THE danger for South Africa is that we are in competition with everyone in the world of biotechnology, says Janice Limson, head of Rhodes Universitys biotechnology unit. "But the thing with innovation is that a hit can come from anywhere."

The university has a school of biochemistry, microbiology and biotechnology, and it has impressive credentials: "Rhodes was the home of biotechnology in South Africa, with the first postgraduate biotechnology (course) in the country."

However, the university "needs to create an enabling space to move into industry There is a new generation of academics who want to innovate and do work that can make an impact Its pointless if we dont engage in technology transfer and showcase biotechnology."

Her research focuses on sensors. "We create a special sensing solution for specific targets: an electrochemical sensor using biological recognition agents, such as antibodies and enzymes."

Glucose tests are a form of biosensor, used by patients to check their blood-sugar levels. "Biomedical sensors is a multibillion-dollar industry," she says.

Her group is working on breast cancer detectors. "(You) can send (the sensor solution) into the body and label the (cancer cells) in some way that can be targeted and couple that with a drug. The sensor goes to the target and then delivers a drug at the same time," Dr Limson says.

She notes that developing biomedical technologies is difficult without a medical school. "But there is scope for fundamental research which can be readily applied," she says.

Tebello Nyokong, director of the Nanotechnology Innovation Centre hosted by the university, was once Dr Limsons PhD supervisor. She is not concerned that her centre is so far from the nearest medical school: "We are not dealing with patients, so it is okay with me. The government does not allow researchers to touch patients."

Prof Nyokong one of the top scientists in South Africa and winner of the 2009 LOreal-Unesco award for women in science is working on a cancer treatment which is activated by light.

She focuses on skin cancer: "You apply the drug to the skin, and you just need sunlight," she says, adding that it is important to get through all the red tape as quickly as possible because HIV/AIDS "results in a lot of people dying from skin cancer".

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RHODES UNIVERSITY: Biotechnology unit ‘surprises with its skills’