Corli Westcott - Curriculum Vitae
Biographical Details
Name and Surname
Corli Westcott (Maiden name: Faber)
E-mail Address
corli2@sun.ac.za
Identity Number
850912 0013 083
Tertiary Education
Degrees:
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2011 – 2014 – PhD Medical Physiology (Stellenbosch University)
2008/2009 – M.Sc Occupational Hygiene (Cum Laude) (North-West University)
2007 – B.Sc (Hons) Occupational Hygiene) (Cum Laude) (North-West University)
2004-2006 – B.Sc Physiology and Human Movement Sciences (Cum Laude) (NorthWest University)
Awards Received:
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Second prize – Oral presentation at the Annual Academic Year day (2011); Basic
Sciences (Stellenbosch University)
Second prize – Johny van der Walt Poster competition (2011); 39th Annual
Physiology Society of South Africa (PSSA)
Second prize – Oral presentation at the Annual Academic Year day (2013); Basic
Sciences (Stellenbosch University)
Best Occupational Hygiene student awarded by South African Institute of
Occupational Hygien (SAIOH) (2010).
Best B.Sc Honours student in Occupational Hygiene (2007)
Postgraduate supervision experience:
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Co-supervised B.Sc (Hons) student (2012) who was appointed best student in her
Hons group. Project: The effects of oleonolic acid and fenofibrate on normal and
tumor necrosis factor alpha induced endothelial cell injury.
Co-supervised B.Sc (Hons) student (2013) – Project: Nitric oxide detection by
diaminofluorescein and nitrites/nitrates in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.
Co-supervised B.Sc (Hons) student (2014) – Project: The investigation of the protooncogene SRC: A potential anti-tumourigenic target in endothelioma-derived cells
(Part 1).
Supervising B.Sc (Hons) student (2015) – Project: An investigation to establish the
“phantom” source for fenofibrate derived nitric oxide production.
Co-supervising B.Sc (Hons) student (2015) – Project: The investigation of the protooncogene SRC: A potential anti-tumourigenic target in endothelioma-derived cells
(Part 2).
Extra courses:
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Curriculum Vitae – Corli Westcott
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SASCAR workshop in Flow Cytometry (2010)
Postgraduate Supervision Workshop (2013)
Article writing workshop (2013)
Successful grant applications:
Harry Crossley Foundation: 2011 – 2015
National Research Foundation Thuthuka: 2011 – 2014
National Research Foundation Thuthuka: 2015 - 2017
Research Outputs
Book Chapter:
Genis A, Smit S, Westcott C, Mthethwa M, Strijdom H. Attenuation of eNOS-NO biosynthesis,
up-regulation of antioxidant proteins and differential protein regulation in TNF-alphatreated cardiac endothelial cells: Early signs of endothelial dysfunction. In: Endothelial
Dysfunction: Risk Factors, Role in Cardiovascular Diseases and Therapeutic Approaches
(Nova Scientific Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, USA) 2014.
Conference proceeding publications:
Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Lochner A. Protein phosphatase 2A is not involved in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion injury? or is it? Journal of the South African Heart Association. 2009;
6(4):298.
Strijdom H, Genis A, Mudau M, Westcott C, Lochner A. Effects of low-dose TNF-a
administration on oxidative/nitrosative stress: the Akt/eNOS/NO pathway and viability in
cardiac endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis (Suppl.) 2011; 12: 68.
Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Lochner A. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion injury. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2010; 48 (5, S1):P-3-28-2.
Strijdom H, Westcott C, Mudau M, Van Rensburg S, Genis A. Microvascular endothelial cell
responses to inflammatory stimulation. SA Heart 2011; 8(4): 257.
Strijdom H, Smit S, Westcott C, Mudau M, Genis A. Proteomic characterization of cardiac
endothelial cell responses to TNF-alpha, hypoxia and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)
stimulation. SA Heart 2012; 9(3): 194.
Genis A, Westcott C, Strijdom H, Lochner A. Evidence of pro-survival responses in TNF-α
stimulated microvascular endothelial cells. Scientific Research and Essays April 2012; 7: 4546.
