Markus Depfenhart | Principle Investigator SAVAC Project
North West University

Prof. Markus Depfenhart, M.D., PhD, PhD h.c., LL.M. is a German board-certified Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon, Emergency Physician, and translational researcher based in South Africa. He serves as Research Professor at North-West University and Walter Sisulu University (South Africa) and also holds a PhD in Business and Management and a Master of Laws, reflecting his combined expertise in medicine, science, and entrepreneurship. His transition into biotechnology is defined by a strong focus on nucleotide, protein, and peptide design, vector development, and nucleotide-based medicine, including innovative vaccine platforms. His broader research encompasses viral-free vector systems, therapeutic vaccines tailored for Africa, gene and cell therapies, antivenoms (specifically for neurotoxins) and epigenetic approaches to longevity. He serves as Principal Investigator of the SAVAC Project, advancing a therapeutic TB vaccine currently in transition to Phase I clinical testing. Prof. Depfenhart is inventor on more than 30 patents and patent applications, CEO/Chairman of Lavenir Bioscience AG (Hamburg, Germany), and active on multiple advisory and supervisory boards, uniting scientific innovation with clinical practice, intellectual property strategy, and entrepreneurial leadership.