The College of Health Sciences (CHS) has appointed esteemed researcher and academic leader, Professor Bongani Nkambule, as its new Dean: Research.
Nkambule, who has served as the Academic Leader of Research in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences (SLMMS), brings a wealth of experience, exceptional scholarly achievements, and international recognition to the role. His appointment marks a significant step in advancing the College’s research agenda.
A renowned Medical Biological Scientist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Nkambule holds a PhD in Haematological Pathology. His research has contributed significantly to the fields of immunohematology, platelet function, and immune thrombosis—particularly in the context of infectious diseases and malignancies.
Nkambule is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious UKZN Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award, an honour bestowed annually on a leading researcher whose work has garnered substantial academic and international impact. In just over eight years, he has authored an impressive 109 peer-reviewed publications and has made ground-breaking contributions, including publishing the largest study to date on dyslipidemia and platelet function.
During his time at UKZN, Nkambule has also distinguished himself as an exceptional mentor, having successfully supervised over seven PhD and 12 Master’s students. He currently oversees the research of 11 postgraduate candidates.
His expertise has been recognized through several highly competitive fellowships, including the NIH-funded Developing Research, Innovation, Localisation and Leadership in South Africa (DRILL) fellowship (2016–2021), and a Senior Research Fellowship (2021–2023) at the National Institutes of Health’s Laboratory of Haemostasis and Platelet Biology and the Framingham Heart Study in the United States.
As Principal Investigator on multiple multidisciplinary projects, Nkambule has attracted over R6 million in local research funding. He currently leads a multinational NIH-funded study on platelet function, set to become the largest population-based dataset on platelet traits in Sub-Saharan Africa.
‘On behalf of the College of Health Sciences, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Professor Bongani Nkambule on his well-deserved appointment as Dean of Research. His exceptional research track record, commitment to mentorship, and international collaborations have brought immense prestige to our College. We are confident that under his leadership, the College’s research enterprise will continue to grow in impact, innovation, and global relevance,’ said Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the CHS- Professor Busisiwe Ncama.
