Speakers

Dr William Audeh

William Audeh, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer at Agendia, is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer, with over 30 years of experience as a clinician and clinical researcher at the Cedars‐Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Agendia, and in addition to his clinical practice, he served as the former Director of the Cedars‐Sinai Cancer Center and Medical Director of the Wasserman Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Program. Dr. Audeh has been Principal Investigator on a wide variety of national and international clinical and translational trials, and has authored numerous publications in the field of breast cancer, cancer genomics and targeted cancer therapy.

Dr Lizza Hendricks

Hendriks is the representative for thoracic oncology in the Maastricht UMC Comprehensive Cancer Cancer, and chairs the Innovative Cancer Diagnostics Therapy group at the School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW) at Maastricht University, where she is also appointed as full professor. She is heavily involved in clinical and translational research, and is (local) principal investigator in several phase II and III clinical trials, focusing on (locally) advanced NSCLC and SCLC, targeted treatments and immunotherapies.

She is an active member of Dutch (NVALT, NRS), European (ESMO, EORTC, ETOP, ERS) and global societies (IASLC, ASCO), is chair of the NVALT studies foundation, vice-chair of the scientific committee of the Dutch Thoracic Group and secretary of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group. Dr Hendriks was the lead author of the revised ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines on metastatic NSCLC and author of the ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline on SCLC and non-metastatic NSCLC. She is member of the Dutch guideline committees on NSCLC, and former member for brain metastases and leptomeningeal metastases

Prof Jan Jaap de Boelens

I am a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and have served as the Chief of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) since 2018. Previously, I spent a decade developing a cord blood transplant program in the Netherlands which is now the largest in Europe. I am continuing to build on this work by looking for ways to incorporate cellular therapies with transplants. I have a special interest in rare diseases as indications for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and Gene Therapy, particularly lysosomal storage diseases and Sickle Cell Disease, and in finding strategies to get better disease control in malignant diseases. My research focuses on developing advanced therapies from cord blood to target blood disorders at the cellular level, including dendritic cell vaccines (anti-acute myeloid leukemia [AML], anti-neuroblastoma). We are also creating mathematical models that can help us predict how a young person’s immune system will respond to receiving such treatments. Additionally, I am interested in designing a predictable low-toxicity conditioning regimen using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD)-models (eg, anti-thymocyte globuline [ATG], fludarabine, clofarabine) to better predict immune reconstitution, which is necessary for the optimal effect of vaccines. At MSK, I also serve as Director of the Immune Discovery & Modeling Service (IDMS) core facility (7FTE, 3 Fellows).

Dr Donal McLornan

Donal works as a consultant in the MPN, 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 also Co-chair of the EBMT scientific council and a member of the EBMT Executive Committee. Additionally, he is immediate past chair of the UK wide National Cancer Research Institute MPN group. His main clinical and research interests are in novel therapies and allo-HCT for Myelofibrosis and improving outcomes for accelerated and blast phase MPN. 

Dr Teresa Amaral

Dr Amaral obtained her MD degree from Lisbon University in 2006, concurrent with her degree in Aeronautic Medicine from the Portuguese Air Force. Following her graduation, she pursued her general internship at CHLN and Hospital Pulido Valente in Lisbon in 2007, followed by a Medical Oncology Internship in 2008. She has been a board-certified Specialist in Medical Oncology since 2014.

In 2016, Dr. Amaral began her PhD at the renowned Skin Cancer Center in Tuebingen, Germany, under the guidance of Prof. Claus Garbe. Her PhD thesis, titled “Progress in systemic therapy of advanced melanoma between 2011 and 2019,” was successfully defended at the Nova Medical School in Lisbon in June 2021, earning her the distinction “Magna cum Laude”. Between 2021 and 2025, she served as Head of Translational Research at the Skin Cancer Center in Tuebingen, continuing her dedication to advancing the understanding and treatment of skin cancer.

Dr. Amaral’s primary research focuses on predictive biomarkers for systemic therapy in advanced melanoma and on prognostic and predictive biomarkers in early-stage melanoma.

She was nominated as head of the skin cancer clinical trials center in Tuebingen in January 2022, overseeing numerous phase I-III studies, including investigator-initiated trials. In addition, she is responsible for training medical residents within the center. In 2022, she received recognition as a board-certified Specialist in Internal Medicine, Haematology, and Oncology from the German Medical Association.

Dr. Amaral served as a lecturer at the University of Tuebingen’s medical faculty between 2022 and 2025, guiding and mentoring medical students on their medical theses. Dr. Amaral also maintains active collaborations with various Portuguese medical universities, where she is invited as a guest lecturer.

