profile of personnel
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

Dr Vinesh Maharaj
Citizenship: SA
Qualification: PhD

Experience
Vinesh Maharaj has a PhD in Organic Chemistry from UNISA. He is currently Business Area Manager at CSIR and specialises in natural products chemistry. He is a member of the Bioprospecting Programme of CSIR BIO/CHEMTEK since restructuring of CSIR during 1988. Prior experience was also in natural products chemistry at CSIR, specifically on isolation, structure elucidation and biosynthesis of Mycotoxins, from 1986 until 1988. His major responsibilities include the systematic investigation of 24 000 indigenous plants as part of a 10 year project aimed at discovering drugs from South Africa’s indigenous plants. Microorganisms are also included in these investigations, which have a special focus on screening for anti-cancer drugs. In addition he manages the South African component of a major international development programme in conjunction with Phytopharm plc and Pfizer Inc, aimed at commercialising a CSIR discovery of a natural anti-obesity agent. The work includes all aspects of the drug development process, excluding supervision of clinical trials. He also manages the CSIR component of the DACST funded anti-malarial drug discovery project and manages an innovative small-scale production process of a naturally derived veterinary substance. He has four patents.

Contribution to project
Design and implementation of protocols for extract preparations, bio-assay guided fractionation, isolation of active compounds, structure elucidation including supporting analytical techniques. Controlled horticulture of indigenous plants proven to contain therapeutically valuable substances and subsequent production of extracts and purified compounds required for clinical evaluation in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.