Professor Jonny Peter is a physician-scientist. In February 2016, he became the first allergologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) with a background in adult internal medicine. He currently serves as the Head of the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Groote Schuur Hospital and the Allergy and Immunology Unit at the UCT Lung Institute. In 2025 he was awarded an NIHR Global Research Professorship.
Professor Peter's clinical and research interests include: i) immune-mediated adverse drug reactions, ii) urticaria and angioedema, and iii) the aerobiology of South Africa. All his research is focused around the mission of understand allergic diseases in African, improving diagnosis and treatment, and training the next generation of African scientists equipped with skills for a rapidly transforming world. He has over 250 publications in high-impact journals and an H-index of 54. His research is supported by funding from both national and international agencies, including the NIHR, Wellcome trust, NIH, EDCTP, South African NRF, and MRC.
Dr Cascia Day
Consultant / PhD Candidate:
Dr Cascia Day is one of two registered Physician Allergists in South Africa and is currently completing her PhD on ACE-inhibitor Angioedema Biomarkers and Genetics in Africa. She is the recipient of the SAMRC Clinician-Researcher Development Programme Scholarship, and the Discovery Foundation Academic Fellowship award for 2024-2025.
Dr Day completed her undergraduate degree with distinction at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2010. She was awarded her Masters in Medicine with distinction in 2019 and graduated as a Specialist Physician at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2020. Dr Day then went on to sub-specialise in Allergology and Clinical Immunology, graduating in 2023.
Dr Day is a member of the steering committee for the International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) with a focus on penicillin allergy de-labelling in Africa, and she has been the Co-Chair of the UCT Department of Medicine Research Symposium Committee from 2022 - 2023.
Dr Day has a special interest in drug allergy, infectious disease, angioedema, and urticaria. She is a clinician scientist with experience in both original research and industry trials at the UCT Lung Institute Allergy and Immunology Unit - and has presented her research at international and local conferences and published in high impact journals. Dr Day is passionate about allergy education for health care workers and improving access to allergy care in Africa.
Dr Sarah Pedretti
Senior lecturer:
Dr. Sarah Pedretti is a senior researcher in allergology and immunology at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute. With a PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), she has built an extensive career in immunological research, focusing on immune-mediated adverse drug reactions, angioedema biomarkers, and the immunomodulatory effects of natural compounds. She has been the Chair of the UCT Department of Medicine Research Symposium Committee since 2024.
As Principal Scientific Officer, Dr. Pedretti leads multiple research projects and plays a crucial role in mentoring students and early-career researchers. She has contributed to securing major research funding and has published in high-impact journals.
Her expertise spans molecular immunology, allergy diagnostics, and translational medicine, driving innovation in allergy and immune-related diseases in Africa.
Dr Dilys Berman
Arerobiology:
Dr Berman has a PhD in Aerobiology. She has mapped pollen and fungal aeroallergens in the Western Cape for four decades and is a co-investigator in the UCT Lung Institute Pollen Project which seeks to define major triggers for seasonal allergy in different biomes in South Africa.
Dr Mimi Deetlefs
Medical Officer:
Dr Mimi Deetlefs has been a Medical Officer in the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology since 2018. She has extensive experience in Internal Medicine and Allergology, and she is an examiner for the CMSA Allergy Diploma. Dr Deetlefs is also a passionate teacher, who is involved in undergraduate education in the Department of Medicine. She has a special interest in urticaria, angioedema, inborn errors of immunity, and perioperative anaphylaxis.
Dr Caryn M. Upton
Medical Research Officer
Dr. Caryn M. Upton is a clinician-researcher with experience in clinical trial leadership, clinical pharmacology, and translational research focused on infectious diseases, respiratory health, and underserved patient populations. She holds medical degrees (BHSc, MBBCh) from the University of Witwatersrand and is completing her PhD at Radboud University Medical Center, exploring cerebrospinal fluid penetration of tuberculosis treatments. Caryn is skilled in strategic leadership of complex research projects, scientific communication, trial design, and stakeholder collaboration. Currently, she serves as a Clinical Project Lead at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute, working with Prof Jonny Peter on integrating environmental exposure and health outcomes data in patients with asthma to develop early-warning systems for communities and guide health policy. Her passion lies in improving patient outcomes through rigorous science, evidence-based policy, and meaningful research translation.
