Speakers

Dr Amarnath Challapalli is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Clinical Director of the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, specialising in the management of urological cancers and non-melanoma skin cancers. He undertook his medical and postgraduate training in clinical oncology in India and in the UK, achieving Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) and the Royal College of Physicians, London (FRCP). He completed a PhD at Imperial College, London in January 2014. His research focused on the translation of novel PET tracers looking at cell proliferation, apoptosis and choline metabolism into clinical studies to look at early response assessment to treatment.

Dr. Challapalli is a Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) Clinical Champion. He championed the improvement of access to PSMA-PET scans and has set up the Lutetium PSMA Radio ligand service in Bristol. He is a clinical expert for the NICE evidence review groups (Sheffield & PenTAG). He is a member of the Clinical Reference Group (CRG) of the National Kidney Cancer Audit (NKCA), representing The Royal College of Radiologists. He is a panel member of Mirrors in Medicine, an International Case-based professional development platform. He organises and lectures in the skin cancer study day and has co-developed the skin cancer e-learning module for the Royal College of Radiologists. He has developed and leads the brachytherapy service for non-melanoma skin cancers at BHOC. He is a member of BUG, ESTRO and GEC-ESTRO Head&Neck brachytherapy group.

Dr. Challapalli is actively involved in research into urological and non-melanoma skin cancers. He is the UK Chief Investigator for the adjuvant Cemiplimab trial in high risk squamous cell carcinoma (C-POST trial), REACT-Cemi trial, IMPACT trial (Cemiplimab in advanced BCC) and a Co-Chief Investigator of the national multicentre ACE trial in prostate cancer and EPIC trial in penile cancer. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international meetings.

Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Cairo University Kasr El Aini Medical School in Egypt. Managing director of Kasr El Aini Oncology unit from 2018-2023

With collaboration in several regional and international trials, with interest in Lung Breast and Gynaecological Malignancies.

Having published more than 70 publications on these topics in regional and international medical journals.

With a passion in education to improve oncology care in the Middle East and Africa, dedicating himself to this cause.

The founding President of CANSURVIVE a NGO for Cancer Patient Support, which aims to improve the knowledge and treatment options of patients through out Egypt and the Middle East.

Member of ASCO ESMO AMAAC

Stephen Opat is the Cancer Program director at Monash Health, research lead CLL/indolent lymphoma, founder and chair of the Australasian Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry and lead investigator of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Lymphoma Flagship. He trained in Haematology at The Alfred and Austin Hospitals in Melbourne followed by a fellowship in Cambridge UK, researching Hodgkin lymphoma biology. In 2009, he spent six months at the BC Cancer Agency in Canada, studying mantle cell lymphoma and in 2018 was visiting professor at Stanford University studying deep sequencing of aggressive lymphoma. His interests include the clinical management of lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, lymphoma genomics and Gaucher disease. He is a Clinical Professor in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash University and a principal investigator in over 60 trials mainly in lymphoid cancer. He established a first-in-human and early phase haematology research unit at Monash Health in 2014. He has over 300 peer reviewed publications with over 10,000 citations. He serves on many international scientific advisory boards on lymphoma and CLL and has a strong interest in medical education and has lectured widely throughout the Asia-Pacific and North America. He is a passionate advocate for healthcare improvement.

Prof. Leung is the Head of Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at The University of Hong Kong. Previously he was the Chair of the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in USA, the Director of Children’s Blood and Cancer Centre at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore, and vice president of clinical development at Miltenyi Biotec and Biomedicine. He is an elected Member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is American Board certified in pediatrics and in pediatric hematology and oncology. Prof. Leung has major research interest in the biology of natural killer cells and T cells, including gene-modifications and their applications in cancer therapy.

Prof. Trepel attended medical school at Tübingen University, Germany. He did his residency and fellowship for training in internal medicine, hematology and oncology at University of Freiburg Medical Center. He was board certified in internal medicine in 2005 and in hematology and oncology in 2007.

During 1998 – 2000, he was a postdoctoral associate at the Burnham Cancer Research Institute and The Salk Institute, San Diego and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
From 2008 – 2018, he was Professor of Molecular Oncology at University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Germany.

Since 2014, he is the Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg and Chairman of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the Augsburg University Medical Center. Since 2020, he is full professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology at Augsburg University.

Prof. Trepels scientific focus is the development of novel technologies for receptor-targeted therapy and the role of the B-cell receptor in leukemia and lymphoma biology. He has discovered and described key mechanisms of lymphoma biology and the principles of targeted gene transfer. His clinical focus is the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma, gastrointestinal and thoracic tumors.

Martine J. Piccart, M.D., Ph.D., is honorary professor of oncology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and scientific director at the Institut Jules Bordet (Brussels/Belgium). Earning her medical degrees at ULB and oncology qualifications in New York and London, she is also a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine. She held presidencies of the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO), the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). She served on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Board (ASCO) as well as on the Board of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) which nominated her as fellow of the AACR Academy in 2013.