In October 2025, Dr. Amaral moved to Strasbourg, France, where she assumed the position of head of early-phase clinical trials for the sarcoma and skin cancer program. In October 2025, she received recognition as a board-certified Specialist in Medical Oncology from the French medical association. Between 2020 and 2022, Dr. Amaral served as the Chair of the ESMO Young Oncologists Committee. Currently, she is a member of the ESMO Melanoma and Other Skin Tumours Faculty and the Guidelines Subject Editor for melanoma and other skin cancers. Since January 2023, she has been Chair of the ESMO Leadership Development Committee and serves as an ESMO Council Member.

Prof Michael Albert

Michael Albert is a leading expert in pediatric immunology and hematology and stem cell transplantation from Munich, Germany, dedicated to improving outcomes of stem cell transplantation for children with inborn errors. As past Chairperson of the Inborn Errors Working Party of ESID (2020-2024) and past Secretary of the same working party within EBMT (2017-2025), he collaborates internationally to refine transplantation protocols and general care for patients with inborn errors. He is lead author of the soon to be published revised EBMT IEWP guidelines for transplantation of patients with inborn errors of immunity and metabolism. As former board member and PID stream lead for ERN RITA, Michael worked to enhance cross-border patient care across Europe. His clinical research, including landmark studies on Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, focuses on optimizing diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes of patients with inborn errors of immunity and hemoglobinopathies. From April 1^st he will join DKMS in their access to transplantation team with the goal to help enable HSCT for children with inborn errors in resource constrained settings around the world.

Dr Matthew Seftel

Dr Seftel is a Haematologist based at Canadian Blood Services (CBS), where he is the medical
director for the Canadian Blood Services Stem Cells Services and also a medical consultant in
Transfusion Medicine. He is clinical professor in the Division of Hematology, Department of
Medicine, University of British Columbia. He is the past-president of the World Marrow Donor
Association (WMDA).

Dr MV Chandrakanth

Dr. Chandrakanth M V is the Academic Head and Senior Medical Oncologist at Narayana Superspeciality
Hospital, Kolkata, with over 17 years of experience in medical and hematooncology. He completed his
advanced oncology training at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and holds MBBS (Hons), MD (Internal
Medicine), DM and DNB qualifications in Medical Oncology, along with additional international
certifications including ECMO and MRCP (SCE).

Dr. Chandrakanth has extensive clinical expertise in the management of solid tumors and hematological
malignancies, including breast, lung, head and neck, gastrointestinal, genitourinary cancers, lymphoma,
leukemia, and multiple myeloma. His practice places a strong emphasis on immunotherapy,
chemotherapy, precision oncology, and stem cell transplantation, supported by evidencebased,
patientcentric care.

He has significant experience in clinical research and has served as Principal Investigator and
CoInvestigator in numerous national and international phase II–IV clinical trials across lung, breast, head
and neck, gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and genitourinary cancers. Dr. Chandrakanth has published
widely in peerreviewed national and international journals and has presented research and invited
lectures at major oncology meetings, including ASCO, ESMO, MASCC, and the Indian Cancer Congress.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Chandrakanth is actively involved in oncology education
as a DNB guide and examiner and serves on multiple professional and advisory bodies. He has held
leadership roles in organizing major oncology conferences and continues to contribute to advancing
oncology practice and education in India.

Yona Skosana

Yona Skosana is the Clinical Apheresis Medical Director at the South African National Blood Services in the Specialised Therapeutic Services Department. She oversees the therapeutic apheresis procedures as well as the SANBS stem cell collection facility. She completed her medical undergraduate qualification at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2017. She has practiced in the internal medicine departments at various state hospitals. Her experience in a resource-limited setting has made her passionate about improving access to quality healthcare for all South Africans, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Professor John Crown

BCh BAO BSc MBA FRCPI.

John Crown is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at St Vincent’s Medical Group in Dublin, Ireland and is a Professor of Medicine in University College Dublin and holds the Thomas Baldwin Chair in Translational Cancer Research at Dublin City University.

He graduated Medicine and Science from University College Dublin, trained in general medicine in London and Dublin, and in Oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Centre New York and Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Centre.

He subsequently served at the faculty at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre and Cornell Medical School where he was an Assistant Professor.

Professor Crown is the founder of The Irish Clinical Oncology Research group.

He has authored and co-authored over 350 manuscripts in the field of cancer research.

He is a member of The Royal Irish Academy and served in Seanad Eireann and representing The National University of Ireland constituency from 2011 to 2016.

During his time in The Seanad, he served under the Oireachtas Health Committee and The British Irish Parliamentary Association and was the author of legislation which resulted in a ban on smoking in cars where children are present.

Dr Mark Verrill

Dr Mark Verrill is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC), Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, the regional cancer centre for the North of England. He specialises in the medical management of breast cancer. He is Medical Oncology clinical lead for the National Audits of Primary and Metastatic Breast Cancer (NAoPri and NAoMe).

