Resia Pretorius, a distinguished professor and Chair of Physiological Science at Stellenbosch University, and an honorary professor at Liverpool University, has made notable contributions to the field of early inflammatory disease detection. With a publication record exceeding 110 papers and supervision of over 70 postgraduate students, her work bears significance. Her research has been featured in respected publications such as Nature, Science, New Scientist, and The National Geographic.
Her investigations revolve around the interface of clinical and research domains, focusing on cellular and protein dynamics within the coagulation system. This scope encompasses platelets, erythrocytes, and the vital coagulation protein fibrin(ogen). Her inquiries extend to the impact of bacterial-origin inflammatory biomarkers on the coagulation framework during various inflammatory conditions. These biomarkers interact with platelet and erythrocyte receptors, as well as fibrin(ogen) in circulation, offering novel insights into inflammation-associated coagulation. Using clinically relevant methodologies (including imaging flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and proteomics) and her objective is to pinpoint early indicators of inflammatory disease risk. The comprehension of how circulating inflammagens affect coagulation holds significance for managing and predicting inflammatory conditions. Her recent endeavours encompass the investigation of persistent microclots that trap inflammatory molecules in acute COVID-19, Long COVID and ME/CFS. For a comprehensive list of her published works, please refer to www.resiapretorius.net.