A strong advocate for and leader of international research collaborations, Prof. Martine Piccart, together with Prof. Aron Goldhirsch, created the Breast International Group (BIG) in 1996, which today unites 56 academic breast cancer research groups from around the world.

Prof. Piccart’s has successfully managed a number of high-profile, Phase 3 clinical trials such as HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant), MINDACT (Microarray In Node-Negative and 1 to 3 Positive Lymph Node Disease May Avoid Chemotherapy), ALTTO (Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation), and APHINITY (Adjuvant Pertuzumab and Herceptin in Initial Therapy in Breast Cancer).

An accomplished clinician and scientist, Prof. Piccart is author or co-author of over 670 publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has also been honoured with numerous prestigious Awards.

Dr Wendy Osborne is a Consultant Haematologist at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She graduated with First Class Honours from Newcastle University in 1998 and completed her General Medical Training at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. Dr Osborne worked in haematology departments in Glasgow before returning to Newcastle to undertake Higher Specialist Training.

Dr Osborne is past chair of the British Society of Haematology Lymphoma Special Interest Group and a member of the NCRI Clinical Studies Group, High Grade lymphoma sub-group, Hodgkin lymphoma subgroup. Dr Osborne is on the medical advisory panel for Lymphoma Action and is a principal investigator and co-investigator for numerous clinical trials. Dr Osborne is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University and teaching lead for the haematology undergraduate programme.

In 2002, Linda developed one of the first nurse-led Vascular Access Services in the United Kingdom. This role involved inserting long-term vascular access devices (tunnelled central venous catheters and renal dialysis catheter, PICCs and midline catheters). As part of this role, she provided care and maintenance training and research and education. In 2004, Linda developed the Scottish IV Access Network (SIVAN) to share and improve vascular access care.

In June 2010, Linda took up the post of lecturer and programme lead for MSc Advanced Clinical Practice at the University of the West of Scotland. She also developed an online master’s Level Advanced Vascular Access module during her time in academia.

In 2016, Linda took up the post as Clinical Nurse Advisor for Vygon (UK). Her role involved teaching and training in intravascular therapies (Vascular Access) across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England.

Recently, Linda moved to an international role within Vygon and is currently the Global Clinical Specialist for vascular management. This role again focuses on the delivery of high-quality, up to date education and training regarding all aspects of vascular access.

Linda completed a PhD at Edinburgh Napier University. Her doctorate studies focused on the experiences of patients living with a vascular access device.
Linda has won two awards for her work in vascular access: Nursing Standard Vascular Nurse of the Year and The Nursing Times Nurse of the Year. Linda regularly writes for publication, remains research active and often presents at national and international vascular access conferences.

Anna Sureda, (MD, PhD) is nowadays the Head of the Clinical Hematology Department of Institut Català d’Oncologia – Hospitalet, Barcelona. She had previously been a Senior Consultant in Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona (from January 1991 to December 2010) and a Senior Consultant focused in lymphomas and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at Addenbrookes–Cambridge University Hospital, UK (December 2010 – December 2012). Anna Sureda has focused her career on clinical investigations into the treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients evaluating novel therapies such as immunotherapy combined with stem-cell transplantation. Anna Sureda was appointed Chairperson of the Lymphoma Working Party (LWP) of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) from March 2004 to March 2010 and Secretary of the same organization from March 2010 to March 2016. She was elected co-chair of the Lymphoma Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) and has served the organization in this position from February 2015 to February 2019. She was subsequently appointed as member of a large non-US Transplant Center in the Advisory Committee of the CIBMTR (from February 2019). Anna Sureda is President of the Spanish Society of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (GETH-TC) and, from March 2022, President of the EBMT. Anna Sureda is regular reviewer of several peer reviewed journals (Blood, Annals of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, The Hematology Journal, The European Journal of Hematology y Annals of Hematology) and has co-authored more than 400 manuscripts.

Giuseppe Curigliano, MD PhD, is Full Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Milano and Chief of the Clinical Division of Early Drug Development at European Institute of Oncology, Milano, Italy. Dr. Curigliano is an expert in the field of advanced drug development in solid tumors, with specific interest on breast cancer. He contributed to the development of many anticancer treatments actually available as standard of care in the treatment of multiple solid tumors. Since 2001 he is tenure-track and full-time cancer specialist at European Institute of Oncology – one of the world’s leading cancer-research institutes and the premier Cancer Center in Italy, third in Europe and 12th globally. He serves as member of the Italian Higher Health Council. Dr. Curigliano served ESMO as Chair of the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee from 2019 to 2023. He was awarded with the first ESO Umberto Veronesi Award in Vienna in 2017 and with the Fellowship of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences in Paris in 2017. Dr Curigliano in 2022 and 2023 was identified as Clarivate™ world’s most influential researchers. Dr Curigliano has contributed to over 670 peer-reviewed publications.