Westcott C, Strijdom H. Fenofibrate causes nitric oxide production from an unknown source.
Scientific Research and Essays April 2012; 7: 48.
Strijdom H, Loubser D, Genis A, Westcott C, Mthethwa M, Smit S. Obesity and insulin
resistance are not associated with endothelial dysfunction in rat aortas. Cardiovasc
Research Supplements (2014) 103 (suppl 1): S129.
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Curriculum Vitae – Corli Westcott
Westcott C, Genis A, Mthethwa M, Strijdom H. Short term fenofibrate treatment increases
nitric oxide production in cardiac endothelial cells through a nitric oxide synthaseindependent mechanism. Cardiovascular Research Supplements (2014) 103, S9–S46
International Conferences
Westcott C, Genis A, Mthethwa M, Strijdom H. Short term fenofibrate treatment increases
nitric oxide production in cardiac endothelial cells through a nitric oxide synthaseindependent mechanism. Poster presentation at the Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology,
Third Meeting of the ESC Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science, Barcelona, 4-6 July 2014.
Strijdom H, Loubser D, Genis A, Westcott C, Mthethwa M, Smit S. Obesity and insulin
resistance are not associated with endothelial dysfunction in rat aortas. Poster presentation
at the Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology, Third Meeting of the ESC Council on Basic
Cardiovascular Science, Barcelona, 4-6 July 2014.
M. Mudau, A. Genis, C. Westcott and H. Strijdom. Responses of aortic and cardiac
microvascular endothelial cells to TNF-α: Does endothelial heterogeneity matter? IUPS
Conference, Birmingham, UK, July 2013.
A. Genis, C. Westcott, M. Mudau and H. Strijdom. Signalling responses in cardiac endothelial
cells, following treatment with high concentrations of TNF-alpha, with or without cotreatment with Oleanolic Acid. IUPS Conference, Birmingham, UK, July 2013.
Strijdom H, Smit S, Westcott C, Mudau M, Genis A. Regulation of cardiac microvascular
endothelial cell proteome by TNF-α stimulation. Society for Heart and Vascular Metabolism
Annual Meeting, Oxford, UK, July 2012.
Strijdom H, Genis A, Mudau M, Westcott C, Lochner A. Effects of low-dose TNF-α
administration on oxidative/nitrosative stress: the Akt/eNOS/NO pathway and viability in
cardiac endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis (Suppl.) 2011; 12: 68.
Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Lochner A. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion injury. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2010; 48 (5, S1):P-3-28-2.
International Workshops
D van Vuuren, C Westcott, A Lochner. Protein phosphatase 2A (PPA2): a dark horse in
cardiac ischaemia/ reperfusion. Oral presentation at the 1st Joint UK-SA Cardiovascular
Research Workshop, held in London, United Kingdom, 6 December 2010.
National proceedings
Markgraaf B, Westcott C, Strijdom H. The proto-oncogene Src: Understanding its role in
controlling the mechanisms associated with cell survival. Poster presentation at the 58th
Annual Academic Day of Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
13 August 2014.
Smith T, Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Strijdom H. Simvastatin and Fenofibrate in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion. Poster presentation at the 58th Annual Academic Day of
Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 13 August 2014.
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Curriculum Vitae – Corli Westcott
Westcott C, Van Wyk WA, Genis A, Mudau M, Strijdom H. Fenofibrate and endothelial cells:
Building the NOS puzzle. Oral presentation at the Faculty’s Annual Academic Day, held at
Tygerberg campus, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 14-15 August 2013.
* Received second prize in the Basic Sciences division.
Westcott C, Loubser D, Genis A, Mudau M, Strijdom H. Fenofibrate and the vasculature: The
NOS-tastic journey to underlying mechanisms. Oral presentation at the the 41st Annual
Physiology Society of South Africa congress, held at Roodevallei Conference lodge, South
Africa, 15-18 September 2013.
