Setjie Welcome Maepa

Welcome Maepa is a post-doctoral research fellow affiliated with Stellenbosch University/South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research (CTR) in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in Durban, South Africa. He originates from Ga-Maepa village in Ngwabe Circuit, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province.

He holds a PhD in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Cape Town. His doctoral research focused on developing 3D multicellular liver organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to model antiretroviral therapy–induced liver injury (ARTILI), using high-resolution quantitative mass spectrometry-based approaches.

His current research focuses on understanding mediators of tuberculosis (TB) immunopathology to support the development of host-directed therapies (HDTs). His work explores how Mycobacterium tuberculosis manipulates host cellular pathways to promote survival and persistence, with the aim of identifying host factors that can be targeted to enhance immune responses, improve microbial clearance, reduce inflammation, and limit lung tissue damage in TB disease.