2 of UCT's 5 Awards in BHP Billiton NSTF Awards for Innovation

UCT Spin-off company CapeRay Medical Pty (Ltd) for their Pantoscanner used for mammography screening and Dr Peter Carrick, through his NGO that has been established around environmental restoration post diamond mining in Namaqualand won two of the three awards in the innovation section (innovation through an SMME and NGO).

Six of the nine finalists in the innovation category are from/associated with UCT:

Crystallization and Precipitation Research Unit (Team leader: Prof Alison Lewis, Chemical Engineering), In Situ XRD Cell (Team Leader: Prof Michael Claeys, Chemical Engineering), Lung infection and Immunity Unit, (Team Leader: Professor Keertan Dheda, Department of Medicine), Namaqualand Restoration Initiative Project and Nurture, Restore, Innovate (Team leader: Dr Peter Carrick, Research Fellow, Institute for Plant Conservation), The PantoScanner Team - CapeRay Medical (Pty) (Ltd) (Team Leader: Dr Kit Vaughan, CEO), Henricks-Vicatos Maxillofacial Distractor (Team Leader: Dr Rushdi Hendricks, Specialist Maxillofacial Surgeon & Dept Mechanical Engineering)

Namaqualand Restoration Initiative Project and Nurture, Restore, Innovate

Through his Namaqualand Restoration Initiative (NRI) and supporting organization - Nurture, Restore, Innovate - Dr. Peter Carrick combines ecological knowledge and research, an understanding of mining practice and policy, and a passion for people into restoring landscapes in coastal and lowland Namaqualand. Demonstrating that ecological dynamics of vegetation can enable successful restoration of even severely transformed landscapes, the NRI science-based protocols, training courses, and implementation systems effectively translate science to action. As a result of his efforts, locally owned businesses are empowered to restore degraded mining lands and his model of science-based, pro-poor restoration is sustained by mining corporations "investment into responsible practice for the long-term future of communities and biodiversity".

The PantoScanner Team - CapeRay Medical (Pty) (Ltd)

One in eight South African women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. If the diagnosis is made early enough, her breast cancer is 95% curable. However, mammographic screening is not widely available. Furthermore, X-rays perform poorly in dense breasts so early stage cancers remain undetected. CapeRay, a spinout company from the University of Cape Town, has developed an innovative system for breast cancer diagnosis. The PantoScanner combines digital X-rays and ultrasound images in a patented device, producing a breakthrough technology platform. Further information on CapeRay and the PantoScanner can be found at: www.caperay.com.

Details of the UCT finalists follow. Note that CapeRay is a UCT spin-off company, so has been included in this group.

To an Individual for an outstanding contribution to SETI through Management and related activities over the last 5 to 10 years or less:
Professor Bongani M Mayosi, whose work in building, managing and leading capacity development in research in the context of the Groote Schuur hospital, which has achieved very significant output, has led to the discovery of genetic causes and prevention of heart disease and clinical features of pericardial tuberculosis.
Nominated by Prof. Karen Sliwa, Professor of Cardiovascular Research and Director of the Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, University of Cape Town

TW Kambule Award: To an Individual for an outstanding contribution to SETI through Research and its Outputs over the last 5 to 10 years - sponsored by the NRF:
Professor Heather J Zar for her research leading to important advances in the understanding and management of childhood pneumonia, TB and asthma.
Nominated by Dr Marilet Sienaert, Director: Research Office, University of Cape Town

TW Kambule Award: To an Emerging Researcher for an outstanding contribution to SETI through Research and its Outputs - over a period of up to six years after award of a PhD or equivalent in research - sponsored by the NRF:
Dr Amanda Weltman, for the development of the Chameleon Mechanism, which has provided a locally testable theory explaining the mysterious force causing the universe to accelerate - so-called Dark Energy.
Nominated by Prof. George Ellis, University of Cape Town

To an Individual or a Team for an outstanding contribution to SETI through Research leading to Innovation in a Small, Medium or Micro- Enterprise (SMME):
The PantoScanner Team - CapeRay Medical (Pty) Ltd, for enhancing clinicians' ability to diagnose breast cancer by combining the best of low dose X-rays and ultrasound.
Nominated by Dr Andrew Bailey, Intellectual Property Manager, University of Cape Town

To an Individual or a Team for an outstanding contribution to SETI through Research leading to Innovation in an NGO or CBO or NPO Organisation:
Namaqualand Restoration Initiative Project and its supporting organisation Nurture, Restore, Innovate, for using extensive and ongoing ecological research, and business and socio-economic nous to design and implement systems that restore globally important biodiversity and generate livelihoods through the rehabilitation of degraded lands.
Nominated by Ms Sarah Frazee, CEO, Conservation South Africa