Dr Cathryn Mc Dougall
Medical Officer:
Dr Cathryn McDougall graduated in 2020 from the University of Cape Town with First Class Honours. After completing her Community Service at Mitchell's Plain Hospital in 2023, she began working at the UCT Lung Institute as a Research Medical Officer. Dr McDougall is leading genetic research in HAE in Africa, as well as the SAFARI study to investigate the impact of food additives, and the microbiome in Chronic Urticaria. Dr McDougall assists with the workload in E16 Allergy Clinic and is studying towards her Allergy Diploma and Fellowship of the College of Physicians examinations.
Dr Helen Hoenck
Medical Officer:
Dr Helen Hoenck graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in 2020 with distinction. She went on to complete her internship in Livingston Hospital Port Elizabeth, and community service at Matikwane Mpumalanga in 2023. In 2024 Dr Hoenck joined the UCT Lung Institute as a Research Medical Officer, and she currently leads the IMARI study, investigating severe cutaneous drug reactions in HIV and TB. She is also a key researcher in expanding Prof Peter’s angioedema work in Africa. Dr Hoenck completed her HIV Management Diploma in 2023, the Allergy Diploma in 2024, and she hopes to specialise further in Dermatology.
Allergology and Clinical Immunology
CLINICAL SERVICE
The Allergology Unit of the Department of Medicine provides a 24-hour referral service to Groote Schuur Hospital and all drainage facilities. We are the only adult allergy clinic in the state sector, and we offer outreach throughout Africa, including a teleconsultation service for distant areas via the Sinovuyo Virtual Angioedema Clinic https://aiu.haei.org/
Allergology and Clinical Immunology covers a broad array of services ranging from the care of patients with complex Inborn Errors of Immunity, to investigation and management food and drug allergies, as well as asthma, atopic dermatitis, angioedema and urticaria.
Our clinic is based in E16 with outpatient clinics on Mondays and Fridays, and drug/food allergy testing, and challenges on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We work closely with the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Allergy Clinic, and there is a joint monthly transition clinic to move paediatric patients to the adult clinic.
Our centre is a WAO centre of excellence Centers of Excellence
In 2018 our unit was recognised as a GALEN UCARE and subsequent ACARE, ADCARE and ANACARE centres of excellence
https://lunginstitute.co.za/ga2len-ucare/
DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY SERVICES
The Allergology Unit has a diagnostic as well as a research laboratory. The diagnostic laboratory is housed at Groote Schuur Hospital (H47 Old Main Building) and provides allergy diagnostic tests for uncommon or unusual allergens for the NHLS and for the private sector.
These include Cellular activation stimulation testing (CAST), mast cell tryptase, multicomponent ALEX Array, ELIspot for drug-specific T-cells, and specific IgE and IgG tests and allergen extract preparation for skin prick or oral challenges. Allergens panel for horse IgE are also offered.
AEROBIOLOGY SERVICE
The aerobiology service provides weekly pollen and mould counts for nine cities in South Africa, in collaboration with researchers at the universities of Cape Town, the Witwatersrand, KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Free State, Nelson Mandela in the Eastern Cape, Sol Plaatje in Kimberley and North West Province (Potchefstroom). This consortium of pollen researchers forms the South African Pollen Sampling Network (SAPNET). The latest pollen counts are regularly updated for the public and posted to www.pollencount.co.za - the largest pollen website in Africa. The Allergy Unit also supports an aerobiology research project, current collating aerobiological data collected over the past 30 years, with an emphasis on defining the local aerobiological spectrum in the Western Cape, defining pollen seasons in the region and identifying changes compatible with Global warm, to identify the major allergenic grasses in the different biomes of South Africa.
SA-CARES: South Africa Climate Air-emissions and Respiratory Health Early Sensing project
The SA-CARES project, funded by the Wellcome Trust, will investigate how climate-driven changes to air quality and weather events affect respiratory health in South African children. Asthma and related respiratory conditions are increasingly common and severe due to environmental factors like air pollutants, pollen, fungal spores, and extreme weather. Identifying how these environmental changes impact respiratory health is critical for developing effective prevention and care strategies.
Through detailed environmental monitoring and clinical assessments, the project aims to pinpoint specific factors that trigger asthma exacerbations or contribute to declining lung health among children living in vulnerable communities across Limpopo, North-West, and the Western Cape. Central to the project is the sentinel concept, which positions children with asthma as early indicators of environmental health threats. Their respiratory exacerbations may provide early signals of broader respiratory health impacts and healthcare needs at the community level. If confirmed, this sentinel approach could enable timely public health warnings and interventions.
