Welcome to Molecular Medicine
- Beth Amato - Faculty Communications
The Division of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the School of Pathology
The Division of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the School of Pathology spearheads vital clinical and diagnostic work in both the private and public sectors. A joint initiative of Wits University and the National Health Laboratory Service, the division comprises specialised units focusing on science and research, teaching and learning and clinical work. It is represented in the main teaching hospitals, Charlotte Maxeke, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa Children’s Hospital, and the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.
The division plays a critical role in providing undergraduate teaching, as well as facilitating rigorous training for a large number of postgraduate students. The division provides specialist training to registrars preparing for College of Medicine examinations.
Division head, Professor Johnny Mahlangu
Figure 1: Professor Johnny Mahlangu, the division head at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the School of Pathology
Professor Johnny Mahlangu heads the Division of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service. He is also a consultant clinical haematologist at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Professor Mahlangu received his undergraduate and postgraduate training in science and medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand with haematology specialist and clinical haematology sub-specialist qualifications through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. His main area of research is novel therapies in bleeding disorders, in which he has served as Principal Investigator for many international multicentre studies. He has published peer-reviewed journal articles and presented over 500 oral talks and posters at national and international scientific meetings. His academic citizenship includes membership in a wealth of national and international scientific committees.
Once-off gene therapy could resolve the many challenges of living with a bleeding disorder
A once-off adeno-associated gene therapy (AAV) for haemophilia types A and B will revolutionise the treatment of inherited bleeding disorders. There are promising results from four clinical trials which show that 80% of patients can live without replacement therapy and that the side effects of gene therapy are minimal.
Patients born with mutant F8 or F9 genes have impaired thrombin generation (the final and crucial step in clotting), resulting in spontaneous or trauma-induced bleeding. The hallmark of haemophilia bleeding is bleeding into the joints (known as haemarthroses).
The global standard of care for these patients is replacement therapy with plasma-derived or recombinant FVIII or FIX proteins. “Replacement