Born on a mission
Fluorobiotech was founded during the global pandemic, in response to the urgent need for accessible and affordable biotechnology solutions, not only in its home country of South Africa, but also other developing regions. At Fluorobiotech, we are committed to bridging this gap by pioneering affordable, cutting-edge biotechnology solutions tailored to emerging markets.
We are on a mission to make Africa’s biotech sector self-sufficient by developing wetware to overcome hard- and soft-ware challenges. Fluorobiotech’s vision is to build Africa’s biotech independence by unlocking local, cost-effective production of high-value enzymes. Our patented SelfPrep technology powers scalable, affordable, and high-yield enzyme manufacturing, supporting vaccine developers, researchers, and biopharma innovators across the globe.
% Increased Extraction Rates
SelfPrep dramatically improves yields and reduces processing time through simplified workflows — enabling massive parallel screening and processing
% Higher Protein Yield
Achieved through improved extraction efficiency and advanced expression technology
% Reductions in Production Costs
Lower labour and consumables use, minimal equipment needs
Proof-of-Concept Projects
From basic research to vaccine manufacturing, we support our clients in unlocking innovation through accessible, reliable, and collaborative biomanufacturing
Advantages
of our
company
- Local Manufacturing;
- Affordable Pricing;
- Advanced Production Technologies;
- Expert Team;
our founders
Dr. Du Preez van Staden
Chief Executive Officer
(PhD Microbiology)
Du Preez co-founded Fluorobiotech in 2021 with a bold vision: to transform access to high-quality recombinant proteins and strengthen Africa’s biomanufacturing capabilities. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from Stellenbosch University and completed postdoctoral research in both Physiological Sciences and Clinical Pharmacology, building a foundation that spans across disciplines critical to next-generation biotech solutions.
Over more than a decade, Du Preez has cultivated deep expertise in molecular biology, protein production, and translational therapeutics, with his research featured in leading international journals. His leadership style combines scientific depth with a collaborative mindset, shaped by experience across microbiology, engineering, and physiological sciences. Drawing on this broad expertise, he spearheaded the development of SelfPrep—Fluorobiotech’s proprietary protein extraction technology that streamlines and accelerates manufacturing.
As CEO, Du Preez drives Fluorobiotech’s strategy and innovation pipeline, passionately advancing the company’s mission to unlock Africa’s potential as a global biomanufacturing powerhouse.
Dr. Ross Vermeulen
Chief Operating Officer
(PhD Microbiology)
Ross is a molecular biologist with a PhD in Microbiology from Stellenbosch University, where he developed recombinant protein production systems to discover novel post-translationally modified peptides. Several of these peptides showed previously undescribed bioactivities, sparking ongoing research into their potential applications. His work built deep expertise in genetic engineering and peptide-focused mass spectrometry.
Before co-founding Fluorobiotech, Ross played a key role in academic training, designing over 10 postgraduate research projects and providing close scientific supervision. Passionate about translational science, he focused on equipping early-career scientists to turn laboratory research into real-world solutions.
Ross has played a key role in Fluorobiotech’s product development and scale-up strategy, working closely with partners to align enzyme supply chains with customer needs. In his capacity as COO, he oversees technical operations, manages collaborative projects, and ensures that the company’s processes meet both scientific and commercial standards.
OUR team
Etienne du toit
Chief Quality Officer
(Msc Biochemistry)
Etienne joined Fluorobiotech as Chief Quality Officer in March 2025. He holds an MSc in Biochemistry from Stellenbosch University, where he specialized in peptide synthesis and antibiotic resistance, and later earned a Diploma in Management Studies from the Open University in the UK. He has held senior roles in Operations Management and Quality Assurance at several leading biotech and diagnostics companies, including Abbott Diagnostics (UK), DiaSorin (UK and South Africa), The Biovac Institute, and BioTech Africa. At DiaSorin UK, he served as interim site director, and later led both operations and quality at BioTech Africa. A key achievement in this role was successfully reinstating the company’s ISO 13485 certification, which has been consistently maintained through successful audits
MJ van Vuuren
Chief Commercialisation Officer
(LLB, Msc Physiol. Sci.)
Marthinus, known as MJ, brings an interdisciplinary background that spans physiology, biotechnology, and law. He holds an MSc in Physiological Sciences and an LLB, both from Stellenbosch University. His career has included roles as a partner at a legal firm, applications specialist in scientific instrumentation, and business developer for several early and late-stage biotech companies. MJ joined Fluorobiotech in 2025 as Chief Commercialisation Officer to drive market readiness and strategic growth as the company transitions from product development to scaled operations. At Fluorobiotech, he leads market strategy and customer engagement, leveraging his unique mix of scientific, commercial, and regulatory experience to support the company’s commercialization objectives.
Nsizwa Biyela
Junior Production Scientist
(Bsc Hons Biochemistry)
Nsizwa first engaged with Fluorobiotech in 2024 through the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation (CSSFF) – South African Medical Research Council Capacity Development Programme. During this intensive internship, he received hands-on training in upstream and downstream bioprocessing, aseptic techniques, and quality assurance. He joined Fluorobiotech as an intern as part of the program and, in early 2025, was appointed Junior Production Scientist. Nsizwa now plays a key role in enzyme manufacturing, QC testing, and lab operations, supporting the company’s commitment to high-quality, locally produced biomanufacturing reagents.
OUR interns
Ida Johnsen
International Intern
(Bsc Biomedical Laboratory Sciences)
Ida is a trained biomedical laboratory scientist from Norway with three years of clinical laboratory experience in blood banking. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Laboratory Science and joined Fluorobiotech in 2025 as part of an international internship aimed at gaining exposure to industrial biotechnology. Ida supports the company’s daily lab operations, administration workflows while building skills in commercialisation. With prior leadership experience in healthcare settings and strong communication skills, she brings a valuable international perspective to the team.
Sawra Abdesslem
International Intern
(Bsc Chemistry)
Sawra is a Tunisian chemical engineering student with a background in chemistry and a focus on sustainability and process optimization. She has led and contributed to several academic and marketing projects and recently completed a research project on scoby-based biopolymers. Her skills include ISO 9001; 17025 and 13485 quality systems, project coordination, and R&D documentation. At Fluorobiotech, Sawra assists with lab-based protocol development, supporting both internal process design and external partner coordination, while gaining firsthand experience in biopharmaceutical production.
Contact Fluorobiotech
Fluorobiotech is based in the LaunchLab CERI BIO laboratories in Stellenbosch, South Africa
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