Prof H. Huismans > University of Pretoria
Prof H. Huismans
Prof Hendrik Huismans is hoof van die Universiteit van Pretoria se Departement Genetika. Sy navorsingbelangstellings sluitin molekulere biologie van orbivirusse met klem op veral virulensie en patogenese, asook die gebruik van virusproteiëne vir die immuun-presentering van immunologies belangrike peptiede. Laasgenoemde werk is veral belangrik in die ontwikkelingvan nuwe-generasie rekombinante entstowwe teen verskillende dierevirusse. Huismans, gebore in Nederland, het sy BSc-graad (Fisika, Chemie) in 1963 aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US) voltooi, sy BSc (Hons) (Chemie) in 1965 en sy MSc(Chemie) in 1966. In 1970 behaal hy sy DSc-graad (Chemie) aan UP. Ná voltooiing van sy MSc in 1966, aanvaar hy ‘n pos Universiteit van Pretoria 100 University of Pretoriain die Departement van Landbou as navorser in die Afdeling Molekulêre Biologie van die Onderstepoort Veeartsenykundige Navorsingsinstituut (OVNI). In 1977, word hy bevordertot hoof van die Afdeling Biochemie van die instituut en in 1984 word hy Assistantdirekteur van die OVNI. Hy werk ook as senior spesialis-navorser tot sy aanstelling as professor enhoof van die Departement Genetika aan UP in 1987 – ‘n pos wat hy steeds beklee. Prof Huismans was Voorsitter van die komitee wat deur die Departement van Gesondheid enUP aangestel is om die rol van virodene in die behandeling van MIV/Vigs te ondersoek en het ook gedien op verskeie rade en komitees van die Waternavorsingskommissie,die andbounavorsingsraad, Suid-Afrikaanse Komitee vir Regulering van Genetiese
Eksprimentering (SAGENE), die National Research Foundation (NRF), en meer onlangsdie National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) se Biotegnologie-subkommittee. Hy is lid van die South African Genetics Society en ‘n genoot van sowel die Royal Society of SouthAfrica as die Academy of Science of South Africa. Prof Huismans het verskeie toekennings en pryse vir sy navorsing ontvang, insluitende UP se Uitnemende Presteerdertoekenningby verskeie geleenthede, die UP Kanselierstoekenning vir Navorsing en die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns se Havenga-prys. Hy was ‘n NRF A-gegradeerde navorser van 1996 tot 2006. Prof Huismans het twee patente saam met andernavorsers geregistreer, is die outeur of mede-outeur van meer as 70 artikels wat in wetenskaplike en populêre joernale verskyn het en het hoofstukke bygedra tot sewe boeke.
Prof Hendrik Huismans is head of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Genetics. His research interests include molecularbiology of orbivirusses, with the emphasis on virulence and pathogenics, as well as the use of virus proteins for the immune presentation and of immunologically important peptides. The latter work is particularly important in the development of a new-generation recombinant vaccine against various animal virusses. Prof Huismans, who was born in The Netherlands, completed his BSc degree (Physics, Chemistry) at the University of Stellenbosch (US) in 1963, his BSc (Hons) (Chemistry) in 1965 and hisMSc (Chemistry) in 1966. In 1970, he obtained his DSc degree (Chemistry) from UP. After completion of his MSc in 1966, he accepted a position as a researcher in the Molecular Biology Section of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute (OVRI).In 1977, he was promoted to head of the OVRI’s Biochemistry Section, and in 1984, became Assistant Director of the institute. He also worked as a senior specialist researcher until his appointment as professor and head of UP’s Department of Geneticsin 1987 – a position he still holds. Prof Huismans was Chairman of the committee that was appointed by the Department of Health and UP to investigate the role of virodene in the treatment of HIV/Aids and also served on various boards and committeesof the Water Research Commission, the Agricultural Research Council, the South African Committee for the Regulation of Genetical Experimentation (SAGENE), the NRF and, more recently, the Biotechnology Subcommittee of the National Council onInnovation (NACI). He is a member of the South African Genetics Society and a fellow of both the Royal Society of South Africa and the Academy of Science of South Africa. Prof Huismans has received various awards and prizes for his research, includingUP’s Exceptional Achiever Award on several occasions, UP’s Chancellor’s Award for Research and the Havenga Prize of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns. He was an NRF A-rated researcher from 1996 to 2006. Prof Huismans hasregistered two patents together with other researchers, is the author or co-author of more than 70 articles that have appeared in scientific and popular journals, and has contributed chapters to seven books.