Search the site

Start main page content

Wits Planetary Health Research Division (PHR)

The Wits Planetary Health Research Division conducts investigator-driven research on climate change and health. The projects, funded by the US National Institutes for Health and Wellcome Trust, include partners from across Africa and the EU. Our studies examine how extreme heat affects vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, infants, and people living in urban heat islands. We apply traditional statistical and novel data science methods to quantify the risks of heat exposure in these populations and investigate the biological mechanisms underpinning these impacts. Taken together our work will develop indicators for tracking heat-health impacts globally, test adaptation strategies, and support scaled-up national climate and health programmes and financing.

Matthew Chersich

Matthew Chersich is the Director and a Research Professor at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and a Research Fellow in Public Health and Primary Care at Trinity College, Dublin. With over 20 years of experience in public health research across Africa, he has collaborated extensively with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Craig Parker

Craig Parker is a Data Scientist at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division, with a strong focus on addressing the intersection of climate and health through artificial intelligence (AI). He is currently pursuing a PhD at the Wits School of Public Health and serves as Co-Investigator at the NIH-funded HE²AT Centre, part of the DS-I Africa programme.

Lebohang Radebe

Lebohang Radebe is a Data Scientist and Statistician at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. She holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Statistics and Computer Science, and a minor in African Studies, as well as a Master’s degree in Applied Computing (Data Science) from the University of Toronto, Canada. Lebohang brings over seven years of experience in health data science.

Ijeoma Solarin

Ijeoma Solarin is a Senior Researcher at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. She holds an Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and has extensive research and public health experience spanning three continents. Ijeoma’s current work focuses on the effects of heat on maternal and child health.

Admire Chikandiwa

Admire Chikandiwa is a Senior Researcher and Clinical Epidemiologist at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. He holds a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MBA from Regent Business School, and a Diploma in HIV Management from the College of Medicine of South Africa. With over 16 years of experience in Public Health.

Fiona Scorgie

Fiona Scorgie is a Medical Anthropologist and qualitative researcher with expertise in ethnographic and visual methodologies, sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, vaccine acceptance, and climate change and health. She holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Cambridge University and has over 20 years of experience in designing qualitative studies and training field staff.

Darshnika Lakhoo

Darshnika Lakhoo is a medical doctor and Research Clinician at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division, with a Master’s in Public Health. Her work is centered on understanding and mitigating the impacts of heat on maternal and child health and urban populations. She is actively engaged in multiple projects, including the HE2AT Center and Bio-HEAT.

Nicholas Brink

Nicholas Brink is a Clinical Researcher at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. Having transitioned from clinical medicine during his time at Tintswalo Hospital in Mpumalanga, he now focuses on the health impacts of heat on pregnant women, particularly in the context of climate change. Nicholas’s work explores novel digital solutions for public health challenges.

Amy - Wits PHR

Amy Beukes

Amy Beukes is an Environmental Anthropologist specialising in Environmental Humanities at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. She holds a Master’s of Philosophy in Environmental Humanities. Her research bridges the environmental and social sciences, with a focus on the lived experiences of communities affected by climate change.

Elizabeth Frederick

Elizabeth Frederick is the Portfolio Manager at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division and Hub Administrator for the HE²AT Center. With over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, she specialises in financial and grants management. Elizabeth ensures compliance with donor requirements and oversees the operations of multiple research projects.

Reneilwe Satekge

Reneilwe Satekge is a Project Manager at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. She holds a BSc in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Business Administration). Reneilwe manages the operational and administrative support for several research projects across the division, overseeing project implementation and monitoring research progress.

Nontokozo Langa

Nontokozo Langa is the Operations Coordinator at the Wits Planetary Health Research Division. With 8 years of experience in office administration, she specialises in supporting research companies. She holds a diploma in Office Administration and is responsible for coordinating departmental activities, ensuring alignment with project goals, and managing relationships with external service providers

Share