After graduating from Pavia medical school (2015) with a thesis in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dr. Gurnari completed his training in Hematology at the University of Rome, Tor Vergata and then decided to continue his education with a Ph.D program in “Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology”. Simultaneously, Dr. Gurnari has been working since 2019 at the Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research of Cleveland Clinic (USA) focusing on the genomics of bone marrow failure disorders and myeloid neoplasia. His clinical and translational research expertise encompasses myeloid malignancies with a special focus on germline predisposition and MDS. Dr. Gurnari is a member of the EHA, ASH, and of the EBMT, for which he serves as vice-chair of the CMWP MDS subcommittee. In these years, Dr. Gurnari has been awarded several international prizes such as the Tito Bastianello Young Investigator Award in MDS research and the ASH-IPIG Award for PNH research.

Dr. Jurjen Versluis is a clinical hematologist at the department of Hematology at the Erasmus Medical Center Cancer Institute in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He obtained his medical degree from the VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and PhD with distinction supervised by Professor Jan Cornelissen at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. After completing his training in hematology in 2020, he joined the lab of Dr. Coleman Lindsley at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston as a postdoc studying risk factors of AML/MDS treatment. Upon his return in 2021 to Rotterdam, he became the deputy director of the cell transplantation program. His main clinical and research interests are myeloid malignancies, acute leukemia, transplantation, and statistical innovation.

Dr Donal McLornan graduated in 1999 from Queen’s University Belfast with Honours. Postgraduate training was completed in Belfast with a further one-year period spent in Hammersmith Hospital, London specialising in allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation. During his post-graduate training he was awarded a prestigious MRC fellowship and completed a PhD investigating drug resistance in AML.

Donal works as a consultant in the allogeneic transplant and CAR-T team at University College Hospital London, which has the largest combined transplant and cellular therapy program in the UK. He is the current chair of the Chronic Malignancy Working Party of the EBMT (MPN/MDS/CML/CLL/Plasma cell dyscrasia) and is co-chair of the EBMT scientific council. Additionally, he chairs the UK wide National Cancer Research Institute MPN group. He has a particular interest in MPN, MDS/MPN overlap syndromes and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. His research and clinical trial portfolio focuses on Myelofibrosis and blast phase disease and he has published widely on these topics.

Theo Gerdener was born on 25 November 1978 in Pretoria, South Africa and grew up in the city.

He completed his specialization in Haematopathology at the University of Cape Town and followed this with subspeciality training in Clinical Haematology at the same institution.

Theo decided to return to Pretoria in 2013 to join the fast-growing stem cell transplant unit at ACT, where he was appointed as processing facility medical director in addition to performing duties as a clinical haematologist and transplant physician, and managing the clinical diagnostic laboratory.

He is currently still performing duties as processing facility medical director in the JACIE-accredited facility, as well as serving as medical director of the DKMS stem cell registry in South Africa. The diagnostic laboratory he manages currently performs a range of tests designed to benefit transplant patients, including immunophenotyping, next generation sequencing, FISH and karyotyping, next generation sequencing and chimerism monitoring and measurable residual disease detection.

In his spare time he enjoys reading , darkroom photography and traveling.

Awards and Honors
10/1982 – Professor-Otto-Roth Award of „Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Medizinischen Hochschule Lübeck e.V.“ for the thesis
03/2000 – Van-Bekkum Award of the EBMT for the best Abstract at the 26th EBMT Meeting in Innsbruck 5. – 8. 3. 2000
11/2006 – “Excellent Teaching Award” of the Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
07/2014 – “Robert Pfleger Forschungspreis”
03/2019 – President of the 45th Annual Meeting of the EBMT in Frankfurt

Professional Societies
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder-und Jugendmedizin (DGKJ)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hämatologie und Onkologie (DGHO)
Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie (GPOH)
Chairmanship 11/2006 – 09/2012
European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group (EBMT)
Vereinigung der Freunde und Förderer der Katharinenhöhe e.V. Chair

Membership of Boards
Deutsche Knochenmarkspender Datei (DKMS)
Member of Medical Council since 07/2012
Chair/Vice Chair of the Medical Council since 11/2019
Member of the Foundation Board since 10/2018
Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid)
Member of Versorgungsausschuss 2013-2023
Private Exzellenzinitiative Johanna Quandt

Carmem Bonfim, MD, PhD is the Director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at the Hospital Pequeno Principe in Curitiba Brazil. She is also a professor in the postgraduate program at Pele Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute and at the Federal University of Parana. Additionally, she serves as co-chair of the WBMT Patient Advocacy Committee and has been recently nominated as the co-chair for the nonmalignant working committee at the CIBMTR. Dr Bonfim has a deep interest in international issues related to Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), especially in developing countries and she is currently a co-chair of the International Outreach Committee for the Pediatric Disease Working Party at the EBMT. Her major areas of research are HCT for patients with Inherited and Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, Inborn Errors of Immunity, and Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Dr Bonfim has also a special interest in using the post-transplant Cyclophosphamide platform to perform Haploidentical HCT in pediatric patients with nonmalignant diseases.

Short affiliation:
Carmem Bonfim MD, PhD. Director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at the Hospital Pequeno Principe in Curitiba Brazil. Professor in the postgraduate program at Pele Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute and at the Federal University of Parana.

Lalith is an engineer by profession. He is President of Sankalp India Foundation that is working for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell in India. About 3000 children are being managed under Sankalp and about 700 transplants have been done by the organisation.

