Claudia Christowitz

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Dr Christowitz is currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Haematology Research Group at the Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University. Her work involves exploring the interactions between microclots, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation in Long COVID patients. She completed her PhD in Physiological Sciences, where she investigated the functional impact of a rare TP53 germline variant identified in breast cancer patients. Her research assessed its effects on cell proliferation, cell death, senescence, migration, immune destruction, and coagulation using a translational ex vivo model incorporating patient-derived immune cells with breast cancer spheroids. Furthermore, she contributed to the development of a functional genomics pipeline for the pathology-supported genetic testing framework in South Africa, enhancing the classification of rare variants and improving the clinical utility of whole-exome and genome sequencing in precision oncology. Her passion lies in unravelling the complex interactions within the tumor-microenvironment, focusing on the immune system and vasculature, with the aim of advancing therapeutic outcomes for patients.

Experience

  • –present
    Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University
  • 2024–2024
    Flow Cytometry Assistant, Central Analytical Facility
  • 2023–2024
    Physiological Sciences Demi, Stellenbosch University
  • 2024–2024
    Physiological Sciences Practical Convenor, Stellenbosch University
  • 2018–2022
    Biostatistics Teaching Assistant, African Cancer Institute
  • 2019–2020
    DST-NRF Internship, National Research Foundation

Education

  • 2025 
    Stellenbosch University, PhD in Physiological Sciences
  • 2018 
    Stellenbosch University, MPhil in Cancer Science
  • 2016 
    Stellenbosch University, BSc Hons in Physiological Sciences
  • 2015 
    Stellenbosch University, BSc Human Life Sciences

Publications

  • 2024
    Incorporating functional genomics into the pathology-supported genetic testing framework implemented in South Africa: A future view of precision medicine for breast carcinomas. , Mutation Research - Reviews in Mutation Research
  • 2024
    Inflammation and thrombotic risk in late-stage cervical cancer: An exploratory study of coagulation and cytokine profiles in a South African cohort. , Cytokine
  • 2023
    Functional impact of a rare germline TP53 variant (NM_001126114.2, c.1018A>G, p.N340D) in a family with the Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome., The Breast
  • 2022
    Obese mammary tumour-bearing mice are highly sensitive to doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity. , BMC Cancer
  • 2021
    Insulin-mediated immune dysfunction in the development of preeclampsia. , Journal of Molecular Medicine
  • 2020
    Insulin as an immunomodulatory hormone., Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
  • 2019
    Mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced drug resistance and drug resistant tumour growth in a murine breast tumour model, BMC Cancer

Grants and Contracts

  • 2018
    Investigating the mechanism of doxorubicin-induced drug resistance and tumour growth in a murine breast cancer model.
    Role:
    Researcher
    Funding Source:
    Harry Crossley

Contact Claudia for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision