Dr Bwalya Angel Witika is an outstanding young global pharmaceutical scientist working at the forefront of the pharmaceutical sciences to produce advanced life-saving medicines that have an impact on global health (i.e., the best science for infectious, hereditary and lifestyle diseases).

 

A Pharmacist by profession, in 2021 he was at the forefront of introducing nanomedicine research at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). Based in a Lower/Middle-Income Country  (LMIC),  he is currently contributing to basic and translational pharmaceutical research focusing on intellectual property in the design of novel drug delivery systems, nanomedicines, functional biomaterials, and regenerative medicine to produce 21st Century patient-centric medicines for disease prevention/treatment. 

Dr Witika is a Senior Lecturer and NRF-rated Researcher of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the School of Pharmacy at SMU. He is a co-inventor of SMU’s first-ever product patent. The patented product is aimed at improving the treatment of breast cancer and osteoporosis in women's health. His patent discloses multipurpose product technologies that ensure affordability, availability and adaptability to the needs of communities.

 

Dr Witika is a member of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Technical Advisory Committees for Complimentary Medicines as well as the Pharmaceutical and Analytical (P&A) committees.
 

Dr Witika is an upcoming prolific scholar having published >45 research articles in ISI-accredited journals, 4 book chapters and is currently working as an editor of 1 book. He has contributed to >10 scientific presentations. His work is moderately cited with >1100 citations (H-index=19) and currently has collaborative networks in >5 countries.

 

Dr Witika is passionate about developing the next generation of Pharmaceutical Scientists and is training and mentoring >10 postgraduates and hosted 2 postdocs. These students have come from no less than 5 countries across Africa. The research conducted in Dr Witika’s lab encompasses the core principles of molecular pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics in drug product development, performance, and therapy. The impact of his leadership has resulted in many of his students receiving prestigious emerging researcher awards such as the SMU Research Days Best Presentation, Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists in South Africa (APSSA) Young Scientist Award, the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme and various National Research Foundation Scholarships.