After studying medicine at The University of Cambridge and University College London, he completed his training in medical oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research. He moved to Newcastle in 1999, initially as a Cancer Research UK Senior Lecturer in Medical Oncology, before taking up his current NHS post at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2007.

Over the 25 years he has been in Newcastle Mark has undertaken numerous management and leadership roles including Head of the Department of Medical Oncology from 2012-2019, Lead Clinician for breast cancer in Newcastle Hospitals and The Northern Cancer Network, Chemotherapy lead for NCCC and the Northern Cancer Network, Comprehensive Local Research Network Lead for breast cancer trials and Training Programme Director in Medical Oncology.

Mark has a proven track record in breast cancer clinical trials leading to multiple publications. He has lectured on breast cancer all over the world.

Dr Mohan Reddy

Dr. Mohan Reddy is a Pediatric Hematologist and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Physician serving as Program Director and Transplant Physician at Sankalp India Foundation – BMJH, a 20-bedded dedicated pediatric HSCT unit specialising in hemoglobinopathies and bone marrow failure syndromes. With over seven years of focused experience in allogeneic transplantation, he has played a key role in advancing curative transplant strategies for children with thalassemia and other non-malignant hematological disorders.

As a program leader, Dr. Reddy has contributed to strengthening structured transplant protocols, quality frameworks, and multidisciplinary team development within a high-volume HSCT setting. His expertise spans matched sibling, matched unrelated, and haploidentical transplantation, with particular academic emphasis on innovative conditioning strategies, donor optimisation, and improving transplant outcomes in resource-constrained environments.

He is an active contributor to national and international scientific forums and has been invited to present on evolving transplant approaches in hemoglobinopathies. His academic work focuses on translating evidence-based innovations into scalable and sustainable transplant models applicable to highburden regions.

Dr. Reddy is deeply committed to education and capacity building, mentoring physicians, fellows, and transplant nursing teams while fostering collaborative research initiatives. His leadership reflects a strong dedication to expanding equitable access to curative HSCT and improving long-term survival outcomes for children with severe hematological diseases

Dr. Shreyans Gandhi

Dr.Shreyans Gandhi, completed his medical graduation (MBBS), and thereafter a residency programme in Internal Medicine (MD and Diplomate of National Board) from King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, University of Mumbai with a first class MD. He is a member of the Royal college of Physicians and gained his fellowship in Haematology, and specialist training in bone marrow failure disorders at King’s College Hospital/South London. He has pursued his interest in bone marrow failure disorders, and is actively involved in the academic and research set-up of the BMF unit @ King’s.

He pursued research at King’s college London, in exploring telomere genetic disorders and it’s multi-system manifestation in bone marrow failure. His bench work on RTEL1 was published in Blood Advances. He has been an investigator on numerous phase 1-3 clinical trials, including cellular therapies and on novel anti-complement drugs. He’s a working member of the European Bone marrow transplant (EBMT) – Aplastic anaemia working party, and the International PNH interest group (IPIG) and the British (BSH), European Society of Haematology (EHA) and Indian Society of haematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT). His current academic and research work involve the development and application of ex-vivo expanded T regulatory cells in aplastic anaemia and other auto-immune disorders, genetic characterization and algorithms in diagnosis and manifestation of bone marrow failure disorders and also development of a novel assay to assess telomerase activity.

Dr.Gandhi is a Consultant Haematologist at Kings College Hospital, London working in the field of myeloid disorders, with a primary interest in BMF/Cytopenic disorders and PNH including cellular therapies and stem cell transplantation. He is actively involved in academia, being a college tutor for medical students, trainer/supervisor for junior haematology trainees and examiner at the Royal College of Pathology (RCPath), and has more than 100 articles in peer reviewed journals, and chapters to national textbooks. He is an associate Editor on the board of Frontiers in Oncology, and has reviewer and editorial responsibilities in leading medical and haematological journals. He has been the Chair of the South London Cancer Alliance in Haemato-Oncology, including drafting updated guidelines.

Dr Gandhi has lectured extensively on BMF and PNH and enjoys being a patient advocate at various patient support group societies (AA/PNH and MDS) and also represented the rare disease groups (BMF) at the Health select committee in the UK parliament.

Dr Elke Neujahr

Dr. Elke Neujahr has been the Global CEO of the DKMS Group gGmbh since 2019. With heart, soul and entrepreneurial courage, she leads the international nonprofit organization which now operates seven donor centers on five continents, three collection centers and further entities, all dedicated to a common goal: Finding a matching donor for every blood cancer patient, improving patient outcome through research and development, and providing access to transplantation – everywhere in the world.

