RESEARCH INTERESTS 

My research concerns the physicochemical and biochemical factors which are involved in the formation of kidney stones.

The study of the factors influencing this disease lends itself very well to laboratory investigation because the fundamental laws of physical chemistry pertaining to solubility, saturation, supersaturation, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, precipitation, crystallisation, etc, are appropriate. As such, basic research involving the application of these concepts to crystallisation processes in urine is necessary in order to gain some insight into the physicochemical factors which influence the initiation and subsequent growth of a kidney stone. However, the complexity of the medium in which these processes occur – urine – makes the problem very challenging from a scientific point of view.

In South Africa, a unique situation exists with respect of kidney stone formation.  Although the disease occurs in the white population to the same extent as elsewhere in western societies, stone formation in the black population is virtually non existent.  This provides a unique opportunity for basic science investigations to identify the reasons for this anomaly.

Several research thrusts are currently in progress in this context:

       (i)      renal and gastrointestinal response in black and white subjects to various dietary agents  

                ( oxalate-rich food, vitamins, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids)

       (ii)      identification and characterization of the urinary proteins and macromolecules in black and white

                subjects and their role in controlling stone formation.

In addition, there are other projects which focus on stone formation in a more general manner.

       (i)      role of citrate-containing precipitations in the treatment of kidney stone disease.

       (ii)     role of traditional medications (African, Chinese, Indian) in the treatment of kidney stone disease