UCT MedTech

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 / 𝐍𝐑𝐅 𝐒𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐡𝐈 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫! We are excited to release the 2025 UCT MedTech NRF SARChI Biomedical Engineering & Innovation (BMEI) Summer Newsletter. This edition celebrates a full year of progress, breakthroughs, and collective effort across research, training, and MedTech innovation. Our community continues to advance biomedical engineering and innovation through pioneering research, impactful technologies, strong clinical partnerships, and a commitment to developing talent for Africa’s health technology ecosystem. Inside the newsletter, you will find: • Awards and graduations showcasing excellence across our staff and students • New postdoctoral fellows and interns expanding our innovation capacity • Milestones in medical device design, digital health, and translational research • Progress across major programmes driven by the NRF SARChI BMEI Chair • Future directions shaping our work for 2026 and beyond This newsletter is a celebration of the shared commitment that drives UCT MedTech and the SARChI BMEI Chair. Thank you to everyone who contributed to an outstanding 2025. Your dedication strengthens the role of biomedical engineering and innovation in transforming healthcare. Read the full newsletter: drive.google.com/file/d/1J918Z3… #UCTMedTech #Newsletter #YearInReview #BMERC #BiomedicalEngineering #Innovation #SARChI @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 At UCT MedTech, we believe that access to health technology is a fundamental component of the human right to health. While Section 27 of the Constitution grants this right to all South Africans, many people still lack access to essential medical tools due to cost and infrastructure barriers. Our work in 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 aims to bridge this gap through three focus areas: • 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨: We design medical devices using local resources to reduce costs, ensuring the public health system can afford to buy and maintain technology without straining limited budgets. • 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣: A right to health is only effective if the technology works where it is needed. We build tools specifically for South African clinics; durable and functional in environments with limited electricity or specialised support. • 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: We move research out of the laboratory and into frontline healthcare through scalable designs that reach patients in both urban and rural areas. This 𝑯𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒚, we recognise that the right to health requires accessible, functional technology. We remain committed to"𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕, upholding the dignity of every patient. #HumanRightsDay #UCTMedTech #FrugalBiodesign #HealthForAll #SouthAfrica @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐎𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞 In our third video feature, we sit down with Emmanuel Ekene Okere, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Nigeria whose work focuses on protecting mothers at their most vulnerable. Postpartum complications like preeclampsia remain a leading cause of maternal mortality in low-resource settings. Emmanuel is tackling this by integrating AI and machine learning into wearable devices, allowing mothers to be monitored safely after leaving the hospital. His goal at UCT MedTech is to develop non-invasive remote monitoring frameworks that can be implemented in underserved communities, providing early warnings that save lives. Emmanuel’s research is co-supervisored by Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu and Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris. Join Emmanuel as he shares his vision for maternal health across Africa. #UCTMedTech #MaternalHealth #WearableTech #AIforGood #HealthEquity #BiomedicalEngineering #UCT @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 - 𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐱 𝐂𝐒𝐈𝐑 Earlier this week, Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu and the UCT MedTech team hosted colleagues from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Dr. Kgaladi Thema (Business Development & Commercialisation Manager), Shaik Ebrahim Hoosain (Engineer & Project Manager), and Dr. Sello Manoto (Research Group Leader, Biophotonics), for an engagement on campus. Our discussions centred on deepening the collaboration between UCT and CSIR across three pillars of the MedTech value chain: • 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: translating research into clinically relevant medical technologies • 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: building South African capacity for local device production. • 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: creating pathways from bench to bedside and beyond. UCT's biomedical engineering research capabilities and CSIR's infrastructure and commercialisation expertise are a strong combination, one that can advance South Africa's position in the global MedTech landscape and address healthcare challenges in our region. This is the kind of South-South collaboration that moves the needle. We look forward to translating today's conversations into concrete joint initiatives. #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #Innovation #Commercialisation #SouthAfrica #UCT #CSIR #HealthTech #MedicalDevices #AfricanInnovation @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza @CSIR