With a doctorate in Communication Sciences, Dr. Elke Neujahr is the author of various publications on the topics of reputation management and crisis communication. She served national and international executives as an expert in all questions of corporate reputation, crisis, and change management. Initially holding a variety of positions in the industry, Elke ultimately switched to the consulting side of the corporate communications business. She has been Partner and CEO of a leading European PR Consultancy before she successfully ran her own company for 15 years.

With over 40 years of expertise in general management she drives the development of the DKMS Group. As the Global CEO, Dr. Elke Neujahr oversees all DKMS operations and the organization’s continued international expansion. Furthermore, she is the Vice Chair of the Foundation Board of the DKMS Stiftung Leben Spenden.

Dr. med. Mattea Reinisch

Dr. med. Mattea Reinisch is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and internationally active breast cancer specialist with extensive expertise in translational and clinical breast cancer research, surgical oncology, and the strategic development of certified breast centers. Following her medical studies and doctoral training at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, she completed her residency training in gynecology and obstetrics at renowned academic centers in Berlin and Frankfurt. Early in her career, she joined the German Breast Group (GBG), one of the world’s leading academic breast cancer study groups, where she developed a strong focus on clinical trial methodology and translational oncology under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Sibylle Loibl and Prof. Dr. Gunter von Minckwitz.

From 2014 to 2024, Dr. Reinisch worked at the Breast Center of Kliniken Essen-Mitte (KEM), one of the largest and most renowned breast cancer centers in Germany. She subsequently served as Deputy Director of the Department and Head of the Interdisciplinary Breast Center, contributing substantially to the clinical, scientific, and structural development of the institution. Her responsibilities included leadership of multidisciplinary tumor boards, supervision of certification and re-certification processes by the German Cancer Society (DKG), oversight of the clinical trials unit, and the implementation of innovative treatment strategies for patients with early and metastatic breast cancer.

In 2020, she obtained the subspecialty certification in Gynecologic Oncology. In 2022, she completed her habilitation at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and was awarded the Venia Legendi.

Dr. Reinisch has acted as Principal Investigator in more than 40 international phase II and III clinical trials and has extensive experience with regulatory audits, translational research programs, and the integration of evidence-based therapies into routine clinical care. Her scientific work focuses particularly on de-escalation strategies in breast cancer surgery, treatment optimization in HER2-positive disease, fertility preservation and ovarian function under systemic therapies, as well as breast cancer in young and elderly patients. Due to her recognized clinical and scientific expertise, Dr. Reinisch is regularly invited as a speaker and faculty member at national and international congresses, educational meetings, and expert panels in the field of breast cancer

Since August 2024, Dr. Reinisch has been Head of the Interdisciplinary Breast Center and Section Head of Breast Unit at the University Medical Center Mannheim. In this role, she is leading the strategic expansion and academic development of the breast center, with a particular focus on the implementation of guideline-driven personalized treatment pathways, optimization of interdisciplinary structures, expansion of clinical trial activities, and strengthening of translational research and patient recruitment. Under her leadership, the center is continuously advancing its clinical excellence, surgical expertise, academic visibility, and patient-centered care concepts within a modern comprehensive cancer center framework.

Dr. David Brittain

Dr. David Brittain is an accomplished Clinical Haematologist with over three decades of experience in Haematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation. Born in 1964 in Johannesburg, South Africa, he earned his MBChB degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1988 and completed advanced training in Clinical Haematology in 1996.

His early career included roles at Johannesburg and Baragwanath Hospitals, where he managed Oncology and Haematology patients and pioneered initiatives such as establishing an adult Haemophilia Clinic and performing the first Autologous Stem Cell transplant at Baragwanath Hospital. From 1999, he served as Senior Consultant and Head of the Haematology Laboratory at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, while also lecturing at WITS and contributing to National Medical Advisory Committees.

In 2000, Dr. Brittain entered private practice and later became a Partner and Director at Alberts, Bouwer, Jordaan Inc., where he co-founded Alberts Cellular Therapy (ACT) at Pretoria East Hospital. Since 2010, he has directed the ACT Collection Facility and served as a Transplant Physician. During his tenure, ACT achieved JACIE accreditation and became a member of the European Bone Marrow Transplant Group. He has been involved in more than a thousand transplants and spearheaded groundbreaking work in CAR-T Cell therapy, including the first locally produced CAR-T treatment in South Africa in 2024.

Dr. Brittain is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, a Board Director of several professional bodies, and an active member of International Haematology Societies. He has published on Haemophilia care, Stem Cell transplantation, and innovative therapies, and continues to advance Cellular Therapy and transplantation in South Africa.

