Entrepreneur with a Social Conscience – Dr Solomzi Makohliso

Although Dr Solomzi Makohliso has com-pleted many difficult exams and degrees in his life, he failed hopelessly in hiding his true South African heart. During our hour-long telephone conversation, I came to realise that this native from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is not only doing groundbreaking work on the biomedical engineering front, but he is also building bridges between the Swiss and South African research communities. Inspired and encouraged by the way South Africa is changing, he simply states: “I consider myself as part of the South African community. I am only an extension of things that are happening in South Africa.”

Dr Solomzi Makohliso refers to himself as an entrepreneur with a social conscience. Rightly so, considering that he is currently the CEO of his own company that engages in pioneering research work, a science and technology counsellor to the Swiss government, an experienced project coordinator, and a director in a South African based investment company.

He has become a world renowned figure in his field of study, and has been invited to address his scientific peers at numerous international conferences. Several scientific publications and articles, published in leading peer-reviewed journals, have also flowed from his work, and various patents on the subject of cell-based biochips and biomaterials have already been secured.

Recognizing Makohliso’s keen interest in biology, that started at a very young age, his high school biology teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine. However, with an equal fondness and aptitude for mathematics, Makohliso changed his plans at the last minute, and enrolled for a B.Sc. Computer Science and Physics degree at Rhodes University instead. During his studies, Makohliso realised that he could combine the three seemingly opposite fields of mathematics, engineering and biomedical sciences, and after completing his degree in 1985, set out to find such a course either locally, or abroad. The B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering degree in the United States (1989) seemed to fit his expectations, and in 1991 Makohliso also completed his M.Sc. Medical Science at Brown University.

Being one of the leading institutions for tertiary education, research and innovation in the world, Makohliso chose the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland to complete his doctor’s degree (Ph.D. Biomaterials). The EPFL is based in Lausanne, the French speaking part of Switzerland, close to Geneva. Makohliso speaks reverently about the EPFL as a research paradise, and is still working there today.

Dr Solomzi Makohliso currently acts as the founder and chief executive officer of Ayanda Biosystems S.A., a technology development company working on innovative medical diagnostics and drug discovery applications. By combining micro-technologies and electronic components, revolutionary biochips are developed and sold to the research community in various parts of the world. These biochips are of immeasurable value in researching the functions of human tissue such as brain and heart cells, as well as degenerative neurological disease such Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Some of his other professional interests include bio-analytics, bio-pharmaceutics and bio-electronics.

The area of work that Makohliso is most passionate about is nanotechnology, primarily because it promises to directly impact society by dramatically improving quality of life. It is especially important to Makohliso to address difficult areas, and to meet pressing global needs by means of his work. To date, Makohliso regards his development of a low cost diagnostic method to test newborn babies for HIV/AIDS as his best and most important contribution.

The diagnostic method is based on nanotechnology and was invented at the EPFL as an Ayanda Biosystems project, and sponsored by the Swiss Commission for Technology Innovation (CTI). The development of the diagnostic method is in its middle phase, with roughly one year of work left. Makohliso plans to do the clinical tests for his revolutionary diagnostic method in South African, and ideally he would like to see the initial deployment and mass production also done in South Africa.

Currently, Dr Makohliso is also project coordinator of a European consortium, sponsored by a European Commission grant, that he assembled to develop low-cost tests for opportunistic infections common to HIV/AIDS patients, such as tuberculosis (TB), pneumonia and influenza. The beauty of the project is that it aims to provide a “1-stop-shop” for HIV patients, i.e. the same instrument will be used to test for the HIV virus as well as the most common opportunistic infections such as TB.

Dr Makohliso’s goal for 2006 and 2007 is to establish local infrastructure that can contribute to developing a globally competitive technology-based industry in South Africa. In his opinion, South Africa would need good international partners, such as Switzerland, and he would like to use some of his international links to physically set up a company in South Africa. He plans to set up this entity by the end of this year, and will continue to work and travel between Switzerland and South Africa.

Solomzi Makohliso’s other interests are quite diverse and intriguing. Apart from enjoying a good long distance run, he distinguishes himself as a cuisine tourist. Already fluent in French, he is now also learning to speak Italian. He enjoys writing and literature, and is trying his hand at golf. And, like all Swiss people do in winter, he enjoys a good skiing trip in the mountains. Makohliso’s life philosophy is fairly simple, but truly striking: “Be happy,” he says. “Avoid things that you don’t like to do. Pursue things that you like to do and bring you joy, because it is much easier to develop a passion for and excel at them with minimal effort!”