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Early 2015 cardio vascular tissue procurement was added to the CTE profile in line with an agreement
with Netcells that did the actual cryo-preservation of the valves.

Over the past 5 years, the CTE has been inundated with requests and pleas from surgeons and burn
units around the country to assist with the banking of skin for treatment of burn victims. The majority
of patients who need skin, are state patients, who are more often than not the victims of shack fires
that frequently result in life threatening burns. Although there are no financial advantages to be
gained through skin procurement and distribution, the CTE and Bone SA felt morally obliged to make
a financial commitment and take on the challenge to help these ordinary South Africans.

In April 2016 the skin bank was officially launched and the research lab at the CSIR campus opened.
Over the years the staff compliment increased from the initial four to 30 in recent time. The work
done at the CTE is highly technical and requires people with very special and specific skills, but the
impact of its work is seen in the lives of ordinary people - people who need tissue transplantation to
improve their situation and improve their quality of life.

We take courage from the TUT slogan: “We empower people” Then looking at the work of the CTE,
this slogan rings true in every sense of the word!
For further information or additional information on the CTE, please contact Sandra Venter on:
082 325 3448 or venters@tut.ac.za.