Professor Julie Makani

Professor Julie Makani (MD, PhD, FRCP, FTAAS) is a physician scientist in Tanzania at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and SickleInAfrica Clinical Coordinating Centre. She is Visiting Professor at Imperial College London and Science Advisor at the Tanzania High Commission in the UK and ECSA-HC. She received the 2011 Royal Society Africa Award. She is Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Tutu Leadership, and Tanzania Academy of Sciences

Dr. Ann Partridge

Dr. Ann Partridge is vice chair of the Department of Medical Oncology and Chief Clinical Strategy Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she also serves as co-founder and director of the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer. A professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Partridge holds the Eric P. Winer, MD, Chair in Breast Cancer Research at Dana-Farber. She conducts clinical research focused on improving cancer care and outcomes with a particular focus on young adults with breast cancer. Her groundbreaking research has not only illuminated the factors contributing to the disparate outcomes, both medical and psychosocial, faced by young breast cancer patients and survivors, but led to interventions to improve them. Dr. Partridge has also developed, led, and inspired innovative clinical trials and clinical programs to assure that all patients with cancer receive the highest quality, cutting-edge treatment and support care. 

Dr. Partridge serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); co-chairs the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Breast Committee; and serves on the NCI Breast Cancer Steering Committee. She is a Chief Scientific Advisor for Susan G. Komen and an American Cancer Society Research Professor. She has published widely and her research has been supported by the NCI, Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), Conquer Cancer, the American Cancer Society, and Susan G. Komen. Dr. Partridge received a Champions of Change award from the U.S. White House, the American Association for Clinical Research (AACR) Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer, the ASCO Ellen L. Stovall Award for Advancement of Cancer Survivorship Care, and the 2024 ESMO Award from the European Society of Medical Oncology for her commitment and groundbreaking work advancing the field of breast cancer research.

Dr. Partridge received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, an MD from Cornell University Medical College, and a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed her residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and fellowships in medical oncology and hematology at Dana-Farber.

Prof Georgia Demetriou

Fellow of the College of Physicians South Africa, Certificate in Medical Oncology College of Medicine South Africa, MBBCh University of the Witwatersrand Academic Head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the University Of the Witwatersrand. Head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital(CMJAH) and Medical Oncologist at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. Member of the executive committee of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Center. Head of the Medical Oncology Clinical trial Syndicate of the Wits Clinical Trial Research Unit at the Wits Health Consortium.

Prof Demetriou is an invited member of the Department of Health National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC) expert review committee in oncology.

She previously ran a General Medicine Teaching Unit at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for 10 years and has served as the intern and community service medical officer curator at CMJAH overseeing the 140 junior medical staff at the hospital for the last 18 years. She is an examiner for undergraduate medical students at Wits University and a post graduate examiner and convenor for The College of Medicine in the fields of Medical Oncology and examiner for Internal Medicine. She is a member of the CMJAH pharmacy and therapeutics committee.

Prof Demetriou is the Chairperson of the South African Society of Medical Oncology, of which she has been an executive committee member since 2009 and previously having served as the treasurer of the Society. She is a Director and Chairperson of the South African Oncology Consortium (SAOC) Board. Previous chairperson of the Breast Interest Group of South Africa (BIGOSA)

She has been involved in numerous pivotal clinical trials in the field of Oncology as local Principle Investigator, National Principle Investigator and serves on local and international Advisory Boards with a particular interest in female malignancies, gastrointestinal malignancies and onco-fertility. She has published in local and international journals in her field of interest

Prof Estelle Verburgh

Estelle Verburgh is associate professor at the University of Cape Town and director of the academic bone marrow transplantation unit at Groote Schuur Hospital. She is a physician haematologist with dual qualification in clinical and laboratory haematology. Her PhD work at the University of Leuven on diagnosis and prognosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome has been cited in the 2008 and the 2016 WHO Classification. She is president of the South African Stem Cell Transplantation Society (SASCeTS), treasurer of the South African Clinical Haematology Society (SACHaS) and director of the BLOODSA Foundation. Her clinical vision and research passion is the building of collaborative haematology platforms for best care, education and research, devising cost-effective strategies, interventions and pathways for sub-Saharan African haematological care, and making haematological diagnostic approaches more accessible to non-specialists.

Dr Jackie Thomson

Dr. Jackie Thomson is a distinguished medical professional with a remarkable career in the field of hematology and cellular therapy. After completing both her pre-grade and post-grade degrees at the esteemed University of Stellenbosch, she went on to pursue a subspecialty in clinical hematology at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Dr. Jackie’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to found Alberts Cellular Therapy, where she served as the transplant director for a decade, overseeing numerous successful procedures and contributing significantly to the advancement of cellular therapies in the region. Following her tenure at Alberts Cellular Therapy, Dr. Jackie took on the role of Medical Director at the South African National Blood Service, where she played a pivotal role in promoting patient blood management and improving healthcare practices across the country for five years. Currently, Dr. Jackie serves as the Transplant Director at the Wits Donald Gordon Cellular and Immunotherapy Centre, where she continues to lead and innovate in the field of cellular therapies. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Jackie is deeply passionate about establishing healthcare centers that adhere to international quality standards. Her commitment to excellence and patientcentered care has earned her respect and admiration throughout the medical community. Dr. Jackie’s dedication to advancing healthcare practices and improving patient outcomes makes her a leader in the field, and her contributions continue to make a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape.

