Speakers - 2027

Biography

Prof. Vanessa Steenkamp is a medical scientist and academic at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where she serves as Deputy Dean: Teaching & Learning in the Faculty of Health Sciences and is a Professor in Pharmacology. She is registered as a medical scientist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and as a biological scientist and toxicologist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.Her research focuses on traditional medicine, phytopharmacology, medicinal plants, drug development, and toxicology. She heads the University of Pretoria’s Phytopharmacology Unit, which investigates bioactive compounds from traditional herbal remedies and their potential applications in areas including dementia, wound healing, antimicrobial activity, and cancer. Her work also explores pharmacogenomics and precision medicine, particularly how genetic variation can influence drug efficacy and toxicity.Prof. Steenkamp completed her BSc, BSc (Hons), and MSc at the University of Pretoria and earned her PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has extensive experience in research, teaching, postgraduate supervision, and scientific leadership, with numerous publications and international professional engagements Her academic interests strongly align with bridging traditional knowledge and modern scientific research, particularly through the development and evaluation of natural products and evidence-based therapeutic approaches.