Lalith is also cofounder of technology company Jagriti InnoHealth Platform Pvt Ltd that specialises in developing healthcare information technology platform focusing on improved patient outcomes. Lalith is also responsible for managing, implementing, and deploying new business processes and partnerships to increase sales and industry reach. Lalith has worked in organizations such as Capgemini and NVidia in software development and business development roles. He leverages his technical expertise during customer interactions by defining the requirements and ensuring delivery.

Dr Rosario García Campelo, MD, is the Head of Medical Oncology Department, Thoracic Tumor Unit Chair in the University Hospital A Coruña, Spain, and Head of Oncology Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute (INIBIC), A Coruña, Spain. She obtained her medical degree in 1996 at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and subsequently completed her training in medical oncology in the University Hospital of A Coruña, Spain. She continued her training as a visiting researcher at the laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Germa Hospital Trias i Pujol (Barcelona, Spain), as well as in Moffit Cancer Center (Tampa, Florida).

She is a member of the Board of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology and member of the board of The Spanish Lung Cancer Group, as well as of different scientific societies.

Her current research focuses on the treatment of thoracic tumors, with special interest in novel therapies against lung cancer, and clinical/translational research, with an active participation in national and international clinical trials.

MBChB(UCT) MMed (Surg)(Wits) FCS (SA) Cert GIT (Surg)

Dr Prodehl is an Upper GI and HPB surgeon based in the Surgical Gastroenterology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Her main interests are oesophageal and gastric cancer and MDTs.

Dr Jordi Remon, MD, PhD is medical oncologist currently working as consultant in the Thoracic Oncology Department at Gustave Roussy (France). Dr Remon deals with patients with lung cancer, as well as mesothelioma and thymic malignancies. Dr Remon is member from ESMO, EORTC (secretary of Lung Cancer Group since January 2021), IASLC, and SLCG.

Maríza Tunmer is a Specialist Radiation Oncologist working in private practice at the WITS Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg. A large part of her practice is devoted to the radiotherapy of GIT malignancies.

She is an examiner for the College of Medicine South Africa, Fellowship of Radiation Oncologists and is currently Chair of the South African Society of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists (SASCRO).

Her passion is clinical patient management, and she attends various Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings on a weekly basis with the aim of improving patient care.

Dr Raquel Viana is an associate and the Scientific Head of Molecular Pathology at Lancet Laboratories, a private diagnostic pathology practice, in South Africa. She completed her PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg South Africa in collaboration with the Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC) at Ghent University, Belgium where she spent three years researching Hepatitis B virus and Hepatocellular Carinoma. Her training and certification was then completed in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology at the University of the Witwatersrand following her qualification. Dr Viana currently heads up the Oncogenetics and Specialty Molecular Divisions within the Molecular Pathology department at Lancet Laboratories and is dedicated to providing appropriate molecular testing solutions in oncogenetics with a special focus in haematological and lymphoid malignancies. Dr Viana is also tasked with overseeing all clinical trial work performed within the Molecular Pathology department and has a passion for facilitating continuous education.

Dr Mohamad Mohty is a full Professor of Hematology and head of the Hematology and Cellular Therapy Department at the Saint-Antoine Hospital and Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Montpellier, France, and PhD from the University of Marseille, France. He is also head of a translational research team (Inserm) at the Saint-Antoine Research Centre in Paris.

Dr Mohty is the past president of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and past chairman of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT . He is also the founder and current chairman of the International Academy for Clinical Hematology (IACH) and board member of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM). Dr Mohty is also a fellow of the French National Academy of Medicine.

In addition to publishing more than 1000 peer-reviewed articles in the field of stem cell transplantation, leukemia, and myeloma, Dr Mohty also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journals Bone Marrow Transplantation and Clinical Hematology International. He also serves as an editor, board member, and/or reviewer across numerous other reputable journals

MBChB Pretoria (2005), FCP(SA) 2013), MSc(Rotterdam) (2015),Cert ClinHaem(Phys) (SA) (2018)

Justin du Toit was awarded the MBChB degree from the University of Pretoria in 2005. He enrolled for post – graduate studies in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town and qualified as a Specialist Physician in 2013. He obtained a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree of Science in the field of Infection and Immunology at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for a period of two years. During that time he completed two internships in the Viroscience laboratory studying interactions between viruses and the human immune system.

In 2015 he returned to South Africa to further his studies in the field of Clinical Haematology at the University of Cape Town. He graduated as a Clinical Haematologist in 2018 and received the Mabashan prize that same year for the best student in Clinical Haematology. He is currently pursuing a PhD.

Dr du Toit established his private practice at the Wits Donald Gordon Cellular + Immunotherapy Centre in 2019. He is currently the Bone Marrow Collection Director and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician at the Wits Donald Gordon Cellular + Immunotherapy Centre which is currently in the process of obtaining JACIE accreditation. He is has a keen interest in bone marrow and stemcell transplantation and believes in offering the best possible care to his patients and always going the extra mile.

