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Biography |
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Prof Maritha Kotze is the founder and CEO of Gknowmix, a healthcare company that developed a business process for integration of clinical assessments, laboratory analysis and reporting through a web-based genetic testing service delivery system. She maintains close links with academia through an appointment as senior researcher at the University of Stellenbosch, promoting genome research innovation among students, scientists and clinicians. Dr Maritha Kotze obtained her BSc, BSc honours and MSc degrees cum laude at the University of Stellenbosch. Since obtaining her PhD degree in 1990, she has supervised many postgraduate students including more than 10 PhD graduates. She has been awarded the Rector's Award for Research Excellence in 1999. She received a patent incentive award for Research Innovation in 2005 and was identified during this time by the Institute for Scientific Information in the USA as one of the 20 highest ranking active publishers in the biomedical field in South Africa. Her publications include more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters. Maritha has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific meetings and is a regular presenter and facilitator of CPD accredited lectures. The Gknowmix system was developed under the auspices of the Innovation Centre of the South African Medical Research Council and was partly funded by the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.
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Abstract |
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Gknowmix.com:The Gateway to Genomic Health
As the number of genetic tests used in disease diagnosis and intervention programs increase the gap between genome research and clinical practice has widened. To derive optimal health benefits from the explosive growth in genetic information, a significant new level of information processing, storage and transfer is required. For this purpose, the online Gknowmix genetic knowledge integration system was developed with the vision to combine genetic testing service delivery and clinical outcome-based research in a single application. Ethics approval has been granted to use this software program in projects that include both a service and research component. Clinical, pathological and genetic information that become available within the framework of routine patient care are applied in our research.
By positioning pathology as the health discipline that provides a bridge between molecular genetics and clinical medicine, the concept of pathology supported genetic testingTM was introduced. This new approach in healthcare has the potential to transform molecular genetics from a lab-based science to an information science. The following workflow process utilising the Gknowmix system translates into comprehensive patient reports for clinical decision-making:
1. Clinicians: Patient consultation, clinical assessment and referral
2. Genetic counsellors: Genetic risk assessment and counselling in a family context
3. Laboratories: Pathology, molecular genetic testing and analysis
4. Medical scientists: Data interpretation and authorization of reports
Knowledge input at different interactive web interfaces contributes to a genetic database providing a valuable resource for future research. Gknowmix represents the cutting edge synergies of biology (genomics) and engineering (ICT), an intersection that is changing the face of medicine globally from a curative discipline to one based on risk identification, prevention and targeted treatment.
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