Dr. Stefanie Zschäbitz

Dr. Stefanie Zschäbitz is a German medical oncologist and senior physician at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and Heidelberg University Hospital, where she leads the Translational Uro-Oncology Section. She is actively involved in clinical and translational cancer research, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and contributes to the advancement of evidence-based cancer care through clinical trials and academic collaborations.

Dr Candice Laverne Hendricks

Candice Hendricks is a paediatric haematologist and clinician scientist, having completed her PhD at the University of Pretoria in 2024 after which she was appointed as an Honorary Professor within the Department of Medical Immunology at UP from October 2025. She is working towards increasing access to paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for South African paediatric patients. In line with this she completed paediatric HSCT training in Italy in 2024 and has completed observerships at King’s College hospital in London, Great Ormond Street hospital for children in London and Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain hospital in Bangalore. She is the processing facility director at Albert’s Cellular therapy at Netcare Pretoria East hospital where the first in Africa trial manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)- T cells is taking place. She chairs the national BloodSA and SAAPHO Paediatric HSCT working party as well as the BloodSA Cell and Gene Therapy working party both of which are harmonising practices related to HSCT and advanced cellular therapies in South Africa. In August 2025 she was appointed to the ministerial advisory committee (MAC) on cancer care and prevention where she hopes to increase prioritisation of haematological maligancies. Her international activities include serving as co vice-chair of the European society for blood and marrow transplantation (EBMT) trainee committee and membership on the EBMT equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee.

Dr Judith Schaffrath

Dr. Judith Schaffrath is a consultant hematologist and oncologist at the University Hospital in Halle (Saale), Germany, where she serves as Senior Physician and Deputy Head of the Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program. Her clinical and research interests focus is on allogeneic stem cell transplantation, acute myeloid leukemia and advanced cellular therapies, including CAR-T-cell therapy.

She studied medicine at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and has been working at the University Hospital in Halle since 2013. She obtained her doctoral degree in 2016 and is a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine as well as in Hematology and Oncology and Emergency Medicine.

In her current role, Dr. Schaffrath is involved in the clinical management of patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation and innovative cellular immunotherapies. She also serves as a study physician for several clinical trials, with a particular focus on acute myeloid leukemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Professor Manuela Schmidinger

Manuela Schmidinger is Professor of Medicine and specialises in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Intensive Care Medicine. She is currently leading the clinical and research program for systemic treatment of renal cell carcinoma at the Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna.

Her research interests include prognostic factors and treatment in RCC, checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitor and check point inhibitors-related side effects, and strategies to achieve long-term survival in metastatic RCC.

Professor Schmidinger is the author or co-author of more than 140 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, British Journal of Cancer, Leukaemia & Lymphoma etc.

Within the past 15 years, Professor Schmidinger has had more than 700 invited lectures related to renal cell carcinoma management around the globe. Among these are invited lectures at ASCO and ESMO.

She is also co-author of the European Guidelines for Kidney Cancer Treatment and the author or co-author of four books in the field of immunology and oncology, including a textbook on targeted agents in kidney cancer.

Prof Utz Krug

Prof Utz Krug is a board-certified specialist for internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, pulmonary care, hemostaseology, and palliative care. He studied medicine at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum and the Hannover Medical School. Afterwards, he received his medical training at Hannover Medical School and University Hospital of Muenster, all in Germany. His medical training was interrupted by a postdoctoral research period at the University of California in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Following his time at the University Hospital of Muenster, he became Head of the Department of Internal Medicine 3 – Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care – at Leverkusen Municipial Hospital. Since 2025, Prof Krug is Medical Director of the DKMS Collection Center in Cologne, Germany, the biggest Collection Center worldwide with over 2,000 allogeneic cell collections per year. The main scientific interest of Prof. Krug is diagnosis, treatment optimization and risk prognostification of acute myelogenous leukaemia. He published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is author in a variety of therapy guidelines in Oncology as well as highly frequented reviewer for a variety of peer-revied journals.

