Innovations

South Africa harbours the highest number of rape incidents in the world, and sexual assault and rape cases in the entire SADC region are estimated at a minimum of 55 000 cases per year. Crime scene investigations utilise DNA technology on a regular basis. In cases of rape or sexual abuse, male

The collection and preservation of biological material for further DNA and RNA analysis are critical to many biomedical fields, from medical diagnostics to forensics and biodiversity conservation. The Forensic DNA lab at the University of the Western Cape has developed a novel, proprietary DNA

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that partition preferentially at the interface between fluid phases, such as oil/water or air/water interfaces. Such characteristics confer excellent detergency, emulsifying, foaming, and dispersing traits, which

HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact sub-Saharan Africa, where it remains a leading cause of illness and death among children. Paediatric HIV progresses at an alarming rate, with 20–30% of untreated infants succumbing to the disease within their first year. Without timely intervention

Acute kidney injury presents as a rapid decrease in renal function and can be caused by severe trauma, illness, surgery or chronic medication, such as the use of antiretroviral treatment. Many assays used in disease detection were developed decades ago, and their performance is lacking. This is the

Drug regimens have not been optimised for individuals of African descent. This is due to several converging factors, including Africa’s diverse genetics, disproportionate disease burdens (and consequently a high dependency on specific drug regimens), as well as under-representation of local

This invention is an electronic medical, digital device that computes and grades the stages of Asthma aetiology and severity using wearable biosensors and environmental Nanosensors, with the capacity to predict imminent Asthma attacks and future attacks. The Asthma grid uses an algorithm to compute

The compound 1, 3, 6, 8–tetrahydroxy –2, 5-dimethoxyxanthone (formula (I)), having the ability to treat sexual dysfunction or erectile dysfuncion, is claimed. A process for obtaining a plant extract containing this compound, an extract and the use of this compound or extract in manufacturing a

The invention consists of a unique hinge mechanism as an alternative to existing spectacle hinge configurations. This mechanism facilitates the customisation of spectacle frames while also reducing costs associated with customisation. The majority of eyewear frames uses hinging systems that are

A reusable sanitary pad that is uniquely designed to collect, retain and dispose of menstrual fluid. The reusable pad is used externally, it is hygienic and easy to clean. The most commonly used and commercially available menstrual hygiene products in South Africa are tampons and sanitary pads. The

The invention relates to a process for producing extracts with valuable bioactive compounds from waste pomace generated during olive oil processing, which in return also minimises the environmental burden generated by the waste products. The resulting olive extracts are a source of Vitamin E

Interferon Induced proteins with Tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) proteins are a family of antiviral proteins that have been shown to confer immunity against viral infection. IFIT proteins have been shown to be conserved in vertebrates, with homologues having been identified in several organisms