The findings will lay the foundation for targeted community-level interventions and inform broader provincial and national policies addressing the health impacts of climate change. SA-CARES aligns closely with the Wellcome Trust's global mission to fund research addressing major health challenges intensified by climate and environmental crises.
Funded by Wellcome
TEACHING AND POST GRADUATE TRAINING
Formal lectures in Allergy are given to the 3rd and 5th year medical students. In addition, the unit participates in the SSM (Specialised Student Module) programs for 3rd year medial students which is a module that introduces students to clinical research and allows them to complete a small research study. Final year medical students are also offered the opportunity to spend time in our clinic during their Ambulatory Medicine block. Post-graduate teaching includes training candidates for the College of Medicine South Africa Diploma in Allergy , internal medicine (FCP) and paediatric (FCPaed) registrar training, lectures to Pharmacology fellows, nurses, as well as primary and co-supervision for Honours, MMed, MSc and PhD students. Prof Peter is also currently chair of the Departmental Research Committee https://health.uct.ac.za/department-medicine/research/departmental-research-committee
Allergology was recognised as a subspeciality by the CMSA in 2011, and there are currently 14 registered Allergists in South Africa. Between since 2016 and 2023 three fellows have been trained in our unit (two from a Family Physician background, and one Physician).
RESEARCH
The Allergology and Clinical Immunology Division has one of the most active research teams in the Department of Medicine with a focus on:
|
Severe adverse cutaneous drug reactions under the IMune-mediated Adverse drug Reaction sin African HIV endemic setting (IMARI) study,
|
|
Uplifting angioedema care in Africa through the Angioedema Biomarkers in Africa (ABA) study with a specific focus on Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor angioedema
|
|
|
Food Additive Hypersensitivity in the South African Angioedema and Food Additives research and Investigation (SAFARI) study
|
|
Prof Peter and Dr Day are on the steering committee of the International Network of Antibiotic Allergy Nations (iNAAN) project, with a focus on inpatient penicillin allergy de-labelling
|
|
Ongoing original work in Chronic Urticaria.
|
|
Ongoing original work in Hereditary Angioedema. |
Our division is connected to our partner unit, the Allergy and Immunology unit based at the University of Cape Town Lung Institute, and this serves as the site of clinical trials with a particular focus on commercial research of cutting-edge therapies for allergic and immune-based disease. Further information can be found AIU - UCT Lung Institute
EXCITING ASPECTS OF OUR RESEARCH IN THE UNIT
Our unit is involved in multiple exciting research topics, with most of our work focused on severe adverse drug reactions and drug allergy, urticaria and angioedema, and aerobiology of South Africa. We have established the first South African multidisciplinary Drug Allergy Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital in conjunction with the divisions of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases. Under the guidance of Prof Peter and Prof Lehloenya the team performs cutting edge drug testing and challenges in patients with severe adverse cutaneous reactions (primarily in Tuberculosis and HIV care). Our basic science team has produced outstanding work in epithelial reactions, ELI spot, and HLA typing of these patients.
We are one of two Urticaria and Angioedema centers of Excellence in Africa, and together with the GALEN CURE and CARE registries, we have contributed to improved understanding of Chronic Urticaria around the world.
The iNAAN project aims to prove that de-labelling inpatients with a penicillin allergy label is safe and effective, this novel study is looking at ways to improve penicillin allergy assessment and facilitate de-labelling of low risk patients by non-allergists and other health care workers.
CHALLENGING WORK
The most challenging aspects of our work include the investigation and management of patients with complex drug allergies and anaphylaxis (especially peri operative anaphylaxis). Laboratory tests have limited value and often direct skin testing or clinical challenges with all the inherent clinical risks are necessary.
THE FUTURE
Up to 25% of the population suffer from an allergic illness, and we know that the rates of allergic disease are growing globally. Allergology and Clinical Immunology is a relatively new, and small discipline, and we aim to expand training of Allergology and Clinical Immunology Fellows in South Africa and Africa. We are also passionate about health care worker education about allergic conditions, and we will be continuing to expand our outreach and educational programmes.
Publication links
| Prof Jonny Peter: |
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonny-Peter https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2658-0723 https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=z83AmsgAAAAJ&hl=en |
| Dr Cascia Day: | |
| Dr Sarah Pedretti: | |
| Dr Dilys Berman: | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1104-4063 |
| Dr Caryn Upton: |
"Leading with Excellence"
Department of Medicine