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚: 𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 Earlier this week, UCT MedTech and Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu participated in The World Bank Group/IFC - International Finance Corporation MedTech Workshop in Cape Town. This landmark gathering brought together policy makers, regulators, and manufacturers to tackle a critical challenge: building a sovereign, locally anchored MedTech manufacturing capability for South Africa Through three strategic roundtables, we explored: • 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Confronting barriers between ideas and viable products, from funding gaps to IP navigation. • 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹: Rethinking investment models for the MedTech sector through blended finance and patient capital. • 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Advocating for value-based procurement and accelerated South African Health Products Regulatory Authority review pathways for local devices. At UCT MedTech, we remain committed to de-risking investment through robust research and training the next generation of biomedical engineers at the University of Cape Town. The road is long, but with this level of collaboration, we are moving in the right direction. A massive thank you to Tanya Vogt and the The South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED) team for their leadership in planning this session. It was an honour to contribute alongside Vic Van Vuuren, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, Fundile Gebremedhin, and Swasthi Soomaroo / Ramsunder. The presence of our colleagues from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Treasury of South Africa, the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa), Department of Health South Africa, Wesgro, Nedbank, IDC (Industrial Development Corporation), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH underscores the national momentum behind this mission. #MedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #HealthInnovation #LocalManufacturing #UCT #UCTMedTech #SouthAfrica #WorldBankGroup #MedTechMasterPlan #SAHPRA #HealthEquity @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡: 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩 Yesterday, Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu, representing UCT MedTech, joined the St Patrick’s Day business networking reception in Cape Town. The event was hosted by Enterprise Ireland, one of the top global MedTech hubs, and we extend our credit to their founders for convening such a high-calibre gathering. The event centred on the visit of Ireland's Minister of State for International Development, Neale Richmond, and offered a timely opportunity to open dialogue on trade, innovation, and cross-border collaboration between South Africa and Ireland. Our thanks to H.E. Austin Gormley and Enterprise Ireland for bringing the right people into the same room under the theme "The New Green Era." For UCT MedTech, moments like this matter. Building relationships across borders is core to advancing healthcare innovation and creating pathways for MedTech investment on the African continent. We look forward to seeing what grows from the conversations started last night. #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalInnovation #SAMED #StPatricksDay #Networking #GlobalPartnerships #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 — 𝐊𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫! Meet Khushi Deolekar, a first-year Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at UCT MedTech. Khushi joins us having recently completed a BSc in Biomedical Mathematical Science and a BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics from Stellenbosch University. She will focus on biomechanics, specifically ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, applying her mathematical and computational background to biological and medical problems. Her Honours thesis on modelling skeletal muscle using Peridynamics led her to biomedical engineering, where mathematics and biology meet. Outside her studies, she enjoys dancing, drawing/art and spending time with friends and family. She has been dancing since the age of four and has always enjoyed it as a creative outlet. Khushi will be co-supervised by Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu and Dr. Giovanni Milandri. A special thanks to The National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation for supporting Khushi's studies and academic journey. Welcome to the team, Khushi! We are excited to have your expertise and energy in the lab. #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #MedTech #ResearchInnovation #MastersStudent #HigherEducation #UCT @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫. 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐲𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐳𝐚 In our second video feature, we sit down with Dr. Barimwotubiri Billy Ruyobeza to discuss the future of primary healthcare in Africa. With a background in digital health and health systems research, Dr. Billy is focused on the big picture: how technology is adopted, scaled, and sustained in real-world healthcare settings. His work at UCT MedTech centres on moving African healthcare away from reactive models, treating people only once they are already ill, toward preventive and health-promotive care that reaches people before illness takes hold. Through scoping reviews and field studies, Dr. Billy is working to ensure that new medical devices and digital tools are not only scientifically sound but also affordable, adoptable, and ready for use in local clinics across Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Billy's Post-Doctoral Fellowship is supervised by Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu. Special thanks to Carnegie, The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and Department of Science, Technology and Innovation for supporting Dr. Ruyobeza 's Post-Doc journey. Watch Dr. Billy's story to learn how he is helping strengthen African health systems, one innovation at a time. #UCTMedTech #PostdocSpotlight #DigitalHealth #PublicHealth #HealthInnovation #AfricaResearch #PreventiveCare #HealthSystems @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩: 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 This week, Liam McEvoy hosted an engaging introductory workshop on Basic Electronics and Sensors, aimed at equipping our new UCT MedTech MSc students with essential foundational skills for their upcoming projects. