Prof. Jeanetta du Plessis – SOUTH AFRICA
Drug Research and Development Health Sciences Building G02,Room 105 Potchefstroom campus, 2520 NWU
Phone: +27 (0)18 299 2274
Faks: +27 (0)18 293-5219
Direkteur Geneesmiddelnavorsing en-ontwikkeling Gesondheidswetenskappe Gebou G02, Kamer 105 Potchefstroomkampus, 2520 NWU
Tel: +27 (0)18 299 2274
Faks: +27 (0)18 293 5219
e-mail: Jeanetta.DuPlessis@nwu.ac.za
I obtained my qualifications from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE). Firstly my B.Pharm degree in 1982 and after completing my internship year in a Transmed pharmacy in Springs, Gauteng (1983), I registered as a pharmacist in 1984. I enrolled at PU for CHE where I completed my MSc in Pharmaceutics in 1986, a Diploma in Tertiary Education (cum laude) in 1986 and finally my PhD in Pharmaceutics in 1993.
My professional career commenced at PU for CHE in the Department of Pharmaceutics as a Senior Assistant (1984-1987), a Lecturer (1988-1992), a Senior Lecturer (1993-1995), an Associate Professor (1996-2000), a Professor of Pharmaceutics (2001 – Currently) and currently as the Director of Research at the Unit for Drug and Development.
I have worked in international laboratories on two occasions: During September 1990 – September 1991 as visiting scientist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA in the laboratories of Dr. N. Weiner, sponsored by the FRD and EliLilly (SA), and for the period 1 July 1998 – 30 June 1999 as visiting research fellow at University of Cardiff, Wales with Prof. Jonathan Hadgraft, sponsored by The Wellcome Trust, U.K.
My main teaching and research interests are in the field of absorption processes across the skin, in order to extend and develop predictive models for transdermal penetration and to provide guidelines for the rational choice of formulation strategies for topical and transdermal drug delivery. My research programme forms part of an international research network including collaborators from U.K, Australia, U.S.A and Europe.
Since 1995, I have been rated by the National Research Foundation firstly as a young researcher and then twice as an established researcher in2001 and 2006 respectively. I am the author and co-author of more than 50 scientific contributions to peer-reviewed journals and books and have participated extensively at conferences, both nationally and internationally. I have supervised more than 55 post graduate students. I am a regular reviewer for scientific manuscripts on transdermal delivery research for international peer-reviewed journals such as Pharm, Res., J. Pharm, Sci., Eur, J. Pharm., Int. J. Pharm. I also act as a reviewer for NRF-related applications. I am a member of the Scientific Editorial Boards of Journal of Drug Delivery and Journal of Global Pharma Technology. I am also a member of the DST Nanotechnology HSE Advisory committee.
My research has been rewarded on several occasions. I received the prize for the best presentation at the South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SASPEN) congress which was held in February 1988 in Cape Town; the prize for the best presentation at the Academy for Pharmaceutical Sciences congress in 1988 in Port Elizabeth; the Maison de Nevarre Prize in 1994 which is the International Federation of Cosmetic Society’s essay prize valued at 5 500 Swiss Franc; I received a Y-rating (Young scientist) in 1995 at the Foundation for Research Development; the Upjohn Achievement Award for best publication in Pharmaceutics at the Annual Conference of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1995. I also co-authored a publication of two of my post graduate students which was rewarded as the best publication in Pharmaceutics at the ICPPS conference in Boksburg in 2002 and again in Potchefstroom in 2009. One of my publications on the formulation of cosmetic emulsions in 2009 was declared the most downloaded publication from the IFSCC web-site. I am a member of the Controlled Release Society, South African Pharmaceutical Society, the South African Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the South African Society of Cosmetic Chemists.
Currently I am the Director of the Unit for Drug Research and Development. This research unit consists of 11 primary members (all of them NRF rated researchers), 14 secondary members and about 100 post graduate students. My main tasks include the drafting and implementation of a strategic research plan, leadership, innovation and initiation of research programmes as well as the preparation of funding applications and exploitation of research outcomes. The administrative co-ordination of all post graduate programmes in Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, the recruitment of students and marketing of skills of the members of this focus area as well as the exploitation of research outcomes are handled by me. One of my core tasks is the quality assurance of the research programme.
Over and above these management responsibilities, I am also the scientific leader of the Cosmeceutical research group within the Research Unit where world-class research is done on topical, transdermal and cosmetic delivery systems. This group consists of 4 faculty members, 2 post doctoral fellows, 3 PhD students and 11 MSc students. My research on transdermal drug delivery has contributed significantly towards capacity and infrastructure building in the Unit for Drug Research and Development at the North-West University and has contributed significantly towards capital investment and research funding successes.
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