Dr Khuthala Mnika
AfOx Fellow 2024
Dr Khuthala Mnika is a Lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is currently a visiting fellow at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, through the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) Visiting Fellowship programme. At Oxford, Dr Mnika is collaborating with Dr Azim Ansari, group leader at the Experimental Medicine Division.
Dr Mnika’s research focuses on the genetic basis of inherited kidney disease (IKD) in African populations, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and inform targeted treatment strategies. Her work addresses a critical gap in kidney disease research in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 50 million people are affected but genetic data remains scarce. Through her project, "Utility of Next Generation Sequencing for the Enhancement of Inherited Kidney Disease Diagnosis in Africa," she is generating whole exome sequencing data from patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg, Groote Schuur Academic Hospital and Red Cross Hospital in Cape Town.
This study not only explores the molecular underpinnings of IKD but also aims to develop a gene panel tailored to African populations. By improving early diagnosis and genetic counselling, Dr Mnika’s research holds promise for transforming the clinical management of kidney disease in Africa and laying the groundwork for future precision medicine approaches across the continent.