Dr Stephanie Saw

Dr Stephanie Saw graduated top of her class in 2013 from NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine with multiple academic awards. Following her internal medicine junior residency, she subsequently completed her senior residency in medical oncology in 2019 and joined the Thoracic Oncology group in NCCS thereafter. Her research interest is in improving risk stratification of EGFR-mutated lung cancer, for which she obtained her PhD in Duke-NUS University in 2025 under the NMRC Research Training Fellowship. An aspiring clinician scientist, she was awarded the NMRC Transition Award in 2024 and hopes to integrate translational research into clinical practice through multidisciplinary collaboration.

Professor Paul Ruff

Professor Paul Ruff, current Chair of the University of Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (Medical) and Professor Emeritus in the School of Clinical Medicine, was previously Professor and Head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital from October 2002 to December 2021. He was the Principal Investigator of the SA Medical Research Council / University of Witwatersrand Common Epithelial Cancer Research Centre (CECRC) from 2015 to 2025. He is co-principal Investigator of NIH Grant 1R01CA192627 with Drs. A. Neugut and J. Jacobson of Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, USA, and Dr M. Joffe of Wits Health Consortium. Professor Ruff was ranked as a B2-rated scientist by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2017 and has an H-index of 46. Professor Ruff was Chair (and ongoing Member) of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Clinical Trials Committee (previously MCC CTC) from 2015 to 2024, Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cancer Control and Prevention (MACC) from 2020 to 2021 (Member from 2013), and Member of the National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC) since 2017. Professor Ruff was a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) International Affairs Committee from 2013 to 16, the ASCO International Clinical Trials Workshop (ICTW) Working Group from 2015 to 2018, the ASCO International Quality Steering Group (IQSG) from 2020 to 2023 and 2026 to 2029, and was part of the UICC Review Team of the WHO’s List of Essential Cancer Medicines from 2015 to 2016. He was appointed Inaugural Chair (and now ongoing Member till 2027) of the ASCO Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Council from 2022 to 2024 and has recently been appointed to the Lancet Commission on Colorectal Cancer. Professor Ruff has authored or co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, predominantly in the field of oncology, especially colorectal cancer, and has presented over 250 papers and posters at local and international scientific meetings.

Elzaan van Rooyen

Elzaan van Rooyen is the Confirmatory Typing and Donor Follow-up/Donor Patient Contact Manager at DKMS Africa. Since joining DKMS in 2021, Elzaan has been dedicated to supporting the donor journey, coordinating confirmatory typing processes, and managing donor and patient communication to help facilitate life-saving stem cell transplants. With a strong commitment to donor care and operational excellence, Elzaan is passionate about ensuring a positive experience for donors while contributing to improved outcomes for patients in need.

Samantha Anthony

Samantha has been a Workup Manager at DKMS Africa since 2022, where she oversee the coordination of the stem cell donor workup process for patients requiring life-saving blood stem cell transplants. In this role, she works closely with collection centres, transplant centres, registries, donors, and international partners to ensure seamless communication, regulatory compliance, and the timely progression of donor workups. A key focus of her work is fostering strong, collaborative relationships between collection centres and registries to enhance coordination, streamline processes, and support the best possible outcomes for donors and patients. Through her commitment to operational excellence and partnership, Samantha contributes to DKMS Africa’s mission of giving more patients a second chance at life.

Dr. Stephen Cornish

Dr. Stephen Cornish is a highly respected specialist urologist with over three decades of clinical experience and a deep passion for uro-oncology. As the founder of the Gauteng Uro-Oncology Forum as well as co-founder of the Johannesburg Academic Urology Centre (JAUC), Dr. Cornish is committed to shaping the future of urological care through education, research, and innovation. 

A leading voice in prostate cancer treatment in South Africa, Dr. Cornish spearheaded the country’s first dedicated brachytherapy team for prostate cancer, bringing international techniques to local practice through advanced training in Atlanta, New York, and Paris. His extensive contributions also include the introduction of prostate artery embolisation in South Africa and leadership in multiple clinical trials focused on urological cancers and men’s health.

Jay Feinberg

Jay Feinberg is the Founder and CEO of the Gift of Life Marrow Registry and a 30-year leukemia and transplant survivor. Diagnosed in 1991, Jay was told a bone marrow transplant was his only hope for a cure. With the help of friends and family, he launched an ambitious grassroots international donor search—organizing hundreds of recruitment drives and testing tens of thousands of volunteers. Like something out of a movie, the very last volunteer screened at the final drive turned out to be Jay’s match and he received his life-saving transplant in July 1995.

Inspired by his experience, Jay founded Gift of Life and has led the organization to become one of the world’s most innovative marrow donor registries. Under his leadership, Gift of Life has pioneered numerous industry firsts, including a registry-integrated stem cell collection center, the use of cheek swabs at scale for donor recruitment, mobile technology that streamlines and secures donor enrollment, support for mission-aligned, next-generation cellular therapies, and the use of AI to increase donor availability. This has led Gift of Life to become one of the world’s youngest registries by donor age and the most efficient by transplant volume relative to registry size.