Dr du Toit is passionate about teaching and education and have established the first online education platform for senior registrars and physicians who has an interest in bone marrow transplantation. He is also a member of the European Bone Marrow Transplant Training committee and an executive member of the South African Stemcell Transplant Society.

He enjoys running, cycling, and travelling.

MBChB, FC(Paed), MMed, Cert Clin Haem (SA) Paed

Candice Hendricks is a Paediatric Clinical Haematologist based in Pretoria, South Africa. She is completing her PhD at the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Pretoria and doing paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation training in Monza, Italy. Her clinical interest is in improving access to bone marrow transplantations, with and without cell and gene therapies, in dedicated paediatric transplantation units in South Africa. She believes this vision can be achieved by improving the number and diversity of South Africa’s stem cell donor population, improving clinical paediatric transplantation skills, increasing the academic, clinical and manufacturing capacity in the cell and gene therapy field and advocating for inclusivity of patients from both the public and private sectors to ensure all patients benefit equally.

Dr. Nguyen is a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon. He is the Section Chief of Breast Surgery at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. He graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology, received his medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada, completed his general surgery training at the University of Buffalo, and a breast surgical oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Dr. Nguyen’s entire career has been devoted exclusively to treating patients with benign and malignant breast diseases. Most recently, he was the Director of Breast Oncology for Lakeland Regional Health in Lakeland, Florida where he built a Comprehensive Breast Program that was nationally recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Dr. Nguyen is an expert oncoplastic breast surgeon, which optimizes safe oncologic principles combined with optimal cosmetic outcomes. He is also an early adopter of innovative procedures in breast surgery such as targeted axillary dissection incorporating the use of clipped nodes, axillary reverse mapping with lymphovenous bypass, flat aesthetic closure after mastectomy, intraoperative localization, nipple-sparing mastectomy, and Goldilocks mastectomy. Dr. Nguyen has extensive knowledge and experience in cancer genetics and genomics, which is based on personalized care of each individual patient to incorporate the safe omission of chemotherapy.

Dr. Nguyen has written book chapters and published in peer-reviewed journals on numerous topics such as DCIS, outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment, factors contributing to lymphedema, axillary management in patients with breast cancer, surgical innovations, as well as ethical issues in breast cancer. He is also a regular regional and national speaker for issues related to breast diseases, genetic testing, surgical metrics, and career satisfaction and longevity.

For the American Society of Breast Surgeons, he currently sits on the Board of Directors. He was the past Chair of the Ethics Committee as well as past Chair for the Virtual Educational Series. He is an Instructor for the Ultrasound course. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the American College of Surgeons Cancer Surgery Standards Program (CSSP) and is currently the Vice-Chair for the Standards Development Committee for the CSSP, overseeing the ongoing development of evidence-based surgical protocols for all cancer surgeries performed in the United States. He is a consultant for the American Board of Surgery, designing and implementing the Qualifying Exam. He also serves as an Oral Board examiner for the Certifying Exam. He is on the Executive Committee for the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), sits on the Board of Directors, and is also the Lead Site Reviewer, assessing breast centers all over the United States to ensure the highest quality of care is delivered.

Dr. Nguyen is a reviewer for the journal Annals of Surgical Oncology and served on the journal’s social media committee. For the state of Florida, he was on the Commission on Cancer, was a diplomat for the Florida Medical Association, and served on the Committee of Applicants for the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, ensuring that newly trained surgeons are committed to a career devoted to deliver the highest quality care. He also holds committee appointments with the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is active with the Mayo Clinic Priestley Society.

Medical Oncologist | Specialist Physician

• Fellow of the College of Physicians South Africa
• Certificate in Medical Oncology College of Medicine South Africa
• MBBCh University of the Witwatersrand

Prof Georgia Demteriou is a Medical Oncologist in Johannesburg South Africa.

She is the Academic Head of Medical Oncology and Senior Lecturer at the University Of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg and the acting Head of the Department of Medical Oncology at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital as well as a Medical Oncologist in Private Practice at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown Johannesburg.

In addition to her role as Medical Oncologist she ran a General Medicine Teaching Unit at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for 10 years . Prof Demetriou is the intern and community service medical officer curator at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital overseeing the 130 junior medical staff at the hospital.

She is an examiner for undergraduate medical students at the University of the Witwatersrand and a post graduate examiner for The College of Medicine in the fields of Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine.

She is a Director and Chairperson of the South African Oncology Consortium (SAOC) Board.

She is the Chairperson of Executive Committee of the South African Society of Medical Oncology and previously served as the treasurer of the Society for over a decade.

She has been involved in numerous pivotal clinical trials in the area on Onology as local Principle Investigator, National Principle Investigator and serves on local and international Advisory Boards with a particular interest in Female and GI malignancies. She has published in local and international journals in her field of interest.

Carien van der Merwe has 17 years of experience in Oncology Pharmacy, Paediatric and Adult.

She has been involved with chemotherapy training i.e. the correct handling and mixing of chemotherapy drugs for many years. She is a strong advocate for site infrastructure, equipment and facility design to be according and compliant to ISOPP, JACIE and ESOP standards.

