Prof Alison September
Professor Alison V. September specializes in connective tissue injuries and leads pioneering research in genetics and sports injuries. As co-leader of the GOINg consortium, she fosters global collaborations. With honorary positions, fellowships, and awards, including the SA-MRC mid-career scientist award, she's a respected figure in academia, recognized internationally for her expertise. Member of Academy of Sciences South Africa, fellow of the European College of Sports Science, NRF B2 rated.
Academic qualifications:
1992 | BSc (Microbiology)
1996 | BSc(Hons)(Med) (Human Genetics)
1999 | MSc(MED) (Human Genetics)t
2003 | PhD (Human Genetics)
Positions
- Fellow of the European College of Sport Science (FECSS)
- Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa
- Honorary Professor University of Stirling, Scotland UK (2023 to 2025)
- Presented the inaugural Deborah Feltz Lecture, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA (2018)
- Visiting Professor at Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Poland (2019)
- Visiting Professor at University of Physical Education Krakow, Poland (2023)
Research Output
Peer reviewed Publications as indexed on Scopus: 98
NRF rating: B2
Scopus H-index: 27
Google H-index: 31
Google scholar link or Orchid link:
Orchid link: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0950-286X
Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=xZu3rqcAAAAJ,
Recent and noteworthy publications
Dlamini SB, Saunders CJ, Laguette MN, Gibbon A, Gamieldien J, Collins M, September AV (2023) *. Application of an in silico approach identifies a genetic locus within ITGB2, and its interactions with HSPG2 and FGF9, to be associated with anterior cruciate ligament rupture risk. European Journal of Sports Science 23(10):2098-2108. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2023.2171906.
Alvarez-Romero Javier, Laguette MJN, Seale K, Jacques M, Voisin S, Hiam D, Feller JA,Tirosh O, Miyamoto-Mikami E, Kumagai H, Kikuchi N, Kamiya N, Fuku N, Collins M, September AV, Eynon N * (2023) Genetic variants within the COL5A1 gene are associated with ligament injuries in physically active populations from Australia, South Africa, and Japan European Journal of Sport Science 23(2):284-293. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2021.2011426
Feldmann DC, Rahim M, Suijkerbuijk MAM, Laguette MN, Cieszczyk P, Ficek K, Huminska-Lisowska K, Häger CK, Stattin E, Nilsson KG, Alvarez-Rumero J, Eynon N, Feller J, Tirosh O, Posthumus M, Chimusa ER, Collins M, September AV* (2022). Investigation of multiple populations highlight VEGFA polymorphisms to modulate anterior cruciate ligament injury. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 40(7):1604-1612. doi: 10.1002/jor.25192.
Feldmann D, Bope CD, Patricios J, Chimusa ER, Collins M, September AV * (2022) A whole genome sequencing approach to anterior cruciate ligament rupture-a twin study in two unrelated families. PLoS One. 17(10):e0274354. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274354
Firfirey F, Shamley D, September AV* (2022) Polymorphisms in COMT and OPRM1 Collectively Contribute to Chronic Shoulder Pain and Disability in South African Breast Cancer Survivors'. Genes (Basel). 14(1):9. doi: 10.3390/genes14010009.
Rahim M, Lacerda M, Collins M, Posthumus M, September AV * Risk modelling further implicates the angiogenesis pathway in anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. (2022) European J Sports Science 22(4) 650-657 doi: 10.1080/17461391.2021.1884750
Suijkerbuijk MAM, Ponzetti M, Rahim M, Posthumus M, Häger CK, Stattin E, Nilsson KG, Teti A, Meuffels DE, van der Eerden BJC, Collins M, September AV *. Functional polymorphisms within the inflammatory pathway regulate expression of extracellular matrix components in a genetic risk dependent model for anterior cruciate ligament injuries (2019). Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports 22(11):1219-122
Gibbon A, Saunders CJ, Collins M, Gamieldien J, September AV* Defining the molecular signatures of Achilles tendinopathy and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures: a whole-exome sequencing approach (2018) PLOS ONE PLoS One. Oct 25;13(10) e0205860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205860
Mc Fie S, Abrahams S, Patricios J, Suter J, Posthumus M, September AV* The association between harm avoidance personality traits and self-reported concussion history in South African rugby union players (2018) Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 21(1):16-21
Rahim M, Mannion S, Klug B, Hobbs H, van der Merwe W, Posthumus M, Collins M, September AV* Modulators of the extracellular matrix and risk of anterior cruciate ligament ruptures (2017) Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 20(2):152-158
Rahim M, Gibbon A, Hobbs H, van der Merwe W, Posthumus M, Collins M, September AV* The Association of Genes Involved in the Angiogenesis-Associated Signalling Pathway with Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture. (2014) Journal of Orthopedic Research 32(12):1612-8.
Abrahams S, Mc Fie S, Patricios J, Posthumus M, September AV*. Risk factors for sports concussion: an evidence-based systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2014 (48):91-97
Funding
- SA-MRC mid-career award (2023 to date)
- UK-SA DHET Doctoral Training Programme in collaboration with Universities of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu, Sefako Makgatho and University of Stirling, Scotland, UK (2021 to 2024)
News articles
- https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2019-01-08-genetic-explorers-of-soft-tissue-injuries
- https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2022-12-12-the-incriminating-genes-behind-sports-injuries
- https://www.samrc.ac.za/research-capacity-development/news-samrc-hosts-sa-uk-dhet-doctoral-training-programme-delegation-boost-staff-capacity-development