Science Team Award

The African Brain Child (ABC) group combines neuroscience research and clinical interventions to address the high burden of conditions that cause acute brain injury in children. Traumatic brain injury, meningitis, brain tumours, epilepsy and hydrocephalus are some of the conditions that often lead to poor health outcomes for children, collectively accounting for the largest global burden of premature deaths and long-term disabilities. These conditions are poorly understood because it is difficult to study the brain. It is for this reason that the ABC Team was developed from its origins in a neurosurgery program by Prof Anthony Figaji, who is also the NRF SARChI Chair of Clinical Neurosciences. They work to address the research gap in brain conditions that are often sorely neglected in science and healthcare policies. Their overall aim is to use a science-led approach to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children.

ABC is based at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town and the Neuroscience Institute at UCT. They have developed a sophisticated, technologybased, clinical infrastructure for patient care and have the world’s largest experience of advanced brain monitoring in children, resulting in work that has influenced international treatment protocols. They also developed an African-first neuroscience biobank of brain tissue, pathology tissue, brain interstitial fluid, and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid. Their interests span brain physiology, inflammation, metabolism, genomics, and pharmacokinetics, and they collaborate widely with different disciplines, believing that this is key to unravelling the complexity of the brain. ABC also believes in social impact and advocacy for patients and learners: they run a prevention program to reduce head injuries on South African roads and host an annual International Brain Awareness Week program for learners from disadvantaged schools to inspire the next generation of neuroscientists. Recently, they were awarded the prestigious Discovery grant from the Wellcome Trust, the first time it has been awarded to a South African investigator. The team consists of Prof Anthony Figaji (Director), A/Professor Ursula Rohlwink, A/Professor Nico Enslin, Dr Nqobile Thango, Dr Jill Combrinck, Ms Lisa Rae Ungerer, Ms Devin van de Laar, Dr Yigael Powrie, Ms Kelly Kordom, Sr Rachel Dielle, Sr Khanyisa Ginxana, Sr Nombuso Opendun, and many postgraduate students.