Dr. Carola Niesler is a cell biologist whose initial research interest focused on the use of stem cells to promote wound repair. She obtained her PhD from the department of Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, UK in 1999 after which she spent two years as a full time researcher in a Centre of Excellence for wound healing research at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester. She moved back to South Africa in 2001 to take up a lecturing position at the University of Stellenbosch where she started a stem cell research group. She subsequently moved to the Department of Biochemistry, UKZN, where her current research group continues to focus on the role of cytokines in regulating stem cell quiescence, senescence, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Techniques used include tissue culture, primary cell isolation, fluorescence microscopy, immunocytochemistry, standard protein determination methods as well as mathematical modelling. Her group has maintained strong collaborative ties with both the University of Stellenbosch and University of Cape Town.

Her group currently consists of 6 postgraduate students who focus on projects including:

Quiescence and senescence in skeletal myoblasts (wet lab as well as dry lab approach)

Role of cytokines and extracellular matrix factors on maintenance of quiescence, proliferation, migration and differentiation of skeletal myoblasts (wet lab approach)
Cancer stem cells (wet lab approach)