Brain Function Research Group

About the Research Group

The Brain Function Research Group is a university-recognised research entity that investigates selected functions of the brain and the physiological and biochemical processes in which the nervous system plays a key regulatory role. Core research areas include pain, sleep, thermal physiology, and neuroinflammation.

Pain research focuses on the epidemiology of chronic pain, diabetic neuropathy, and pain and itch in keloid scars. Sleep research explores sleep, circadian timing, and cardiometabolic risk in HIV-positive individuals, as well as the effects of sleep disruption on pain, cognition, and metabolic health. Neuroinflammation studies investigate how early-life infections influence brain development.

Thermal physiology research examines the control of fever and sickness behaviour, thermoregulation, and the ecophysiology of free‑living mammals, including wildlife conservation physiology (www.wildlifeconservationphysiology.com).

Staff Involved

Professor Andrea Fuller (Director) (andrea.fuller@wits.ac.za)

Associate Professor Lois Harden

Professor Peter Kamerman

Dr Prinisha Pillay

Associate Professor Karine Scheuermaier

Technical Staff:

Mrs Tapiwa Chinaka and Mr Zipho Zwane