Dr Nireshni Mitchev

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Nireshni Mitchev recalls how it has been filled with twists and turns, as well as financial obstacles to overcome. She recounts the difficulty in finding balance as research becomes all consuming, coming up against people who do not like to see traditional work moulds being broken and, most of all, the juggle of balancing a scientific career and starting a family and all the ensuing responsibilities.

Nireshni loves science to her core, and as a scientist has been able to use her problem-solving nature to overcome these challenges. Dr Mitchev has kept close to the people - mostly women - who wanted to nurture her talent and watch her grow, and has flourished into a remarkable woman in science.

Dr Mitchev now holds a MSc and PhD in Medical microbiology, as well as Honours in microbial biotechnology and a Bachelor of Science. She is currently working at the University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Health Sciences as a postdoctoral research fellow, investigating the development of a rapid point-of-care assay for the detection of curable sexually transmitted infections. Among her successes she counts the completion of her PhD, being involved in writing up national guidelines in relation to her field of work and publishing numerous research publications that have seen her involved with many local and international researchers — as well as the privilege of being part of a team involved in phase 3 clinical trials of a new drug.

Dr Mitchev focuses on innovative projects in the field of infectious diseases and is proud to have authored numerous scientific publications and presented her research both at local and international conferences.

Her work on sexually transmitted infections aims to develop affordable diagnostic tools that can be used to detect curable sexually transmitted diseases, even in asymptomatic individuals. While STIs are a global public health problem the prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is especially high and clinical management is based on symptoms, often resulting in asymptomatic infections being overlooked, which leads to long term adverse sexual and reproductive events — especially in women.

Having worked in diagnostic microbiology for quite some time, Dr Mitchev started to notice that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was becoming a serious concern. She shifted her research to focus on AMR and, through her investigations discovered many gaps, especially in women’s health and the disproportionate effect that curable STIs have on women. A main reason for this is that women often do not have any symptoms that prompt them to seek care, and only experience sexual or reproductive health issues later on. Accurate diagnostic tests are available, which, if used would decrease STI’s and their associated health problems, however, they are not being used in the South African healthcare system as they are not affordable. These discoveries caused Dr Mitchev to feel a need to figure out a way to bridge this gap and find a solution for affordable diagnostic tests.

The introduction of these tests will be a game changer in the management of sexual and overall health. Infections would be accurately diagnosed at a patients first visit, improving the incidence and prevalence of curable STI’s in South Africa. Accurate diagnosis and treatment will mean that antimicrobial stewardship will be encouraged – meaning that as a result of the disease being accurately and rapidly diagnosed, the right antibiotics at the right dose and duration of administration can be used, which will conserve the efficacy of antibiotics.

“Not only will the implementation of diagnostic testing prevent transmission of infections, but it will also reduce the spread of resistant gonorrhoea which is another urgent public health problem,” she explains.

Despite its huge potential, Dr Mitchev has faced challenges in procuring funding for this project as there is a lack of funding both locally and internationally for research into the field of STI’s apart from HIV. As funding is rare, competition is rife, and it is usually granted to researchers with more years of experience.

Nevertheless, Dr Mitchev has huge aspirations for future translational research: she wants her work to make a difference and impact the lives of patients, for the better. Her advice to young girls interested in a career in science is to look around and appreciate that everything is science, and that everything needs scientists and urges young girls not to associate science with men only.  In her own words, “There are many women scientists and innovators who are more exceptional and groundbreaking in their respective fields. Go for it.”