Travelled extensively in Southern Africa (Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania) evaluating and tutoring Oncology Pharmacy for trial sites.

Is qualified to issue an ESOP “clean working” certificate within the international Oncology Pharmacists community. Is currently South African delegate for ESOP and served on the ISOPP special task force committee updating ISOPP Standards.

Is currently contracted to the SAOC as National Accreditor and locum at Netcare Milpark Oncology Unit.

Sharan Rambarran completed his surgical and sub-speciality training in surgical gastroenterology with a focus in HPB surgery. Sharan has won a number of travelling international fellowships – Advanced Endoscopy to Kyushu, Japan 2009, Minimal Access Karl Storz surgical fellowship to Straubing, Germany 2015 and two further gastroenterology fellowships to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Sharan moved to Johannesburg Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in 2016 after a chance meeting with the team inspired a bold move to pivot into transplant surgery.

Sharan is hoping to help drive South Africa into a new era of transplant surgery with the ever increasing role of liver transplant in patients with malignancies.

Currently he sits as the Surgical Lead for the liver transplant program at the WDGMC Transplant Unit.”

Prof Shenuka Singh is a Full Professor in the Discipline of Dentistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). She has two doctoral degrees: Ph.D. (Clinical and Research Ethics) (Stell); and Ph.D. (UWC) in the field of dental public health. She is Deputy Chairperson of the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) in South Africa (2023-2026), which is a ministerial appointment. She is a member of the Ethics in Dental Research Committee at the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). She is President-Elect of the IADR- South African Division (2024-2026). She was invited to be part of a World Health Organization joint working group (Regulation and Safety Unit and Health Ethics & Governance Unit) to develop a tool for benchmarking research ethics oversight in 2021. Prof Singh is the appointed Chair of the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee at UKZN from January 2024. She is also a member of the Human Sciences Research Council’s Research Ethics Committee (2019-to date). She was the appointed Research Ethics Chair for the Council for Science and Industry Research in South Africa (CSIR REC R&D: 2015-2018) and the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at UKZN (2014-2018). As part of her ongoing engagement with research ethics, she conducted several training workshops at various institutions in South Africa such as UKZN, DUT, MANCOSA, TUT, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and the University of Zululand.

She is an NRF-rated researcher and is actively involved in research and postgraduate supervision. She presented papers at local and international conferences (including invitations as a keynote speaker). Prof Singh was a recipient of the 2018 College of Health Sciences Teaching Excellence Award, UKZN (in the category: Outstanding Contribution to Teaching) and was also awarded the UKZN Certificate of Excellence in Teaching (2018).

Dr John Cantrell is an EBIR-certified interventional radiologist at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

His practice focuses on Interventional Oncology, Hepatobiliary and post transplant interventions.

Other areas of interest include Prostate Artery Embolization and the treatment of gynaecological disorders such as uterine fibroids and pelvic congestion syndrome.

Ignatius (Ig) Viljoen brings over four decades of diverse experience in the international pharmaceutical industry to the table. His career has seen him excel in various capacities, including product and business development, quality and compliance, and general management across different countries and regions worldwide. Holding qualifications as an industrial pharmacist, a chartered Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) auditor, and with additional qualifications in marketing and technology management, Ig has cultivated a broad and comprehensive skill set.

Since his return to South Africa in 2017, Ig has focused on quality and regulatory compliance, particularly emphasising the complexities surrounding cell-based and gene-therapy medicinal products. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine (ICMM) (UP), Ig’s research centres on addressing regulatory requirements for investigational advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs).

Deeply passionate about ensuring patient access to safe and effective ATMPs, Ig actively contributes to the field through his involvement with the BloodSA CGT working party. He is dedicated to fostering academic discourse, regularly participating in conferences, publishing in journals, and engaging with various academic groups and professional societies.

In conclusion, Ig hopes that his wealth of experience and expertise, coupled with his commitment to patient access, can bring significant value to the discussions and endeavours of this conference.

Tanya Glatt is a haematopathologist at SANBS. She oversees the Specialised Therapeutics Services department which performs clinical apheresis procedures and is the Processing Facility director of the Cellular Therapy / Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory. She is an honorary lecturer in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology at the University of Witwatersrand and research associate in the Department of Human Anatomy & Physiology at the University of Johannesburg. Her interests include transfusion medicine, transplant and immunohaematology.

Kwazinkosi Mhlongo, a young servant anchored in the holistic community development. Kwazi, not only does he strike groundbreaking visions but he converts them to a reality through sound strategic development. He intuitively sees the threads of opportunity that wind through people and organizations, brings them together into a coherent whole, helps others extend their thinking, and support everyone as they soar to greater heights. A true testament of the power of kindness as a registered peripheral stem cell donor whom has become a role model to many.

