Cape Town – The Stellenbosch University Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI), which is expected to be one of the most innovative and advanced biomedical research centres in Africa, has officially had a sod-turning ceremony.
The event on Friday marked the start of construction of a new R1 billion state-of-the-art research facility, based at the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), which will be completed in 2022.
The new facility will allow for the immediate expansion of current research activities as well as strengthen research and teaching capacity in fields such as bio-informatics, genomics, anatomy, neurobiology, advanced surgical sciences, bio-banking, etc.
SU rector and vice-chancellor Wim de Villiers said the facility would help them realise their vision of becoming “Africa’s leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society”.
The institute aims to investigate diseases that have the greatest impact on communities in South Africa and the rest of African and to translate its discoveries into improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of illnesses such as TB, HIV, diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders, among others.
FMHS vice-dean of research, and professor in molecular biology, Prof Nico Gey van Pittius, said: “Africa bears the brunt of the global burden of disease, with a number of major epidemics colliding across our continent.
"With one of the top medical faculties in Africa, Stellenbosch University has a huge responsibility to help lead in the endeavour to ensure healthy lives and wellbeing for all.”
Biomedical teaching, training and research at the FMHS was previously based in its Physiology and Anatomy Building. It was built in the 1970s.
In the four decades since the building opened, student numbers have more than tripled and the field of biomedicine has changed dramatically.
The new BMRI will provide additional space and be on par with the most advanced and sophisticated biomedical research facilities in the world.
Senior Director: Business Management at the FMHS Eben Mouton said the new bio-facility will form a fully integrated, future-focused and superbly organised research complex that matches and, in several ways, exceeds the best the world has to offer.