Nonhlanhla P Khumalo
Professor
Department of Medicine
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Biography
Professor Naomi (Dinky) Levitt is the Head of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetic Medicine at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital. She is also the Director of the Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA), a network that strives to connect a wide range of experts in NCD public health, clinical medicine, epidemiology, lifestyle modification, health economics, health behaviour, implementation research and health service management. Prof Levitt received her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from UCT and undertook a research fellowship at the University of Chicago. She has been integrally involved in the development of guidelines for people with diabetes nationally, regionally and internationally over the past decade. Her research interests are in understanding the burden of diabetes and related cardiovascular disease risk factors, the interaction between chronic infectious and non-infectious diseases and diabetes, and primary health care delivery for diabetes and hypertension. She has participated in numerous national, regional and international diabetes activities. She has led multiple epidemiological and health system studies, has published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, has written 12 book chapters and has supervised 8 Honours students, 13 masters students and 10 PhD students.
Research Interest
A systematic characterization of human variation to move away from racial (European, Asian, African) to objective (scientific) classification. We collaborate on projects using applied mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering (with PI as Dr Malebogo Ngoepe) as well as biochemistry, proteomics, genetics and molecular biology to address this basic science knowledge gap. Causes and treatments of hair loss, with a laboratory focus on identifying potential biomarkers of scarring alopecia. Wound healing, abnormal scarring and keloid disease in collaboration with Professor Ardeshir Bayat. Support research projects for the Division of Dermatology and other academics (mutual agreement)
Publications
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K. Mkentane, J. C. Van Wyk, N. Sishi, F. Gumedze, M. Ngoepe, L. M. Davids, N. P. Khumalo Geometric classification of scalp hair for validdrug testing, 6 more reliable than 8 hair curl groups. PLOS ONE June 1, 2017
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Ngwanya MR, Gray NA, Gumedze F, Ndyenga A, Khumalo NP. Higher concentrations of dithranol appear to induce hair growth even in severe alopecia areata. Dermatol Ther. 2017 Jul;30(4).
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Adeola HA, Wyk JC, Arowolo A, Ngwanya RM, Mkentane K, Khumalo NP. Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potentials of Human Hair Proteomics. Clin Appl. 2017 Sep 27.