A beacon of inspiration to many who witnessed him weathering the windy storms of life at an early age and fought against societal pressures that derails many young people to pursue education. When it was unfavorable to do so, Kwazi followed his academic path at the University of KwaZulu Natal where he holds;
• Bachelor of Commerce degree
• Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree
• Master of Commerce degree (in-pursuit)

Dr. Julia Pingel studied physics in Germany and France received her PhD in physics for life sciences from the Université Joseph-Fourier in Grenoble, France. In 2010, she joined DKMS as scientific project manager. From 2011 to 2016 she was head of the HLA Service, overseeing the bioinformatics development as well as general HLA data quality of DKMS entities. From 2019 to 2021, she was responsible for the Information and Technology Services of the DKMS group. Dr. Pingel has been involved in multiple projects with the World Marrow Donor Association over the past ten years. Since 2014, Dr. Pingel has built up the DKMS Registry, where she currently holds the position of COO. DKMS Registry today coordinates requests for more than 50% of the stem cell collections from DKMS donors worldwide.

Director International Medical Development

As a physician’s assistance I worked 10 years in a private doctor’s practice with responsibilities for all areas of administrations, assistance for medical examinations and treatments as well as performing basic lab tests. Understanding medical contexts is my passion. This passion helped me in my career at DKMS in all areas of donor management, discussions with physicians and other health care professional. Good organizational skills, crisis management and networking are my strengths. Understanding medical contexts helps me in discussions with doctors and other healthcare professionals.

PRIVATE PRACTICE, MEDICLINIC MILNERTON— 2022-PRESENT
Took over a busy private practice and established a reputation as a urologist with a well-rounded skill set. Completed certification and signed off as a da Vinci robotic surgeon, performing robotic surgery regularly. Completed a proctorship in HOLEP and performs procedures regularly. Performs both male and female incontinence procedures as well as prolapse surgery.

SENIOR SPECIALIST, RED CROSS & GROOTE SCHUUR — 2016-2022
Performs complex operations in paediatric urology, uro-oncology and endourology. A skilled laparoscopic surgeon who employs minimally invasive procedures to hasten recovery. Instrumental in establishing the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program at Groote Schuur.

SENIOR LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN — 2016-PRESENT
Actively involved in the teaching of medial students and Urology registrars. Has a keen interest in academics having published several articles, as well as a chapter in a Urology textbook. Currently involved in several exciting new research projects.

CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT PEACOCK NGO, 2017-PRESENT
Founded the initiative to raise funds for extra lists and equipment so that prostate brachytherapy can be offered in the government sector. This has enabled the treatment of many patients and the training of many registrars in this technique. Appeared on multiple radio stations for education and fundraising on DSTV for project peacock Nov 2019, 2020 and 2021.

PART TIME PRIVATE PRACTICE, 2017-PRESENT
Established a growing part time private practice which offers sub-specialist services of Groote Schuur and Red Cross doctors to the insured public. Excellent patient reviews and a patient profile despite a smaller academic hospital attached to Groote Schuur.

UROLOGY REGISTRAR, GREYS HOSPITAL — 2013-2015
Privileged to train in a busy department with a growing reputation for endourology, laparoscopic urology, urogynaecology and paediatric urology. Performed more than 965 cases for a wide spectrum of pathology under excellent supervision.

GENERAL SURGERY REGISTRAR, GREYS HOSPITAL — 2011-2012
Gained a solid foundation in General Surgery, performing 699 procedures. Completed intermediate examinations and acquired a passion for clinical research.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER, HUMANSDORP HOSPITAL — 2010
Gained experience in all aspects of rural medicine under the tutelage of a semi-retired surgeon, Professor Ferreira.

MBChB (Natal), MPharmMed (Pretoria), MSc Clinical Epidemiology (Pretoria)

Dr Noluthando Nematswerani is the Chief Clinical Officer, Discovery Health.

She is a medical doctor with more than 20 years of healthcare experience who is passionate about access to affordable high-quality healthcare for all and a firm believer in health as a basic human right.

She holds a Masters degree in Clinical Pharmacology and an MSc in Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology.

She is a member of the Discovery Health Executive Committee, the Risk Executive Committee, chair of the Discovery Group Clinical Executive Committee and a media spokesperson for Discovery on all clinical issues.

In her current role she oversees Health Technology Assessments (HTA), Surgical Risk Management, Clinical Policy Development, Medicines Unit including Drug Risk Management and the Clinical Research Unit. She is also responsible for the overall clinical strategy for Discovery Health and related businesses.

Galen Switzer, PhD is Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also Associate Chief of Research for the Division of General Internal Medicine and Director of the PhD Program in Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Switzer is an accomplished researcher and expert in the field of related and unrelated HSC donation. He has made significant contributions to the area, with a particular focus on factors influencing willingness to engage in donation, decision-making processes, and long-term psychosocial outcomes for donors. His research group is widely recognized as one of the most productive teams studying HSC donors and has worked closely with multiple international registries to investigate donor-related issues. His research has included a broad range of donor types including related/unrelated, pediatric/adult/older adult, and underrepresented groups. Since 1993, Dr. Switzer’s research has been continuously supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Marrow Donor Program (nmdp), and other international donor registries.

