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

Subject

Rank

Ranking Organisation

Infectious Diseases 24 in the world US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Sports Science Schools and Departments 25 in the world Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2023
Public health 36 in the world Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023
Public, Environment and Occupational Health 44 in the world US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Immunology 51 in the world US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Neuroscience and behaviour 86 in the world US News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings for Subjects 2024-2025
Medicine 89 in the world Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Closed
Name Department
Professor Keertan Dheda Medicine
Professor Lucy Gilson Public Health
Professor Gary Maartens Clinical Pharmacology
Professor Valerie Mizrahi  Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine
Professor Dan Stein  Psychiatry and Mental Health
Professor Ed Sturrock Integrative Biomedical Sciences
Professor Robert Wilkinson  Medicine
Professor Heather Zar Paediatrics and Child Health
Professor Linda-Gail Bekker Medicine
Closed
Name Department
Prof Nonhlanhla Khumalo        Dermatology and Toxicology
Prof Aqiel Dalvie                 Bilateral Chair: Environmental health
Professor Sudesh Sivarasu Biomedical Engineering and Innovation
Professor Keertan Dheda SARChI Chair in Interuppting Antimicrobial Resistance Amplification (SINARA)
Closed
Name Year Order
Professor Lynette Denny 2021 Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Wieland Gevers (retired) 2008 Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Tim Noakes 2008 Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Raymond "Bill" Hoffenberg (Posthumous) 2008 Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Claire Penn (alumna) 2007 Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Valerie Mizrahi 2007 Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Professor Lionel Opie 2006 Order of Mapangubwe (Silver Category)
Dr Ivan Toms 2006 Order of the Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Allan Cormack 2002 Order of Mapangubwe (Gold Category)
Dr Stuart Saunders 2002 Order of Baobab (Silver Category)
Professor Francis Ames (alumnus) 1999 The Order of the Star of South Africa (Category III Member)
Closed

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