Aletta M E Millen

Aletta Millen is an Associate Professor in the School of Physiology at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Director of the Integrated Molecular Physiology Research Initiative. Her research focusses on improving the understanding of the molecular mechanisms whereby inflammation contributes to the development of various non-communicable diseases. She focuses on how targeting inflammation through lifestyle interventions can improve the risk of developing these diseases. She is also interested in identifying novel anti-inflammatory agents to arrest disease progression. Aletta completed an MBA (with distinction) at Wits and serves as a leadership coach for MBA students at the Wits Business School. She is enthusiastic about leadership and responsible management in the academic environment. She has strong views on the need of science to be translatable into policy and how it impacts society at large. Aletta has been named among the Mail & Guardian top 200 Young South Africans, served as a council member of the Physiological Society of Southern Africa, and has been elected as a member of the South African Young Academy of Science.