Dr David Brittain graduated his MB ChB in 1988 from the University of the Witwatersrand. He specialised in Haematopathology (1996) and super specialised in Clinical Haematology (1998) from the same university. After running his own private practice in Johannesburg from 2000 – 2008 he joined the Alberts, Bouwer & Jordaan practice where he has worked as a Director in the Haematology and Cellular Therapy field. He has a special interest in treating Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma, Stem Cell Transplantation and CAR-T Therapy. He is a Member of the South African Society of Clinical Haematology (SACHaS), the American Society of Haematology (ASH), the South African Myeloma Working Group and serves on the Executive Committee of the South African Stem Cell Transplant Society (SASCeTS). In his spare time, he cycles, runs, rows, and does woodwork.

I qualified in 1998 (B-Pharm) at the University of Potchefstroom and started working as pharmasict at the Netcare group at Union Hospital and later at Sunward Park Hospital.

In 2007 I moved into oncology at the Life Glynwood Hospital at the East Rand Oncology Center (EROC) in 2009. EROC broke partneship with Life Group and I found myself back at Netcare as hospital pharmacist.

After grabing the opportunity to move from Gauteng to the Gardenroute in 2011, I had to do a brief stint as community pharmacist at Clicks Langeberg Mall!
Nov 2011, I joined Qestmed – Chemo Mixing Facility Services and found my spot at Cancercare Outeniqua Oncology in George. Here I had the opprtunity to attend the Master Class in Oncology held in Tessolonikki Greece, Dec 2016.

In 2019, I was appointed as Chair for SASOPh and together with an awesome team we managed to bring the European Society for Oncology Pharmacy’s Exelent course in Oncology Pharmacy to South Africa in 2023.

B-Pharm (PU vir CHO)
Responsible Pharmacist at Outeniqua Oncology and SASOPh chair.

Razeeya is a lecturer in clinical and oncology pharmacy at Wits University. She holds a BPharm degree from Wits, A Master of Science degree from Rhodes University, a PCDT qualification from North West University and advanced Health Management from FPD/Yale University.

She has developed the first oncology masters undergraduate module at Wits University and an extensive undergraduate practical oncology training, as well as the first short course for pharmacists in the theories and techniques in oncology admixing. Her research in oncology pharmacy has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences, and she seeks to expand the oncology pharmacy research portfolio in South Africa.

Tegan Bilse is an oncology pharmacist currently at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), Johannesburg, with experience in both in- and out-patient oncology settings since 2012. Obtaining her BPharm from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in 2010, she then obtained experience in hospital pharmacy whilst attended oncology Masterclasses hosted by both ESOP in 2016 and ISOPP in 2018.

She has created a Fundamentals module for the Oncology Pharmacotherapy and Applications of Biosimilars (OPAB) educational program in 2020/21. She also lead the team that services the new Soweto Comprehensive Cancer Care Center opened in 2021, and is currently working in all sectors of haematology, medical and paediatric oncology for one of the biggest state oncology units in South Africa.

Quinton is a pharmacist by education and currently in the position of Cancer Patient Journey Partner at Roche, South Africa. He graduated from the North-West University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Pharmacy (cum laude) after which he also completed his Masters of Science degree in pharmaceutical chemistry (cum laude) in 2009. In 2010 he completed his qualifying community service at the Zeerust-Lehurutshe public hospital complex in the North-West Province. He has since been an industry pharmacist with multiple positions held in the pharmaceutical and funder environment – these include experience in drug utilization review (Medscheme), Medical Information, Promotional & Regulatory affairs, Pharmaceutical sales and Medical affairs as a oncology medical science liaison at AstraZeneca from 2013-2021. In 2022 he joined Roche South Africa as a Oncology Patient Journey Partner, where he is currently the primary point of contact for disciplines in the oncology fraternity in the Western & Eastern Cape involved in the management of cancer patients (with a focus on breast-, lung-, hepatocellular & urothelial-carcinoma). He has recently joined the South African Society of Oncology Pharmacists to oversee the educational portfolio, and is a member of the South African Pharmacy Council, and the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa. In his personal life he is fond of camping, meeting new people, traveling and spending time with his friends & family.

Head of Department, National Cancer Registry (NCR) of South Africa, National Health Laboratory Service

Head, IARC-GICR Centre of Expertise, Johannesburg, South Africa

(MBChB, Postgraduate Diploma in HIV Management, MSc Epidemiology & Biostatistics, PhD)

Dr Mazvita Muchengeti is the Head of Department at the National Cancer Registry, National Health Laboratory Service and leads the (International Agency for Research in Cancer – Global Initiative for Cancer Registry development) IARC-GICR Centre of Expertise in Johannesburg, South Africa within the African Cancer Registry Network. Her work focuses on cancer surveillance, cancer epidemiological research, capacity building and cancer policy development in African populations. She leads the South African HIV Cancer Match Study, a national cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) which explores cancer patterns in PLHIV in South Africa. She supports the training of cancer epidemiologists through supervision of masters and PhD students and supporting the South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme (SAFETP). She is a senior lecturer at Wits School of Public Health and a research associate at the South African Centre for Epidemiological and Modelling Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch University.