Ms. Ashmika Foolchand, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Howard College, South Africa
Ashmika Foolchand, born on 20 September 1996 in Durban, South Africa, is an emerging biomedical researcher specializing in epigenetics, cancer biology, and molecular toxicology. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics (2017), an Honours degree in Forensic Genetics (2018), and a Master of Medical Science in Medical Biochemistry (2019) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her research journey includes the design of methylation assays for human biofluids and the study of methyl picolinic acid’s role in epigenetic modifications. Currently awaiting her PhD results, her doctoral research investigates the inflammatory, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation effects of Fumonisin B1 in human glioblastoma U87MG cells. Ashmika is highly skilled in cell culture, qPCR, ELISA, Western blotting, and DNA methylation analysis. She has published four international peer-reviewed articles and has three manuscripts under review, reflecting a strong commitment to scientific advancement. Her work has been presented at institutional symposiums through both oral and poster formats. Ashmika is fluent in English, possesses excellent health, and maintains a clean criminal record. She has been mentored by leading experts like Prof. Anil Chuturgoon and Dr. Terisha Ghazi, ensuring a robust academic foundation. She is a promising young scientist contributing meaningfully to molecular medicine. 🧬
Publication Profile
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🎓 Educational Background
Ms. Ashmika Foolchand began her academic journey at Athlone Park Primary School, where she studied from 2003 to 2009. She continued her secondary education at Kingsway High School between 2010 and 2014, where she completed her Grade 12 (Matric) with commendable results. Her academic performance in high school showcased her strong aptitude for science and languages, having passed key subjects such as Mathematics (A), Afrikaans (A), Life Orientation (A), Accounting (B), Life Science (B), and English (B), while also securing a pass in Physical Science (C). Driven by her passion for the sciences, she enrolled at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, in 2015 and pursued higher education over the course of nearly a decade. During her time at the university, she achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Life and Earth Sciences, majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics, followed by an Honours degree in Forensic Genetics. She further earned a Master of Medical Science degree in Medical Biochemistry and is currently awaiting the final results of her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Biochemistry. Her student number at the university was 215 048 184. This consistent academic journey reflects her dedication, intellectual curiosity, and determination to contribute to scientific research and discovery.
🎓 Academic Qualifications and Research Expertise
Ms. Ashmika Foolchand has pursued an extensive academic pathway in the life sciences, beginning with a Bachelor of Science degree in Life and Earth Sciences, majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics, which she completed in 2017 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She followed this with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Forensic Genetics in 2018. Her Honours research focused on the primer design and optimization of a multiplex methylation SNaPshot assay for identifying human biofluids. Through this, she acquired key laboratory skills such as sodium bisulfite conversion, methylation-specific PCR, bisulfite PCR, and electrophoresis, alongside software-based methylation analysis using BiQ Analyzer and BISMA. She also gained a solid theoretical foundation in DNA typing, forensic interpretation, quality assurance, and scientific communication. In 2019, she completed her Master of Medical Science in Medical Biochemistry, where her research investigated the epigenetic influence of methyl picolinic acid on human HepG2 liver cells. Her advanced lab skills expanded to include cell culture, qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and luminometry. Currently, she has completed her PhD in Medical Biochemistry (awaiting results), focusing on the inflammatory, oxidative stress, and DNA methylation impact of Fumonisin B1 in glioblastoma U87MG cells. Her academic training reflects a strong foundation in molecular biology and epigenetics. 🧬📖
🧬 Research Focus
Ashmika Foolchand’s research is primarily focused on epigenetics, molecular toxicology, and nutritional immunology. Her published work highlights how natural dietary compounds, food-borne mycotoxins, and micronutrients like Vitamin D influence DNA methylation, histone modifications, and immune system regulation, particularly in the context of cancer and COVID-19. 🦠 Her investigations on compounds like organoselenium and fumonisin B1 explore their roles in gene expression, oxidative stress, and inflammation. 🌿🔬 She bridges molecular biology with public health, revealing how environmental and dietary factors affect epigenetic patterns and disease outcomes. Her work supports advancements in precision medicine and cancer epigenetics.
Publication Top Notes
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A Review: Highlighting the Links between Epigenetics, COVID‑19 Infection, and Vitamin D (Foolchand A, Mazaleni S, Ghazi T, Chuturgoon AA), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022 Oct 14; DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012292 — highly cited in epigenetics & COVID‑19 research
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Malnutrition and Dietary Habits Alter the Immune System Which May Consequently Influence SARS‑CoV‑2 Virulence: A Review (Foolchand A, Ghazi T, Chuturgoon AA), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022 Feb 28; DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052654 — frequently referenced in nutritional immunology
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The Effect of Organoselenium Compounds on Histone Deacetylase Inhibition and Their Potential for Cancer Therapy (Adimulam T, Arumugam T, Foolchand A, Ghazi T, Chuturgoon AA), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021 Nov 30; DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312952 — used in studies on epigenetic HDAC modulation sciencedirect.com+6pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+6pubs.acs.org+6.
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The Impact of Natural Dietary Compounds and Food‑Borne Mycotoxins on DNA Methylation and Cancer (Ghazi T, Arumugam T, Foolchand A, Chuturgoon AA), Cells, 2020 Aug 31; DOI: 10.3390/cells9092004 — cited in multiple reviews of nutriepigenomics