Dr Chontrelle Willemse. Image: UWCIf you ever thought science was all lab coats and serious faces, you haven’t met Dr Chontrelle Willemse - a vibrant human being whose excitement for scientific discovery is exceptionally contagious.
Recently, she was part of a Medical Bioscience Department team that studied sperm fertility in chronic Tik (methamphetamine) users, confirming that both long-term and even short-term use negatively affects male fertility.
Nestled among buzzing corridors at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), she is involved in additional research to outwit cancer. Armed with her signature enthusiasm, a microscope, a passion for cells, and a healthy dose of curiosity, the cell biology expert has been diving deep into the murky waters of narcotics, cancer and brain capillaries.
Her latest research involves developing a 3D lab-grown model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). “[It] lets us test two things at once: how well certain drugs can get through to the brain, and how signals released by spreading cancer cells might weaken or damage the barrier. It's a big step forward - and the first time our neurobiology team has done something like this, which makes it really exciting,” said Dr Willemse.
Dr Willemse’s research triangle includes three mighty corners: repurposing old drugs to fight cancer, investigating how cancer cells sneak into the brain, and understanding how all this affects the blood vessels in our brains.
One of her favourite tricks is finding drugs that were once used for other illnesses and giving them a second life as cancer-fighting options. But it’s not all pipettes and petri dishes for Dr Willemse. She is also passionate about making science accessible. She’s reaching out to schools, sparking curiosity in young minds, and reminding students that their bodies are not just vessels for TikTok dances - they’re complex, fascinating systems worth understanding.
And her ultimate goal is to find affordable, effective cancer treatments for communities that need them most. And maybe inspiring the next generation of scientists to pick up the torch or the test tube.
Dr Chontrelle Willemse. Image: Jesi Townsend/UWCShe is from the small farm town of Saron within the Drakenstein district, where she matriculated from Roodezandt Secondary School. Later, she started her tertiary journey at UWC where she bagged her PhD in 2009. As an undergraduate student, when she stumbled upon histology - or study of tissues and cells - it was love at first sight.
“Doctors treat illness by targeting cells,” she realised, and this is where her fascination with the microscopic world took root.
Prompted about the reasons why women are often reluctant to choose science, she said women may sometimes underestimate their own abilities, but the reluctance cannot be attributed to a single factor.
“There are many reasons, such as unconscious influences from our environment, that steer young women toward certain career paths. Then, limited exposure to opportunities and family expectations are other factors at play in a young woman’s life,” said Dr Willemse.
“Also, a degree in science is often not regarded as a professional qualification, such as teaching, which is seen as more secure, offering a clearer path to employment and financial stability.”
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