Dr Zama Msibi
Designation: Human Physiology Lecturer
Tel:+27 (031) 2607975
Email: msibiz2@ukzn.ac.za
Campus: Westville, Westville, Room E3-417
Research interests:
Parkinson’s disease pathology and treatment
Nanotechnology
Molecular Biology
Gene Therapy
Cerebrovascular dysfunction
Neurocysticercosis
Hydrocephalus Psychosis
Biosketch:
Dr Zama Msibi is a Lecturer in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). She recently obtained her PhD in Neuroscience at UKZN. She completed her undergraduate degree in Microbial Biotechnology (BSc) at UKZN Westville campus, thereafter she studied Medical Microbiology at UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine (BMedSc and MMEDSc). Her Masters research collaboration afforded her the opportunity to conduct some of her research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York.
Dr Msibi’s keen interest in brain-related disorders inspired her to do her PhD in Neuroscience. Dr Msibi’s research focused on gold nanoparticle-mediated gene therapy for Parkinson’s disease, and is currently exploring more nanotechnology tools for diagnosis and treatment of other non-communicable disorders. Dr Msibi has recently joined Dr B Enicker (Head of Neurosurgery at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital) and started a Neuroscience-Neurosurgery research collaboration, where they have recruited their first student cohort (2023). Other collaborators include Prof B Chiliza (Head of Psychiatry) and Prof V Ramsuran. One of Dr Msibi’s goals is to try and breach the gap between clinical and laboratory research.
Recent publications:
Msibi ZNP and Mabandla MV (2019). Oleanolic Acid Mitigates 6-Hydroxydopamine Neurotoxicity by Attenuating Intracellular ROS in PC12 Cells and Striatal Microglial Activation in Rat Brains. Front. Physiol. 10:1059. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01059
Bionghi N., Daftary A., Maharaj B., Msibi Z, Amico K. R., Friedland G., Orrell C., Padayatchi N., O’Donnell M. R. 2018. Pilot evaluation of a second-generation electronic pill box for adherence to Bedaquiline and antiretroviral therapy in drug-resistant TB/HIV co-infected patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. BMC Infectious Diseases. 18:171. Pope WH, Jacobs-Sera D, Russell DA, Rubin DHF, Kajee A, Msibi ZNP, Larsen MH, Jacobs WR, Jr, Lawrence JG, Hendrix RW, Hatfull GF. 2014. Genomics and proteomics of mycobacteriophage Patience, an accidental tourist in the Mycobacterium neighborhood. mBio 5(6):e02145-14. doi:10.1128/mBio.02145-14