Vol 1 - Support Services Ufs Ac Za - University of the Free State

collaboration with the UFS RIEP. The Sasol TRACLaboratory will provide valuable research andcommunity engagement opportunities for academicstaff members and students at the UFS.In 2007, BioPAD awarded a R13.7 millionbiotechnology research contract to the UFSDepartment of Microbial, Biochemical and FoodBiotechnology to conduct research into prehistoricmicro-organisms which live under extremeconditions. This is one of the largest researchcontracts awarded to the UFS in recent years andincludes equipment, student bursaries andpostdoctoral fellowships.The contract involves the establishment of aPlatform for Metagenomics – a technique whichallows researchers to extract the DNA from microbesin their natural environment and investigate it in alaboratory. The Platform aims to tap into the uniquegenetic material in South African mines which willlead to the discovery of new genes and theirproducts. These new and unique products will findapplication in the medical field (anti-cancer, antibacterialen anti-viral cures), the industrial sector(nanotechnology, commercial washing agents andthe food industry) and the environmental sector(pollution management, demolition of harmfulmetals and other toxic waste). The Platform furtheraims to establish unique expertise for spin-offconsultation and service companies run by thestudents trained in the Platform.The project is endorsed by the Department ofScience and Technology and the National ResearchSome of the guests attending thelaunch of the UFS/BioPAD Meta genomicsPlatform contract are, from theleft: Dr Siyabulela Ntutela (DeputyDirector for Biotechnology at the Department of Science and Technology),Dr Godfrey Netswera (Manager ofThuthuka and the Support Programmeat the National Research Foundation),Prof Esta van Heerden (Platform Managerand Lec turer at the Department ofMicrobial, Biochemical and FoodBiotechnology at the UFS), Mr ButanaMboniswa (Chief Executive Officer ofBioPAD), and Mr Vuyisele Phehani(Portfolio Manager for BioPAD).54