Vidushi Neergheen

Vidushi has been an associate professor since April 2019 and is currently the Head of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Mauritius. She is also affiliated with the Centre for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research at the Faculty of Science of the University of Mauritius. She has been teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in applied biochemistry for over 10 years. Her research interest is centered on cancer preventive effects of functional food and medicinal plants indigenous to Mauritius. This emerging field of cancer prevention, through natural agents, shows promise for preventing and reversing cancer development, and appears to be fundamental in reducing the burden of cancer. This approach requires the use of proteomics and metabolomics to understand the targeted mechanisms as well as the effectiveness of these agents. With the support of international and multidisciplinary collaborations, Vidushi is continuing her efforts to validate the efficacy of optimised local and/or regional solutions in the prevention and management of cancer. Her research is interfaced with medicine, molecular biology, nutrition, product development and biochemistry and has culminated in more than 75 impactful communications.

Vidushi believes that there is a dire need to recognise that and advocate for the indigenous natural resources, which hold a lot of promise in contributing to the promotion of health and the implementation of the sustainable development goals. This calls for African leaders particularly the emerging scientists to join hands to develop strong arguments for advocacy and lobbying for the formulation of effective policy, practice, and social interventions for this cause in our respective countries. She is an active member of the Global Young Academy from 2012 to 2017, a Next Einstein Forum Ambassador (2015-2017) and is a fellow of the African Science Leadership Program. In 2017, she received the Best African Woman Researcher Award from Merck Africa for outstanding contribution to cancer research. Vidushi is also the treasurer of the national chapter of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World.