WITS Enterprise

1 in 3 South Africans will experience depression, anxiety or a substance use disorder in their lifetime. Yet for most people, the path to recognising it, let alone seeking help is long, stigmatised, and inaccessible.

A team of researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand is putting in all that work in changing that, Dr Tasneem Hassem and Prof Sumaya Laher, from the Wits School of Human and Community Development, have developed MDDSA; the first validated online depression screening tool designed specifically for the South African context.

The urgency behind this work is backed by their own research. A Wits study led by Dr Joel Msafiri Francis found that nearly half of undergraduate students surveyed screened positive for probable depression; a striking finding that underscores just how widespread and under-addressed this crisis is, particularly among young people.

What makes MDDSA different?
Most existing screening tools were developed for and validated in high-income, English-speaking populations. South Africa has its own unique social, economic, and linguistic landscape and depression presents and is experienced within that context. MDDSA was built with that reality in mind.

The tool is built on the CESD-R scale, adapted and validated for local use over four years of rigorous PhD research. It consists of 19 questions about how a person has felt over the past two months and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Upon finishing, users receive instant, empathetic feedback indicating their risk level; low, medium, or high, along with resources and contact details for professional support.

It's free. It's online. And it meets people where they are.

The innovation was selected from a competitive field in the Prospector@Wits programme run by Wits Enterprise, earning R100 000 in seed funding to advance its commercialisation a validation not just of the technology, but of its potential for real-world impact.

Why this matters now
South Africa faces a profound mental health treatment gap. Awareness is low, stigma is high, and access to professionals is limited. An accessible, culturally relevant, and clinically validated screening tool is not a luxury it's an essential first step in getting people the help they need.

You can take the test today at 👉 mddsa.co.za

We celebrate the determination of young people shaping the future through research and innovation.

Many of the innovations emerging from Wits University today are being driven by postgraduate students - future-focused thinkers willing to explore what others have not yet solved.

We believe empowering youth means creating opportunities for young innovators to shape industries and contribute to real-world impact.

What if a wound dressing could do more than just cover a wound?

That's the question driving a team of researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand who have developed NanoBand™; a next-generation wound care technology with the potential to transform how chronic wounds are treated, particularly here in Africa.

Chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, affect millions across our continent, leading to prolonged hospital stays, repeated infections, and in many cases, amputations. The team behind NanoBand™ has experienced this reality personally, watching family members and community members navigate the devastating consequences of poorly managed wounds. That lived experience became the foundation of their science.

A group of seasoned Wits researchrs came together at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform to support this innovation, this team consists of Prof Nosipho Moloto, Dr Siyabonga Sipho Nkabinde, Dr Ndivhuwo Shumbula, Dr Pumza Mente, Dr Zakhele Ndala, and Thapelo Mofokeng. Together, they bring deep expertise across nanotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and biomaterials, united by a shared commitment to building healthcare solutions that work for African patients, made in Africa.

NanoBand™ is built around a flexible 3D nanostructured scaffold that conforms to the shape of a wound, including deep and irregular tissue. Unlike conventional flat dressings that sit on the surface, NanoBand™ makes contact across the entire wound bed; supporting cell regeneration and managing infection through antimicrobial nanoparticles rather than conventional antibiotics. This distinction matters enormously at a time when antimicrobial resistance is a growing global crisis.

What's next?
The team is currently in an external validation phase, generating the standardised safety, performance, and reproducibility data required for regulatory submission and clinical trials. With support from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Wits University, they aim to reach key commercialisation milestones within the next 12–18 months.

The vision extends beyond the product itself. Local manufacturing, reduced dependence on global supply chains, and accessible pricing are all central to what NanoBand™ could mean for South Africa's health sovereignty.

Meet Cynthia Ntimane, Project Coordinator at Wits Commercial Enterprise.

From project coordination and financial administration to stakeholder engagement, Cynthia plays an important role in keeping projects running smoothly behind the scenes.

One of her standout highlights has been contributing to the Future Works East and Southern Africa Hub, a regional initiative focused on advancing a more sustainable and inclusive future of work across the continent.

Passionate about continuous growth, Cynthia is strengthening her project management expertise while balancing her love for travel, cultural exploration and event coordination.

We are excited to introduce Green Lipids, an innovative spinout company from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the top-ranked institution in Sub-Saharan Africa for innovation by the 2025 Global Innovation Index.

Green Lipids emerged from years of pioneering research led by Professor Patrick Arbuthnot, Professor Charles de Koning, and a multidisciplinary team of Wits researchers whose expertise and collaboration have been instrumental in bringing this innovation to life.

Using cashew nut shell liquid, an abundant agricultural by-product across Africa, the technology creates renewable and locally sourced alternatives to conventional lipid inputs, helping address challenges of cost, accessibility, and supply-chain dependency in vaccine manufacturing.

Beyond the science, Green Lipids reflects what is possible when academic excellence, commercialisation, industry partnerships, and innovation ecosystems come together to create scalable African solutions for global challenges.

We are seeking opportunities for collaboration, investment, partnerships, and ecosystem support as this venture continues on its growth journey.

To learn more about the spinout and the innovation behind it, we invite you to view our short introduction video:

Green Lipids | Transforming Cashew Waste into Next-Generation Vaccine Innovation Green Lipids is an innovative spinout from the University of the Wi...

In sectors like mining, transport and infrastructure, environmental and geological risks are constant and the cost of getting them wrong is high.

Decisions today need to be grounded in analysis, not assumption.
From environmental remediation and sustainability projects for major mining houses to geological and hazard risk assessments that inform national infrastructure, these services are critical to how projects are delivered.

At Wits Commercial Enterprise, we connect industry to the expertise needed to assess risk, guide decisions and get projects right from the start.

If your project cannot afford uncertainty, start with the right insight. Talk to us.👉

Research & Consulting / Wits Enterprise Linking Wits University's researchers and academics with public and private sector partners