Special greeting everyone!
As we move into the second half of 2025, the Tugizimana Lab (TTL) at the University of Johannesburg pauses to reflect on a dynamic and transformative first two quarters. Fueled by scientific rigor, creative collaborations, and a shared vision of societal impact, TTL has grown not only in size but in stature—locally and globally. The first six months of 2025 have been a powerful reminder that science thrives where passion, purpose, and people intersect.
True to our mission of democratizing scientific knowledge and building research capacity, TTL was actively involved in multiple high-impact workshops and scientific exchanges. In February, TTL members participated in the Computational and Systems Biology Workshop hosted by Durban University of Technology (DUT). Our PI delivered a compelling keynote lecture on computational metabolomics, while PhD students Ms Kgalaletso Othibeng and Ms Akhona Myoli, along with postdoctoral fellow Dr Motseoa Lephatsi, facilitated technical sessions on GNPS-based molecular networking and data processing. The workshop not only strengthened academic collaborations between UJ, DUT, and other institutions but also equipped young researchers with essential skills in systems biology.
In a particularly enriching exchange, TTL hosted Prof Justin J.J. van der Hooft from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, between late February and early March. As one of the global pioneers in computational metabolomics, Prof van der Hooft delivered a public lecture titled “Navigating the Natural Product Landscape” and conducted workshops focused on data exploration strategies in untargeted metabolomics. His visit, part of his ongoing role as Visiting Professor in UJ’s Department of Biochemistry, cemented a growing collaboration between TTL and Wageningen University, one that is poised to shape the global metabolomics landscape in exciting ways.
Hot on the heels of that event was the TTL-led Computational Metabolomics Workshop #01 held in March at the Radisson Blu in Sandton. Co-organized with Prof Alvaro Viljoen from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the event brought together students, early-career researchers, and industry professionals from across South Africa.TTL team members—including Dr Lephatsi, Mr Samuel Mulaudzi, Mr Morena Tinte, Ms Kgalaletso Othibeng and Ms Akhona Myoli—delivered sessions on MS-based metabolite annotation and bioinformatics tools, building both technical competence and community among attendees.
April ended with another high point: TTL, in partnership with the African Centre for Gene Technologies (ACGT), co-hosted a cutting-edge workshop on AI and machine learning in metabolomics. Led by Prof Wout Bittremieux and his colleagues Dr Julia Gauglitz and Alejandro Mendoza Cantu from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, this two-day session was a masterclass in spectral data mining using LC-MS/MS workflows. Researchers from across plant science, environmental, and Foodomics sectors attended, reaffirming TTL’s role as a central hub for metabolomics capacity-building in Africa. The University of Antwerp team also engaged in strategic discussions with TTL on existing and upcoming collaboration projects—including a pan-African Foodomics initiative involving the University of Venda (Dr Oluwaseun Bamidele) and University of Mpumalanga (Prof Ndiko Ludidi).
We truly appreciate all our collaborators and their input in the various ongoing TTL projects. As we look ahead, TTL is gearing up to collaboratively continue various multidisciplinary projects, host different activities, and expand its footprint in international research consortia. There is a deep sense of excitement within the team, and for good reason: we are not only witnessing science unfold but shaping its direction with purpose.
Best wishes to everyone.
Written By: Fidele Tugizimana, Lerato Nephali and Akhona Myoli.