Tebello Nyokong

Tebello won the Africa-Arab State 2009 L’Oreal UNESCO Award for Women in Science for her pioneering research into photodynamic therapy specifically suited to the African environment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method used to destroy cancer cells and is being researched worldwide as an alternative to chemotherapy. This method is primarily developed outside Africa and Tebello believes more research will establish which ways it’s more efficient in the harsh African sunlight. Tebello is a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology at Rhodes University and is also looking into alternative ways for environmental clean-up.