2011-NMMU-Research-Report - Research Management - Nelson ...

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Faculty Researcher
of the Year
Prof Tommy Gerber
NMMU Research and Innovation Report 2011 - Faculty of Science
Prof Tommy Gerber has been a member of the academic staff in the
Department of Chemistry for the past 30 years. He is currently a
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Head of the Department. He
loves lecturing, and his duties include teaching the large first-year
Chemistry classes.
He is also passionate about his research, which involves the coordination
chemistry of technetium and rhenium and their application as
diagnostic and therapeutic agents in nuclear medicine - one could say
it is research to do with isotopes in the fight against cancer. For this
work he was recently presented with the “Atoms for Peace” medal by
the Russian Nuclear Society for research which benefits humankind.
With his students he is the author of well over one hundred papers in
scientific journals.
He has published well over two hundred scientific papers in
international chemistry journals, most of which were co-authored
with colleagues as well as Masters and Doctoral students that he
supervises each year. The year under review, 2011, was a record year
in terms of publication outputs for Prof Gerber, 57 of his journal
articles were submitted to the Department of Higher Education for
subsidy purposes.
Prof Gerber was recently presented with
the “Atoms for Peace” medal by the
Russian Nuclear Society for research
which benefits humankind.
Prof Gerber’s research involves the use of metal compounds in
medicine. His main research objectives are to make new metallic
complexes, which may find application in the therapy of cancer and
the early detection of Alzheimer`s disease.
His main research achievements in 2011 were on the synthesis of a
class of rhenium compounds, which is totally new and unique and has
never been evaluated for their activity. New instruments like the X-ray
diffractometer and the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer;
an excellent postdoctoral student Richard Betz; good PhD students
and technical support from Dr Eric Hosten (Scientific Officer in
Chemistry) and Mr Henk Schalekamp (Technician in Chemistry) helped
him to achieve great success in 2011.
He collaborates with Dr Peter Mayer from the Ludwig Maximilian
University in Munich, Germany. Prof Gerber states that his future
research plans involve the evaluation of the coordination chemistry
of the lanthanoids for their potential as therapeutic agents.
His main research achievements in
2011 were on the synthesis of a class of
rhenium compounds, which is totally
new and unique and has never been
evaluated for their activity.
He highlights that the only way to make a significant impact in
research is to work on projects close to the coal-face. In order to do
this, one needs international collaboration and exposure. Publishing
in high profile international journals is of utmost importance, and
the attendance of international conferences is more important than
just studying the literature. “One should never be afraid of criticism
on one`s work, or be afraid to say `I don`t know’, or ask for help,” he
comments.