“The Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship is one of the most sought-after academic honours on the continent. At an award ceremony on 15 July 2025, groundbreaking new research by Professor Anthony Figaji was recognised. He and his research group, African Brain Child (ABC), based at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) and the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Neuroscience Institute (NI), are striving to decode the physiology and improve treatment of brain injury in children.
This long-standing fellowship, which recognises established researchers, has previously been awarded to nine UCT academics. Professor Figaji becoming the tenth recipient makes UCT the institution with the most awardees. The 2024/2025, fellowships were awarded to both Figaji and University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) physicist, Professor Andrew Forbes.
How prevalent are brain injuries?
Children are especially vulnerable to traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is the leading cause of death and disability from injury around the world. Figaji’s research explores how the brain responds to injury in real-time, what biological mechanisms contribute to recovery or further damage and what treatment options are most effective. In particular, he seeks to understand how medications penetrate the brain, which, unlike other organs, is protected by physiological barriers that make drug delivery notoriously difficult.”
Read the full article here. | 16 July 2025 Hayley Tomes