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀: Students were introduced to core electronics concepts and sensor technologies they will draw on when selecting their research projects. • 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Students went through the different types of electronic parts, building practical confidence for future device design decisions. • 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:The skills covered will directly inform how students approach and evaluate their own research focus at UCT MedTech. We are excited to see how our new students apply these foundations as their research journeys get underway! #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #Electronics #Sensors #HandsOnLearning #MedicalDevices #MScStudents #UCT @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐛, 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢 This week, UCT MedTech was honoured to welcome Shona McDonald from Shonaquip Social Enterprise, along with Dr Beth Kimathi and Ivy Wambui from Senses Hub, Africa's leading research and innovation centre for assistive technology, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The visit forms part of the Africa Trilateral Expansion pilot project, a peer-learning programme supporting six startups working to expand their assistive technology products across African countries. The initiative is supported by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through the Global Disability Innovation Hub at University College London. Thank you to Senses Hub Kenya and Shonaquip Social Enterprise for the visit. We look forward to continuing this conversation and building on the connections made. #UCTMedTech #AssistiveTechnology #DisabilityInclusion #AfricaCollaboration #SensesHub #ShonaquipSE #GlobalDisabilityInnovation #BiomedicalEngineering @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 — 𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐬! Meet Gaby Lups, a first-year Master's student in Biomedical Engineering at UCT MedTech. Gaby joins us having recently completed a BSc in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Cape Town. She is particularly excited to explore the development of a low-cost mobile fundus imaging device to help detect early signs of preventable visual impairments, bringing affordable diagnostics closer to the patients who need them most. Beyond her research, Gaby is passionate about teaching children robotics and inspiring more girls to pursue engineering. She believes that increasing female representation in the field is essential for building a more innovative and inclusive future, a belief that is very much at home at UCT MedTech. Outside of her studies Gaby is interested in trail running and photography. Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu will supervise Gaby's MSc dissertation. A special thanks to The National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation for supporting Gaby's studies and academic journey. Welcome to the team, Gaby. We are excited to have your expertise and energy in the lab. #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #MedTech #ResearchInnovation #MastersStudent #HigherEducation #UCT #WomenInEngineering

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 This week, we welcomed two Master's research groups from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, for an engagement with Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu. Sofia Börjesson Rintala, Linn Andersson Pitkänen, Maja Quist, and Tilde Kvarnström are investigating the Western Cape healthcare system and the potential use of a novel medical device for stroke diagnosis in pre-hospital care. Their research focuses on two pillars: • 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲: Examining the clinical-trial phase and the device's efficacy in a South African context. • 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Analysing the practical aspects of integrating this technology into Western Cape healthcare frameworks. The visiting groups expressed their sincere appreciation to Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu for sharing his expertise and to the team for coordinating the visit. Engagements like these reflect UCT MedTech's commitment to bridging international medical innovation with the realities of healthcare delivery in our region, and we are always glad to play that role. We wish Sofia, Linn, Maja, and Tilde all the best with their research! #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #GlobalHealth #MedicalInnovation #ResearchCollaboration #WesternCapeHealthcare #ChalmersUniversity @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐜 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐡 In the first of our video features, we dive into the world of materials science and AI with 𝗗𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗵. Originally from Iran, Samira joined UCT MedTech to bridge the complex gap between fundamental mechanical engineering and tangible healthcare impact. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀: For Samira, research isn't just about laboratory data; it’s about the person at the other end of the medical device. By focusing on Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), she ensures that life-critical implants, such as tents, behave reliably once they are inside the human body. Her work uses AI-driven analytics to predict how these materials will perform under real-world physiological conditions. