Rick Turner Scholarship Awarded to Master of Medical Science Researcher

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UKZN Master of Medical Science candidate Ms Rinae Prisca Gadisi was elated to receive the Rick Turner Scholarship, which recognises outstanding postgraduate students who demonstrate strong community engagement.

The Rick Turner Scholarships were established to honour the memory of Dr Richard Turner for his contributions to political science at the University and his broader impact on civil society.

“I thank God,” said Gadisi upon receiving the award. “It is an honour and serves as a reminder that I am on the right path to growth and success. As a student it is important to be financially free, to be able to focus on what is ahead,” she said.

Gadisi recently celebrated the publication of her first article in the International Journal of Endocrinology, titled ‘The Extra-thyroidal Distribution of Sodium Iodide Symporter’. The study demonstrated how identifying sodium iodide symporter (NIS) protein in non-thyroid tissues could offer therapeutic targets for modulating autoimmune responses. “Furthermore, in the diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers, the molecular and protein expression of the intrinsic transmembrane protein known as NIS may prove to be an important biomarker,” said Gadisi.

Gadisi’s current master’s research focuses on the functional neuro-localisation of NIS in the limbic regions of the normal adult human brain. What drives her passion is the fact that, to date, no study has demonstrated the presence of thyroid-specific NIS protein in the adult brain. “My findings will contribute to growing evidence of extra-thyroidal functional expression - in this case, thyroid-specific NIS protein in mood-control areas of the brain - and may provide novel autoimmune targets for conditions such as autoimmune thyroid disorders and bipolar disorder,” she explained.

Gadisi said she has always envisioned herself working in the health sector - “wearing a lab coat.” She added, “I care deeply about people’s health. Working in the lab gives me confidence that I am contributing to science and improving quality of life through scientific advancement.”

Gadisi completed a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Venda and a Bachelor of Honours in Medical Biochemistry at UKZN. She is now in her second-year as a master’s student and is currently working on a data-based article due for peer review ahead of her thesis submission later this semester. “Receiving the Rick Turner Scholarship has lifted a financial burden and allowed me to fully focus on my research,” she said. “My family and friends are thrilled! Every now and then, we still talk about the moment I was awarded the scholarship.”

Despite coming from a small village in Limpopo, Gadisi said her family has always been her greatest support system. “They push me to be the best I can be,” she said.

“With my Master’s degree in Medical Sciences, I aim to work in diagnostic and laboratory services or healthcare organisations, taking on leadership roles on managing lab operations and scientific outcomes. Additionally, I aspire to further my studies to PhD, where I can engage in research to discover new strategies that could be implemented in various illnesses.”

She added that she loves to swim. “I enjoy every minute of it. I take breaks between my schoolwork to refresh by swimming.”

Words: Lunga Memela

Photograph: Andile Ndlovu