Professor Thirumala Govender
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Person |
Professor Thirumala Govender |
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Telephone |
+27 (031) 260 7357/8 |
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Campus |
Westville |
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Research Interests |
Design and Evaluation of novel drug delivery systems, Buccal and Transdermal Delivery of ARV drugs, Nanoantibiotics. |
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Designation |
Professor |
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Biosketch |
Prof Thirumala Govender is Professor of Pharmacy in the Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Head of the Drug Delivery Research Proto-Unit at UKZN. She was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and completed a PhD at University of Nottingham (UK). Her research focuses on the design, preparation and characterization of various novel medicines for various diseases. In the last 8 years her focus has specifically been the development of novel materials and antibiotic nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) to target MRSA infections. Based on outputs so far, her Unit can be regarded as one of the leading groups globally in this area. She is competing with leading researchers internationally and focuses on emerging cutting edge nanotechnology approaches for designing “intelligent” pharmaceutical materials and architectural designs of new generation NDDS for improving treatment of bacterial infections and overcoming bacterial resistance.
Prof Govender is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) C1 rated scientist. Her current h-index is calculated as 32 (Scopus) and 36 (Google Scholar) with almost 3900 and 5800 citations respectively, including papers in top ranking journals such as Journal of Controlled Release which has attracted over 1000 citations and 9 others with over 100. She has 120 publications in reputable ISI journals including several in Q1/Top 10 pharmaceutical sciences, medicine and bioengineering journals, such as the Journal of Controlled Release and Molecular Pharmaceutics. She is a Co-Inventor on 2 PCT patent applications filed internationally with over 145 local and international conference contributions. She has won several national awards from the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa for excellence in both research and teaching i.e.: Johnson and Johnson Distinguished Teacher Award and Adcock Ingram Award and Boehringer Ingelheim Award for Best Research Publications in Pharmaceutics. Prof Govender has secured scholarships/research grants from UK Commonwealth Association, NRF and MRC. She has successfully supervised several students at Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral levels, several passing with distinction and achieving international and national awards/appointments. Prof Govender has achieved considerable international recognition as a scientist. These have included, inter alia, invited reviewer of papers from several top ranking international journals (e.g. Journal of Controlled Release, Colloids and Surfaces), invited author to submit several review papers for top ranking journals (e.g. Journal of Controlled Release), invited author for a book chapter from global leader in drug delivery (Prof V Torchilin), PCT patent applications successfully filed internationally (USA, UK, China etc), invitations from international scientific bodies to review research proposals (e.g. Finovi Foundation-France, National Science Foundation-Switzerland, Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance), invitations from several international universities to be a visiting scientist, an external examiner, give lectures and research presentations and advise on nanotechnology curriculum content (e.g. USA, UK, Geneva, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Sudan), invitations from local (e.g. Cipla) and international pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Johnson and Johnson, Switzerland, Givaudan , Switzerland, Meda Pharmaceuticals, UK) to advise on drug delivery, invitations to be a plenary speaker at international symposiums (e.g Portugal, Japan, India), invitations to chair session at local and international conferences (Japan, Turkey), invitations from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at The Hague (Amsterdam) to present at a nanotechnology symposium for scientists from Africa in SA and invitation from Academy of Science of South Africa and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to present research in Vietnam. She has also established collaborations with leading universities internationally that have led to research grants, publications and staff/student training (e.g. University College London (UCL), UK, Concordia University, Canada, Tohoku University, Japan). Prof Govender has also been invited by 7 universities across Africa to specifically train their staff and students in nanotechnology research for drug delivery. Prof Govender was recently elected onto the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), the apex organization for science and scholarship in South Africa that honours distinguished scientists who have achieved national and international recognition for significant advancement in science for the benefit of society. Prof Govender is also appointed as an Expert Evaluator on the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for the evaluation of new medicines for regulatory approval. She is also appointed as a Moderator by the South African Pharmacy Council for Pharmaceutics professional examinations. Prof Govender was also a past Vice Chair of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa. She is currently a CHS Member on the UKZN Animal Research and Ethics committee and the past Chair of the UKZN College of Health Sciences Women in Leadership and Leverage Committee. She is also a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of South Africa. |
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| Publications | PUBLICATIONS IN THE LAST 3 YEARS
Patents
Inventors: LC du Toit, V PIllay, YE Choonara, T Govender, TR Carmichael
Type: Drug Delivery Device (US0140023692 A1) APPLIC NUMBER: US 13/989,401) (PCT NUMBER: PCT/IB2011/055328), (Filing date, 28 November 2011, Publication date 23 January 2014) Description: The invention provides an inflammation-responsive implantable device for the in situ delivery of one or more pharmaceutically active agents to a human or animal. The device comprises two differential release bioresponsive polymeric matrices (BPMs): an outer polymeric matrix and an inner polymeric matrix, both of which contain at least one pharmaceutically active agent or drug, typically an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory agent, respectively. The therapeutically effective agent may be embedded in nanoparticles or nanobubbles. In response to inflammation, the pharmaceutically active agents are released, but at different rates: the rate of drug release from the inner polymeric matrix is lower than the rate of drug release from the outer polymeric matrix. Suitable polymers for forming the outer and inner polymeric matrices are hyaluronic acid and chitosan, respectively. A method of making the device and a method of treatment are also described. (HTTP:/WWW.GOOGLE.COM/PATENTS/US20140023692)
Peer Reviewed Publications in ISI Journals
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