University of Cape Town, Neuroscience Institute & AI Research Unit
Dr Irene Nandutu
University of Cape Town, Neuroscience Institute & AI Research Unit
Ms. Irene was a Postdoctoral fellow working with Prof Kirsty Donald and Assistant Prof Deshen Moodley. She was attached to the Neuroscience Institute and the Artificial Intelligence Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She participated in a collaborative research project on designing human-centred AI systems to enhance scientific knowledge discovery and machine learning approaches in neuroscience. This research aimed to understand the current state-of-the-art machine learning techniques used in neuroscience research within Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Irene Nandutu
University of Cape Town
Dr Marlie Miles
University of Cape Town
Dr Marlie Miles was a postdoctoral fellow in paediatric imaging and clinical neuroscience, whose PhD built on a longitudinal study of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, integrating paediatric and neonatal MRI neuroimaging. From 2021 to 2023, she managed the Khula LEAP project — overseeing community-based data collection, team coordination, and funder compliance — deepening her engagement with maternal and child mental health in South Africa. Her current work examined amygdala-prefrontal connectivity in children exposed to antenatal distress and the impact of early trauma on ADHD, using data from the Drakenstein Child Health Study. Dr. Miles aimed to inform early-intervention strategies and deepen our understanding of early childhood adversity and the importance of maternal mental health on childhood development.
Dr Marlie Miles
Aga Khan University, Institute for Human Development
Dr Patricia Kipkemoi
Aga Khan University, Institute for Human Development
Patricia completed her BA in Psychology at the United States International University in Nairobi and her MSc degree in Clinical Developmental Sciences from King’s College London, where she investigated the perspectives of autistic adults on clinical genetics testing and healthcare. Her PhD from the Complex Trait Genetics Lab at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam characterised the phenotypic and genetic architecture of neurodevelopmental disorders and socio-medical factors associated with these conditions in Kenya. For her post-doctoral fellowship, Patricia’s focus was on exploring the impact of rare genetic variants on neurodevelopmental profiles and the interplay with environmental factors, and on interventions for neurodiverse children and their caregivers that enhance their quality of life and well-being.
