Prof Alison September

Professor

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