Genis A, Westcott C, Strijdom H, Lochner A. Evidence of pro-survival responses in TNF-α
stimulated microvascular endothelial cells. Scientific Research and Essays April 2012; 7: 4546.
Westcott C, Strijdom H. Fenofibrate causes nitric oxide production from an unknown source.
Scientific Research and Essays April 2012; 7: 48.
Westcott C, Strijdom H. Fenofibrate and nitric oxide: what happens on microvascular level?
Poster presentation at the 40th Annual Conference of the Physiology society of Southern
Africa, hosted by the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 11-13 September 2012.
Westcott C, Strijdom H. The pleiotropic effects of fenofibrate on microvascular level. Oral
presentation at the Medical Research Council Annual research day, Parow, South Africa, 2324 October 2012.
C. Westcott, H. Strijdom. Fenofibrate causes large amounts of nitric oxide, but where does it
come from? Oral presentation at the annual academic day of the Faculty of Health Sciences,
Stellenbosch University, 17-18 August 2011.
C. Westcott, H. Strijdom. Fenofibrate causes large amounts of nitric oxide from an unknown
source. Poster presentation at the 39th Annual Conference of the Physiology society of
Southern Africa, hosted by the University of Western Cape, South Africa, 29-31 August 2011.
Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Lochner A. Protein Phosphatase 2A in cardiac
ischaemia/reperfusion: a negative regulator of survival. 39th Conference of the Physiological
Society of Southern Africa, hosted by the University of the Western Cape, 28-31 August
2011.
Strijdom H, Westcott C, Mudau M, Van Rensburg S, Genis A. Microvascular endothelial cell
responses to inflammatory stimulation. SA Heart 2011; 8(4): 257.
C. Westcott, F.C. Eloff, J.L. du Plessis, J.N.R. Joubert, P.C. Schutte, P. Laubscher, N. Van Aarde,
A. Franken. An evaluation of heat strain experienced by furnace workers at an iron smelter.
Poster presentation at the Umanyano SAFECONEX Africa Congress in Sandton, South Africa,
17-18 March 2010.
D. van Vuuren, C. Westcott, A. Lochner. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion injury: An introduction. Poster presentation at the annual academic
day of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, 11-12 August 2010.
Van Vuuren D, Westcott C, Lochner A. Protein phosphatase 2A is not involved in myocardial
ischaemia/reperfusion injury… or is it? Journal of the South African Heart Association. 2009;
6(4):298.
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Curriculum Vitae – Corli Westcott
C. Westcott, D Van Vuuren, A Lochner. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition and its
effect on myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Poster presentation at the 38th Annual
Congress of the Physiology Society of Southern Africa, hosted by Walter Sisulu University,
South Africa, 27-29 September 2009.
C. Westcott, F.C. Eloff, J.L. du Plessis, J.N.R. Joubert, P.C. Schutte, P. Laubscher, N. Van Aarde,
A. Franken. An evaluation of heat strain experienced by furnace workers at an iron smelter.
Poster presentation at the 37th Annual Congress of the Physiology Society of Southern
Africa, hosted by the Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, 79 September 2009.
Work Experience
Employer:
Occupation:
Year:
Earth and Occupational Health Sciences t/a Poltech
Temporary Occupational Hygiene assistant
June - November, 2008
Employer:
Occupation:
Year:
Stellenbosch University
Physiology tutor
June 2010 – December 2010
Employer:
Stellenbosch University: Division of Medical Physiology
Occupation:
Higher level Research Assistant
Year: April 2009 – Current employment
References
Prof. H. Strijdom
(SU: Research group Head – Lecturer and researcher; Tygerberg Campus, Medical
Physiology)
Telephone number: (021) 938 9387
Prof. F.C. Eloff
(NWU: Department Head – Occupational Hygiene; Qualified Occupational Hygienist
with SAIOH)
Telephone number: (018) 299 2442
Prof. A. Lochner
(SU: Chief Senior Specialist Scientist, Tygerberg Campus, Medical Physiology)
Telephone number: (021) 938 9391
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Curriculum Vitae – Corli Westcott