internal University and Faculty award schemes.

Our researchers proactively secure funding for their research through competitive grant opportunities from local and foreign agencies. They attract over 1000 research contracts a year, with the majority of our research funding from international sources. This contributes to the development of early-career researchers, with the Faculty being home to over 100 postdoctoral fellows and over 2500 postgraduate students each year. Our Health Sciences researchers disseminate their findings internationally, and together produce an average of around five peer-reviewed publications per day. The Faculty is committed to partnering with our supporters and our communities to advance health through research that is both excellent and relevant.

Research news and highlights