Prof. Kaur obtained her PhD from India in 2003 and since then she has worked in various universities in South Africa and Saudi Arabia. She Joined Wits in 2015 and since then she has supervised 40 postgraduate and has trained three postdoctoral fellows. Currently, she is hosting two postdoctoral fellows, and 4 PhDs, 4 MScs and 3 honours students are under training in the lab. Prof. Kaur has published more than 75 research articles in international peer-reviewed journals including Cell, Nature Genetics, Nature Reviews in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Nucleic Acids Research etc. She has several granted patents. She has presented talks in several conferences and is a reviewer for several acclaimed journals.

Prof. Kaur’s research focus is to understand the molecular biology of cancer by utilizing cell biology, bioinformatics, and molecular biology-based methods. The research in the lab focuses on to identify biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, drug discovery and to study the complexity of mechanistic pathways underlying cancer. Lab’s particular emphasis is on understanding the role of cholesterol in tumour development and drug resistance in cancer using animal models and colon and cervical organoids. Several projects are currently being run in the lab to develop new therapeutic approaches to combat drug resistance in cancer.

For more information about Prof. Kaur’s publications, please click here. 

Liang Gu was Professor Kaur’s first student back in 2016. Liang assisted in establishing standardised protocols in Kaur’s lab. She completed her doctorate in 2021 where she obtained positive feedback for her project investigating the role of CETP as a drug resistance biomarker in breast cancer.

She is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow, where she manages day-to-day lab operations and inventory procurement. Liang is also acting as a co-supervisor for two MSc students and one honour’s student. Liang’s warm and friendly nature coupled with her excellent mentorship skills makes her the perfect person to approach when looking for advice or good company.

Ruvesh Pillay’s PhD aimed to uncover the role of cholesterol depletion on the effectiveness of chemotherapies in colorectal cancer. During his studies, he gained expert experience with both in vitro and in vivo models, yielding significant experimental results. Ruvesh's interests extend beyond his studies which includes event planning, baking and modelling.

Following his doctorate, Ruvesh combines his scientific knowledge and creative talents to continue the search for improved therapeutics against cancer, a disease that continues to plague our world.

Naaziyah has been a part of Professor Kaur’s lab since her honour’s year. She has been an invaluable researcher in standardising protocols within the lab. Naaziyah is a part of a team that serve as pioneers in establishing intestinal organoids in South Africa. Her latest endeavour includes co-culturing cytotoxic T-cells with organoids in an attempt to delineate the role of cholesterol in the tumour microenvironment. Her goal is to utilise this novel work towards uncovering the complex interaction between the immune system and cancers.

Naaziyah spends her free time envisioning all her future Nature, Science and Cell publications. In the need of an article DOI, politely ask Naaz to access her brain’s filing system.

Ruthi Aronson is currently working towards her PhD which focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of cholesterol mediated drug resistance in colorectal cancer using intestinal organoid cultures. Ruthi is excited to revolutionise the field of organoids in South Africa and hopes to contribute towards a personalised medical approach.

Ruthi’s passion and dedication is reflected in her accolades of awards and scholarships. She graduated top of her undergraduate class in 2018. The quality of her MSc work is reflected in the filing of a provisional patent. Ruthi’s bubbly nature brings light-heartedness and fun into all daily lab experiences.

Andrea Breytenbach is currently in her second year of PhD studies, where she is investigating the transcriptomic and metabolomic landscape of colorectal cancer in the South African population, which will represent the first comprehensive datasets ever generated from our population. Andrea is a natural problem solver and has a never-give-up attitude that has served her well in her studies.

One of her greatest strengths is her ability to bring people together and create a positive social atmosphere. Andrea also ensures never to take life too seriously, which is reflected in her motto: “When life gives you lemons, grab tequila and salt.”

Thea completed her MSc degree in Professor Kaur’s lab, where she focused on characterising intestinal organoids derived from South African patients. She has now progressed to her PhD, during which she is developing a chemotherapeutic drug screening assay prototype using patient-derived organoids. This project aims to advance personalised medicine in South Africa by providing a platform to better predict patient-specific responses to treatment.

Her research interests include organoid technology, organ-on-a-chip models, and translational applications of patient-derived systems. She has been recognised for her academic achievements with multiple awards and has received NRF scholarships for both her MSc and PhD studies.

Eric joined Professor Kaur's lab in his honours year, showing great ambition and excitement to learn and grow. He is currently working on a one-of-a-kind project using a co-culture model with organoids and T cells. The aim of this project is to determine the effect of cholesterol on T cell exhaustion, possibly providing insights on how T cell function can be improved during cancer treatment.

Following the completion of his MSc, Eric's plan is to expand his knowledge by pursuing a PhD in the field. His passion for cancer research and helping to find workable solutions are his driving force.

Katharine began her journey in Prof Kaur’s lab in 2023 as an Honours student, taking on the challenge of exploring cholesterol’s role in pancreatic cancer. She has since embarked on her MSc, where she is establishing patient-derived cervical organoids to model HPV-induced carcinogenesis.

This year has tested her resilience in the lab, but every hurdle has fuelled her growth as a scientist. Whether troubleshooting experiments or learning from patients whose samples underpin her work, she has embraced the challenges as stepping stones. Her favourite part of research? That science always manages to keep her on her toes.

Si Lin is currently pursuing her MSc and is the first student in the lab to explore single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Her research focuses on building and validating a scRNA-seq workflow and then using it to investigate whether organoids can truly capture the complexity of primary tissues through publicly available datasets.

Looking ahead, Si Lin hopes to apply her expertise to South African scRNA-seq data, contributing to local research and discovery. She has received multiple scholarships during her undergraduate studies and is currently funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) for her master’s, reflecting her commitment to academic excellence and scientific growth.

Zak joined Prof Kaur’s lab in 2025 as an MSc student. His research focuses on using mouse xenograft models to study how cholesterol-depleting agents can enhance the effectiveness of paclitaxel in treating triple negative breast cancer. With large sample groups forming the backbone of his project, Zak has embraced this scientific “marathon” with the same energy he brings to his passion for long-distance running.

Bubbly and quick to bring laughter into the lab, Zak may get easily distracted at times, but when it comes to tackling experiments, he is all about working hard...in bulk. His enthusiasm and perseverance ensure he always goes the distance, both in science and on the road.