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵: "I am motivated by the prospect of ensuring innovations are not only scientifically rigorous but also clinically meaningful and patient-centred." While at UCT, Samira aims to perfect these predictive models, making medical devices safer and more durable for patients globally. Watch the video to see how Samira is engineering a more reliable future. #UCTMedTech #BiomedicalEngineering #WomenInSTEM #MaterialsScience #AIinHealthcare #MedTechImpact @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩: 𝟑𝐃 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐌𝐄 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 This week, Liam McEvoy hosted an engaging introductory workshop on 3D printing, aimed at equipping our new BME MSc students with essential skills for their upcoming projects. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗗𝗠: Students explored the history and significance of Fused Deposition Modelling, understanding its role in rapid prototyping for medical engineering. • 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Participants tackled common printing challenges and refined their slicer settings, ensuring practical application of theory. • 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Students will utilise Ender printers in the Medical Device Lab to create their own models, fostering innovation and collaboration. We are excited to witness the creativity and achievements of our students as they embark on this journey! #UCTMedTech #3DPrintingInnovation #BiomedicalEngineering #FutureOfHealthcare #HandsOnLearning @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐌𝐓𝐙: 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡-𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Last week, Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu, Director of UCT MedTech, and Dr. Nhlanhla Msomi, PhD, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on Health Innovation, visited the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ) in Visakhapatnam, India; the world's largest integrated medical device and medical technology ecosystem. The visit uncovered compelling synergies between India and South Africa; two nations uniquely positioned to co-create solutions for health challenges in resource-constrained settings. From these discussions, several priority areas are now taking shape: * 𝗖𝗼-𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 for clinically relevant medical technologies * 𝗖𝗼-𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 connecting universities, hospitals, and industry across both countries * 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵-𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to accelerate MedTech translation where it matters most * 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 across the health technology value chain, leveraging each other's strengths At UCT MedTech, we believe that the future of health technology innovation lies in purposeful partnerships that bridge the Global South. This visit marks an important step toward turning shared ambition into structured initiatives and real deliverables. More exciting developments to follow. Watch this space. 👀 #MedTech #GlobalHealth #SouthSouthCollaboration #MedicalDevices #HealthInnovation #India #SouthAfrica #AMTZ #UCTMedTech #UniversityOfCapeTown #BiomedicalEngineering #CapacityBuilding

𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬! A massive well done to all our 𝗠𝗦𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 who submitted their thesis this February. Reaching this milestone is a testament to years of dedication, late nights, large amounts of coffee and a commitment to advancing the future of medical technology. You have officially transitioned from questioning to contributing, and the UCT MedTech community could not be prouder. We wish you the very best of luck with your results. It is time for a well-deserved break before the next chapter begins! A special thank you to the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme, and merSeta for their funding and support of the students. #UCTMedTech #ThesisSubmission #MedTechInnovation #PostgradLife #UCTResearch @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬! Join us in congratulating Alexandra Lancaster on submitting her PhD thesis! Her thesis is titled: "Tendon attachment optimisation in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty and the effect on shoulder stability and range of motion." Alexandra’s research focused on how to restore external shoulder rotation in patients who have severe rotator cuff damage and require reverse shoulder replacement surgery. Through this research, she identified positive results showing that tendon transfer strategies can significantly improve shoulder function after surgery. Reflecting on the most surprising aspect of her research, Alexandra noted the sensitivity of shoulder mechanics: "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜. 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍." One of her greatest challenges was coordinating the experimental lab testing. Organising surgical time, equipment, and facilities while aligning multiple schedules was far more complex than expected, and she remains incredibly grateful to everyone who assisted with their time and expertise. Alexandra was supervised by Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu and Prof. Stephen Roche. Special thanks to The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation for their vital support and funding. #PhDSubmission #BiomedicalEngineering #TMedTech #Orthopaedics #ResearchImpact #Biomechanics #HealthcareInnovation @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐀 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐟𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 On Wednesday evening, we broke fast with UCT/BME/HUB/MedTech staff members and students. Prof. Lionel