Dr. Nicolas John Wickens is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at Nelson Mandela University, where he has been a dedicated member of the academic and research community for over 15 years. His research interests center on toxicological studies and histopathological technique optimization, with a focus on the diagnostic, therapeutic, and toxicological implications of various compounds and staining methods in preclinical and diagnostic settings.
In toxicology, Dr. Wickens investigates the effects of natural and synthetic compounds on liver and kidney function and assesses the diagnostic potential and safety of nanomaterials, particularly for cancer targeting, in animal models. His work includes exploring therapeutic combinations to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity in metabolic and oncologic contexts.
In histopathology, he is focused on optimizing staining and tissue processing techniques to enhance diagnostic precision, turnaround time, and laboratory safety. His research includes comparative studies of stains, such as Giemsa, Crystal Violet, Grocott's Methenamine Silver, and PAS, for identifying infectious agents and fungal hyphae. He also examines antigen retrieval methods for immunohistochemistry, investigates alternatives to traditional toxic reagents, and studies the effects of various dehydrants on tissue preservation and processing efficiency. These efforts aim to refine diagnostic lab protocols, improving diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
Dr. Wickens has contributed research to academic journals and has supervised research projects at the undergraduate and Master’s levels. His teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on, interactive learning, with the goal of helping students develop the skills needed for careers in laboratory science and toxicology.
In addition to his teaching and research, Dr. Wickens collaborates on departmental research projects that contribute to safer and more effective laboratory practices.
Designation:
Senior Lecturer
Email:
nicolas.wickens@mandela.ac.za
Contact Number:
0732893420
Faculty:
Health Sciences
Department:
Medical Laboratory Science
Qualifications:
Board Certification Exam: Medical Laboratory Science - Histopathology Techniques (2015), National Diploma Biomedical Technology (1999), Masters of Technology Biomedical Technology (2003), Doctorate of Technology: Medical Laboratory Science (2012)
Professional Memberships:
HPCSA
Orcid ID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3734-1944
NRF Rating:
N/A
Research Interests:
My research interests center on toxicological studies and histopathological technique optimization, focusing on the diagnostic, therapeutic, and toxicological implications of various compounds and staining methods in preclinical and diagnostic settings.
-
In toxicology, I investigate the effects of natural and synthetic compounds on liver and kidney function, and assess the diagnostic potential and safety of nanomaterials, especially for cancer targeting, in animal models. My work includes exploring therapeutic combinations to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity in metabolic and oncologic contexts.
-
In histopathology, I am particularly interested in optimizing staining and tissue processing techniques to improve diagnostic precision, turnaround time, and laboratory safety. My research covers comparative studies of stains (e.g., Giemsa, Crystal Violet, Grocott's Methenamine Silver, and PAS) for infectious agents and fungal hyphae, as well as antigen retrieval methods for immunohistochemistry.
-
Additionally, I explore alternatives to traditional toxic reagents and examine the impact of different dehydrants on tissue preservation and processing efficiency. These efforts aim to refine protocols for diagnostic labs, enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
Current non-degree Research Projects:
N/A
Current Final Year Undergraduate/Honours Research Projects:
-
Time Matters: Investigating the Relationship Between Fixation delays and Tissue Morphology in Histopathology.
-
Comparative Effectiveness of Alcoholic Formalin and Unbuffered Formalin in Tissue Preservation: A Comprehensive Analysis
Number of currently supervised Masters and PhD candidates (2023 to 2024):
Research Output 2023 to 2024:
-
Shauli, M., Sewani-Rusike, C., Abura, S., Kolosa, I., Gondwe, M.M., Gari, M., Gqaza, B., Rajesh, N., Wickens, N. and Smith, N., 2023. Acute toxicity and 28-day oral administration of euclea natalensis extract in Swiss albino mice. The Journal of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology of South Africa, 5(1), pp.1-10.
Current Research Collaborations within your Department or Discipline:
N/A
Current Inter-Disciplinary/Multi-Disciplinary/Trans-Disciplinary Research Collaborations:
-
Cannabis extract reduces free fatty acid mediated inflammation in diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in collaboration with PhD Student Biochemistry NMU South Campus.