Varsetile Varster Nkwinika

Dr. Varsetile Varster Nkwinika

Virological Pathology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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Biography

Varsetile Varster Nkwinika is a medical virologist and nGAP Lecturer in the Department of Virology at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). She holds an MSc in Medical Virology (cum laude), is a trained vaccinologist, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Medicine. Since 2016, she has served as Programme Manager for the South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC), where she oversees academic programs, research projects, and vaccine industry collaborations. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and molecular diagnostics of human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV-related cancers, and laboratory-based HPV surveillance. She participates in international vaccinology collaborations through the East Africa Centre for Vaccines and Immunization (ECAVI) and the International Collaboration on Advanced Vaccinology Training (ICAVT). She is a member of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) and is passionate about advancing public health through diagnostics, education, and vaccination in Africa.

Affiliations

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Virological Pathology

Honors and Awards

honor

Next Generation Academics Programme (nGAP) Research Development Grant

National Research Foundation

Investigation of cervicovaginal microbiome CSTs associated with HPV infections and cervical carcinogenesis (Project Leader, 2022–present)

honor

Master’s Bursary

Poliomyelitis Research Foundation

HPV viral load and mRNA expression as predictors of cervical disease progression (Project Leader, 2018–2019)

honor

Joint In-Country Master’s and Doctoral Scholarship

DAAD-NRF

HPV viral load and mRNA expression as predictors of cervical disease progression (Project Leader, 2017–2018)

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Honours Innovation & Scarce Skills Scholarship

National Research Foundation

Prevalence of HPV in anorectal cancers (Project Leader, 2016)

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First Prize, Best Presentation

11th Tshwane District Health Services Research Conference

Awarded for advancing HPV triage through evaluation of HPV testing and liquid-based cytology in a low- and middle-income country (2024)

honor

First Prize, Best Presentation

SMU Teaching & Learning Symposium

Awarded for “The Automated Online Flipped Classroom: A Solution for In-Service Training” (2023)

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First Prize, Best Abstract

African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) Fifth International Conference

Awarded for research on HPV infections and viral load impact in women attending a gynecology clinic (2021)

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First Prize, Best Post-Graduate Student Oral Presentation

7th SMU Research Day

Awarded for research on HPV infections and viral load impact in women attending a gynecology clinic (2021)

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First Prize, Best Poster

31st International Papillomavirus Conference (HPV 2017)

Awarded for research on HPV prevalence in anal carcinoma cases at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (2017)

honor

Early Career Award: Best Publication in the Faculty of Health Sciences (Co-author)

University of Cape Town (UCT)

Co-author on the awarded publication by Edina Amponsah-Dacosta, “Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in South Africa: Programmatic Challenges and Opportunities for Integration with Other Adolescent Health Services,” Front Public Health (2022). Recognized in the Public Health & Rehabilitation Sciences category.

Experience

University Lecturer

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa

01 Apr 2021 - present

Manager

Programme Manager, South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC), Pretoria, South Africa

01 Dec 2016 - present