Green-Thompson, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, started the evening with the opening remarks and reflected on the spirit of Ubuntu in community events like this. The event introduction was given by Raeesa Ismail and Malihah Abraham, followed by a vote of thanks given by Maseeha Vania, reflecting on the meaning and significance of Ramadan. We broke fast at 7:30 pm, after the short prayer given by the MSA Health Science Director. Thereafter, Saad Naveed gave the Athaan to break the fast. Sharing Iftar reminded us of the beauty of community. In that quiet moment at sunset, we came together to strengthen the bonds of the past, present and future. Afterwards, we shared a meal, conversation, and a sense of unity within our faculty. #UCTMedTech #Ifta #Ramadan #MedTechCommunity #HUB #BME @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 The UCT Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT) hosted Finnish delegates to explore strategic joint collaboration possibilities. The Deanery, led by Dean Prof. Lionel Green - Thompson alongside Deputy Deans Prof. Tracey Naledi and Dr Kerrin Begg and the meeting was facilitated by UCT MedTech’s Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu and Dr Bessie Malila. The Deanery welcomed Ambassador Pekka Metso and Education and Science Counsellor Veera Virmasalo. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 • 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨: Exploring multidisciplinary collaborations in medical imaging, neuroscience, and digital health. • 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: Discussing the Children’s Research Institute’s vision to bridge community engagement with clinical and laboratory research. • 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙀𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: Leveraging industry partnerships, such as with Nokia, to develop smart hospital solutions and address youth unemployment through entrepreneurship. The Dean and the Deanery expressed a very positive outlook on building this connected ecosystem and pursuing joint initiatives ahead of the 2026 SA–Finland Higher Education Forum. #UCTHealthSciences #SAFinland #GlobalCollaboration #HealthInnovation #MedicalTechnology #ResearchPartnerships @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐳𝐚𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐲𝐢, 𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬! Join us in congratulating Fadzai Saravoyi on submitting her MSc thesis! Her thesis is titled: "𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘌𝘎 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦-𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘳." Fadzai's research focused on developing and evaluating a portable EEG device designed to improve contact impedance in hair-bearing regions of the scalp. Her work included designing an adaptive electrode mechanism to reduce contact impedance, incorporating it into a portable device designed for inclusivity. The ultimate goal is to provide accessible diagnostic technology for rural areas across Africa where clinical EEG access is limited. Reflecting on the most surprising aspect of her research, Fadzai noted an unexpected discovery in the validation process: "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝙸 𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝙴𝙴𝙶 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚗𝚎𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚢 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎." The hardest part of the process was designing a validation method that accounted for hair while avoiding the need for human participants. Since hair significantly affects electrode contact, this required extensive experimentation and iteration to ensure the device performs reliably across various hair types. Fadzai was supervised by Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu, Dr. MV Gule, and Prof. Tingting Zhu. Special thanks to merSETA, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) for their vital support and funding. #BiomedicalEngineering #EEG #HealthEquity #UCTMedTech #InclusionInTech #AfricaInnovation #Neuroscience #ResearchImpact @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐋𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐒𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬! Join us in congratulating Jessica Moseme on submitting her thesis in MSc Bioethics. Her thesis is titled: "𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢: 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴." Jessica’s work examines the critical intersection of ethics and regulation. Her research proposes a risk-based, class-specific roadmap to optimise clinical investigation pathways, ensuring that regulatory hurdles do not become barriers to patient justice and life-saving technology. Reflecting on the most surprising aspect of her research, Jessica noted the unique challenges faced by local innovators: "𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚛-𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔 𝚍𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚋𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢." One of her greatest challenges during the process was recruiting participants from specific stakeholder groups, which required a highly rigorous approach to data analysis and interpretation to ensure the integrity of the study's findings. Jessica was supervised by Dr. Heidi Matisonn from the Ethics Lab and Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu. Thank you to the Fogarty International Center at NIH, The National Institutes of Health , US Federal Funding, Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) for the funding and support. #MScBioethics #UCTMedTech #SAHPRA #HealthEquity #SouthAfrica #Bioethics #MedicalDevices #ResearchImpact #UCT #Innovation @SudeshSivarasu @UCT_news @NRF_News @UCTHealthSci @dstigovza