Francis Akpa-Inyang | Public Health | Young Scientist Award

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Dr. Francis Akpa-Inyang | Public Health | Young Scientist Award

Research Associate | Durban University of Technology | South Africa

Dr. Francis Akpa-Inyang is a multidisciplinary public health scholar whose research integrates bioethics, indigenous knowledge systems, research integrity, and applied health sciences. His work advances understanding of informed consent within African traditional medicine, exploring how cultural values, communal decision-making, and indigenous ethical frameworks shape patient autonomy and healthcare interactions. He has developed a pluralistic model for healthcare decision-making that offers a culturally grounded alternative to Western biomedical ethics, contributing significantly to debates on ethics in global health. His scholarship further extends to orthopaedic research, 3D-printing innovation, public health behaviour, infectious disease knowledge, and higher-education teaching and learning. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, addressing themes such as ethical regulation, cross-cultural consent processes, infection control, ergonomics in remote work, pedagogy, and health-seeking behaviours. In addition to his academic contributions, he plays an active role in strengthening research integrity systems in Africa, drafting institutional policies, investigating ethical breaches, and providing training in responsible research conduct. He collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, contributes to international conferences, and supports emerging scholars through supervision and mentorship across public health, clinical sciences, and social science research. His work on ethical, legal, social, and cultural issues in emerging technologies, including synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, reinforces his commitment to ethical governance in rapidly evolving scientific landscapes. With expertise spanning bioethics, public health research, academic development, and research integrity leadership, he is recognized for advancing culturally responsive ethical practices and promoting high standards of scientific conduct within African and global research environments.

Featured Publication

Akpa-Inyang, F. (2025). The San Code of Ethics versus international ethical guidelines: A cross-cultural analysis. African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies, 7(1).

Tshegofatso Mogase | Child Health | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Tshegofatso Mogase | Child Health | Best Researcher Award

Sefako Makgatho Health Science University & University of Stirling | South Africa 

Mrs. Tshegofatso Mogase (née Rampudu) is a committed and passionate academic and researcher in the field of physiology and health sciences, with a focus on paediatrics, severe acute malnutrition, and refeeding syndrome. She is a cotutelle Ph.D. candidate in the UK-SA DHET Doctoral Training Program, supported by a SAMRC grant, allowing her to engage in extensive collaborative research opportunities. Her research explores the application of Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis to assess refeeding syndrome in severely malnourished children, contributing to improved diagnostics and clinical management. Tshegofatso holds an M.Sc. in Medicine (Physiology) from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, where her research investigated metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress, earning recognition for her academic excellence, and a B.Sc. Honours in Medical Science (Physiology) from the University of Limpopo. Professionally, she serves as Principal Technical Officer at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, coordinating postgraduate physiology programs, lecturing undergraduate and honours students, supervising research projects, and mentoring students in research methodology, experimental design, and presentation skills. She has extensive experience in physiology practicals, including cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, neurophysiology, and special senses systems. Her previous roles include a research fellowship where she supported undergraduate learning through practical applications. She has supervised and co-supervised multiple honours and MSc projects addressing nutrition, obesity, diabetes, and experimental physiology, demonstrating her mentorship capabilities and commitment to student development. Tshegofatso has actively disseminated her research through publications, including a systematic review and meta-analysis on refeeding syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa, and presented at national and international conferences, earning awards for her contributions in maternal and child health and nutrition research. She possesses strong research, technical, and professional skills, including project management, grant writing, data analysis, laboratory techniques, and digital teaching methods. Beyond academia, she is engaged in community health initiatives, promoting awareness of lifestyle diseases and nutrition in local communities, reflecting her dedication to translating research into societal impact.

Featured Publications

Mogase, T., Van Onselen, A., Rodriguez-Sanchez, N., & Galloway, S. D. R. (2025). The identification and management of refeeding syndrome in inpatient severely acutely malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months in Sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Children, 12(9), 1223.