Tshepiso Makhafola

Prof. Tshepiso Jan Makhafola obtained his PhD in Phytomedicine from the University of Pretoria in 2015. His pioneering research centers on cancer biology, genetic toxicology and drug discovery. Specifically, he investigates the therapeutic potential of South African medicinal plant extracts and phytocompounds. His work aims to manipulate alternative splicing for advanced cancer therapy and prevent mycotoxin-induced genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, addressing critical healthcare gaps in developing nations. He is currently the Director of the Centre for Quality of Health and Living  and served as the Assistant Dean for Research, Innovation, and Engagement and the  at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State. Professor Makhafola holds a prestigious C2 research rating from the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). Reflecting his academic distinction, he was selected for the Department of Higher Education and Training's Future Professors Programme. He is also an Iso Lomso Fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)  and a fellow at the Hamburg Institute of Advanced study (HIAS) in Germany and serves as an extraordinary lecturer at the Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI). Through these roles, he substantially advances ethnopharmacology and oncology research globally.