Dr. Judy Pretoriaus, a South African biomedical scientist and entrepreneur, is working to transform scientific advancements into compassionate healthcare solutions in South Africa. She believes that the true value of science is measured by its ability to help people outside the laboratory.
A recent visit by Dr. Judy to the Pediatric Burn Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, allowed her to see this idea in action as she listened to medical staff treating children with severe burns.
This visit, organized by the U Matter Foundation, gave the founder of Biomedical Emporium the opportunity to explore how scientists, clinicians, non-profit organizations, and businesses can collaborate to improve outcomes for vulnerable patients.
Dr. Judy noted: 'I am trained as a scientist, but I am also an entrepreneur, researcher, and someone who firmly believes that knowledge must make a meaningful impact.'
She holds a Master's degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology, as well as a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Northwestern University. Her specialization includes wound healing, regenerative medicine, and cell therapy. Dr. Judy shared that she has always been interested in the body's capacity for self-repair.
She explained that wound healing is a complex biological process involving cells, growth factors, inflammation, tissue formation, and interaction between various biological systems. Regenerative medicine deepens this understanding by exploring how to best comprehend and support the body's natural ability to restore and regenerate tissues.
For her, scientific innovation only makes sense when it solves a real problem. She emphasized that healthcare innovations should not just be about developing something new, but about solving problems that matter to patients and healthcare workers.
This approach was evident during her work at the Baragwanath burn unit, where she spent time listening to doctors and medical professionals about the real challenges of treating children with severe burns. She was struck by the complexity of their work. Dr. Judy stated that burn care is not just about treating a wound.
Dr. Judy Pretoriaus interacted with young patients at Baragwanath Hospital, listening to their stories and exploring collaborative solutions to improve pediatric burn care. Children recovering from severe burns can face pain, infection risks, scarring, mobility issues, and psychological consequences long after the initial injury.
She believes that people sometimes perceive a burn as an injury that ends with the closure of the wound, whereas recovery is often just the beginning of a much longer journey. As children grow, the physical consequences of severe burns can change, and the psychological impact continues to affect them and their families.
Dr. Judy believes that this is why pediatric burn care deserves more attention from policymakers, researchers, the private sector, and the public. She highlighted the vulnerability of children and that the consequences of severe burns can haunt them for years.
The visit also reinforced the importance of bridging scientists and clinicians. In her view, research should be based on the problems faced by frontline healthcare workers, rather than being developed in isolation. She insisted: 'Instead of scientists developing something in isolation and then asking healthcare workers to use it, we should ask clinicians about the problems they face and let those problems define the research agenda. Innovations must be designed with reality in mind. It is not enough to develop something that is scientifically sound. We must develop solutions that can actually work within healthcare systems.'
This implies considering accessibility, affordability, ease of use, and scalability from the outset. According to her, a scientifically promising technology will have limited impact if it cannot be implemented in a real healthcare system.
This principle is reflected in Biomedical Emporium, the biotech company Dr. Judy founded 11 years ago. The business grew from a research-focused startup into an integrated healthcare company with B2B and D2C divisions, as well as a recently opened pharmacy. Biomedical Emporium also has laboratories in Mauritius and Dubai.
For Dr. Judy, commercial growth comes with the responsibility of using scientific and business knowledge to solve real healthcare problems. She stated: 'As a scientist and entrepreneur, I feel a special responsibility to ensure that the knowledge and opportunities we develop can contribute to solving real healthcare problems.'
This responsibility also extends to how the business supports vulnerable communities. Dr. Judy believes that donations can provide immediate aid, but sustainable support requires a long-term commitment to capacity building, supporting research, and developing solutions for recurring problems. She added that a one-time contribution does not necessarily solve root problems; the value lies in building relationships that can lead to long-term collaboration and solutions.
She views non-profit organizations like the U Matter Foundation as vital for establishing these connections, bringing together communities, healthcare workers, businesses, and researchers in dialogues that can go beyond a single intervention. For Dr. Judy, the next step is to continue listening and determining how her scientific expertise, products, and resources can make a significant contribution to the Pediatric Burn Unit.
Her broader goal is to demonstrate how African science and biotechnology can help solve African health challenges while strengthening the links between research, business, and society. She concluded: 'We need more bridges between science and society. We need research that goes beyond the lab, business that understands its social responsibility, and partnerships that bring together expertise from different sectors.'
However, during her visit to Baragwanath, it was the children who stood behind the science that left an impression on her. She was moved by the sight of the environment in which healthcare workers operate and the thoughts of the small patients behind every treated wound. For Dr. Judy, this is a moment when science becomes something more than just research. She emphasized: 'Behind every scientific question is ultimately a person whose quality of life we are trying to improve.'