Claudia Christowitz

2025-09-03 10:06:35

(MENAFN- The Conversation)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Stellenbosch University

Profile Articles Activity

Dr Christowitz is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Haematology Research Group at the Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University. Her work involves exploring the interactions between microclots, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation in Long COVID patients. She completed her PhD in Physiological Sciences, where she investigated the functional impact of a rare TP53 germline variant identified in breast cancer patients. Her research assessed its effects on cell proliferation, cell death, senescence, migration, immune destruction, and coagulation using a translational ex vivo model incorporating patient-derived immune cells with breast cancer spheroids. Furthermore, she contributed to the development of a functional genomics pipeline for the pathology-supported genetic testing framework in South Africa, enhancing the classification of rare variants and improving the clinical utility of whole-exome and genome sequencing in precision oncology. Her passion lies in unravelling the complex interactions within the tumor-microenvironment, focusing on the immune system and vasculature, with the aim of advancing therapeutic outcomes for patients.

Experience

–present Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University
2024–2024 Flow Cytometry Assistant, Central Analytical Facility
2023–2024 Physiological Sciences Demi, Stellenbosch University
2024–2024 Physiological Sciences Practical Convenor, Stellenbosch University
2018–2022 Biostatistics Teaching Assistant, African Cancer Institute
2019–2020 DST-NRF Internship, National Research Foundation

Education

2025 Stellenbosch University, PhD in Physiological Sciences
2018 Stellenbosch University, MPhil in Cancer Science
2016 Stellenbosch University, BSc Hons in Physiological Sciences
2015 Stellenbosch University, BSc Human Life Sciences

Publications

2024 Incorporating functional genomics into the pathology-supported genetic testing framework implemented in South Africa: A future view of precision medicine for breast carcinomas. , Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
2024 Inflammation and thrombotic risk in late-stage cervical cancer: An exploratory study of coagulation and cytokine profiles in a South African cohort. , Cytokine
2023 Functional impact of a rare germline TP53 variant (NM_001126114.2, c.1018A>G, p.N340D) in a family with the Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome., The Breast
2022 Obese mammary tumour-bearing mice are highly sensitive to doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity. , BMC Cancer
2021 Insulin-mediated immune dysfunction in the development of preeclampsia. , Journal of Molecular Medicine
2020 Insulin as an immunomodulatory hormone., Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
2019 Mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced drug resistance and drug resistant tumour growth in a murine breast tumour model, BMC Cancer

Grants and Contracts

2018 Investigating the mechanism of doxorubicin-induced drug resistance and tumour growth in a murine breast cancer model. Role: Researcher Funding Source: Harry Crossley

MENAFN03092025000199003603ID1110012499

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.