The University of Venda continues to lead in innovation, research and education. This time, with a bold move, the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at UNIVEN between 23 to 26 June 2025, has served as the host for an advanced workshop on Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), co-organised with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the African Centre for Gene Technologies (ACGT). Fully funded by DIPLOMICS, the workshop had scholars from academic institutions and private research organisations, which shows UNIVEN’s commitment to growing prominence in cutting-edge scientific research.
The primary objective of the workshop was to enhance participants’ theoretical understanding and practical expertise in LC-MS-based metabolomics. All who attended received comprehensive hands-on training in critical areas, including sample preparation, instrument operation, data acquisition, metabolite annotation, and bioinformatics analysis. UNIVEN was selected as the venue due to its state-of-the-art LC-MS infrastructure, which provided participants with unparalleled opportunities for direct practical experience.
The workshop curriculum covered advanced topics such as MS fragmentation pattern anal-ysis, in silico metabolite structure prediction, network pharmacology, and pathway mapping.
These components were designed to strengthen research capabilities in fields such as ag-ricultural sciences, pharmaceutical development, and natural product research, equipping participants with the skills necessary to conduct high-quality metabolomics investigations.
Key UNIVEN staff members, including Prof Ntakadzeni Madala, Ms Anza-Tshilid-zi Ramabulana, Dr Dakalo Ndou, and Dr Barbara Moyo, played a pivotal role in deliver-ing both theoretical and practical sessions. Their expertise and the capabilities of UNIV-EN’s LC-MS facilities left a lasting impression on participants, many of whom expressed enthusiasm for establishing long-term collaborations and submitting samples for future analyses.
This interest has already resulted in ongoing sample submissions, position-ing UNIVEN as an emerging regional hub for mass spectrometry. The work-shop also welcomed two students from the University of Zimbabwe, whose participation was financially supported by the sponsors, further strengthening UNI-VEN’s footprint within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
A notable highlight was the presentation by MSc student Ms Mufunwa Evidence Munt-su, who showcased research successfully conducted using UNIVEN’s LC-MS facili-ties, demonstrating the institution’s capacity to support high-calibre scientific inquiry.
In his opening address, Prof Lutendo Murulana, Deputy Dean of Research in the Facul-ty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture (FSEA), praised the Mass Spectrometry Unit for its role in attracting researchers to UNIVEN. He highlighted that research utilising the LC-MS platform has significantly contributed to human capacity development, with at least five staff members earning their PhDs through LC-MS-based studies. Participants unanimous-ly agreed that the workshop should become an annual event at UNIVEN, solidifying the in-stitution’s position as a leader in mass spectrometry training and research in the region.
Prof Ntakadzeni Madala expressed deep gratitude for the ongoing collabora-tion with UJ, ACGT, and DIPLOMICS, particularly acknowledging the instrumen-tal contributions of Mr Molati Nonyane and Dr Msizi Mhlongo in securing fund-ing and managing logistical arrangements. This successful workshop marked a very significant milestone at UNIVEN and its mission to advance scientific research and foster regional and international collaborations in the field of metabolomics.
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University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
