Our Story

Christiaan

Collaboration Drives Innovation

Christiaan Barnard pioneered the world’s first human to human heart transplant on the 3rd December 1967.

With a team of 30 it took 9 hours and put South Africa on the global medical map for a procedure that was thought to be impossible.

This innovation in medical science could not have be possible without two key collaborators: Denise Darvall who donated her heart and Dr Barnard’s assistant Hamilton Naki who started working as a gardener for the medical school and was appointed principle surgical assistant to Barnard in preparation for one of the most pioneering medical operations of all time.

Collaboration is in our blood.

Co.lab invests in pioneering innovators that lead.