Jay has held multiple leadership roles within the global transplant community and currently serves as President of the World Marrow Donor Association (2025–2026), the international body that sets the global quality, safety, and ethical standards governing how stem cell and bone marrow donor registries, donor centers, and collection facilities operate worldwide, certifies registries, and manages the global donor database. Previously, Jay served as WMDA Secretary of North and South America and as a member of the Accreditation Committee. Jay also serves on the Bone Marrow Transplantation Advisory Panel to the State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, which provides expert guidance on bone marrow transplant policy and coverage in the state.

Jay earned a B.A. in Political Science from Dickinson College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and completed executive education at Harvard Business School. His honors include the Charles Bronfman Prize, the NMDP Allison Atlas Award, Hadassah International’s Citizen of the World Award, an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University, and numerous other recognitions for leadership and social justice.

A frequent speaker on social justice, innovation, and community activism, Jay continues to advocate globally for saving lives through stem cell donation. Jay is married and resides in South Florida with his wife and son.

Jeremy Nel

Jeremy is a physician and infectious diseases specialist, and the head of infectious diseases at Helen Joseph Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand. He completed a transplant infectious diseases fellowship at the University of North Carolina, has an MSc in Epidemiology from the University of London, is past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of South Africa, and is an active member of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society. He has published widely in the fields of HIV and infectious diseases.

Jolandie Lewis

Jolandie Lewis is the Founder and Managing Director of Fanconi Anaemia South Africa NPC (FANCSA) and co-lead of the Mapping FA awareness initiative. Holding a BA Law degree, she leads the organisation’s strategic development, governance, education, fundraising, and collaborative partnerships with healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient organisations. Passionate about early diagnosis and preventive healthcare, Jolandie is committed to improving awareness, access to care, and long-term outcomes for individuals and families affected by Fanconi Anaemia across South Africa and Africa.  

Robin Lewis

Robin Lewis is the Patient Coordination and Advocacy Representative for Fanconi Anaemia South Africa NPC (FANCSA), campaign lead of the Mapping FA awareness initiative, and a stem cell transplant recipient living with Fanconi Anaemia (FA). Diagnosed at the age of 25 with this rare genetic cancer predisposition disease, Robin combines lived experience with patient advocacy to champion earlier diagnosis, collaborative care, and improved outcomes for individuals and families affected by FA.

Following a haploidentical stem cell transplant in 2018, Robin has dedicated his work to supporting newly diagnosed patients, strengthening family support networks, and raising awareness of Fanconi Anaemia among healthcare professionals. He previously led a two-year, multi-country stem cell donor recruitment campaign called Matches on the Map, and now leads the remaining eight-year Mapping FA expedition across Africa and beyond. Travelling in his self-built expedition vehicle, Betsy, Robin engages with hospitals, laboratories, universities, and medical conferences to improve awareness, encourage earlier recognition of FA, strengthen collaboration with healthcare professionals, and connect families with support and research opportunities.

In recognition of his contribution to the international Fanconi Anaemia community, Robin received the 2021 Amy Winn and Christopher T. Byrd Award for Adults with Fanconi Anaemia. He is committed to ensuring that no family in Africa affected by Fanconi Anaemia has to face the journey alone.

Xolani Hlongwane

Xolani Hlongwane is the Country Manager of DKMS Africa, where he provides strategic leadership for the organization’s mission to give every patient with a blood cancer or blood disorder the best possible chance of finding a life-saving stem cell donor. As the leader of DKMS Africa donor centre, he oversees the organization’s operations, donor registry growth, medical services, partnerships, fundraising, and communications, ensuring that every aspect of the organization is aligned to maximise patient impact.

Passionate about health equity, Xolani has a deep commitment to growing a diverse and representative stem cell donor registry that reflects South Africa’s rich genetic diversity. He believes that every patient, regardless of their ethnicity or background, deserves an equal opportunity to find a matching donor. Under his leadership, DKMS Africa continues to strengthen donor recruitment strategies, expand partnerships, and increase public awareness to address the critical need for more diverse donors on the registry.

Dr Hemmel Amrania

Over the past two decades, Dr Amrania’s research has focused on translating physics-based measurement into clinically deployable oncology decision-support tools, integrating optical and spectroscopic instrumentation, rigorous analytical validation, AI-enabled data analysis, and outcomes-linked clinical modelling. Through this work he has established Digistain, a reagent-free spectroscopic profiling platform that extracts objective biochemical information from routine FFPE pathology specimens and converts it into interpretable risk stratification.

As an academic-industry translational scientist and founder and Chief Scientific Lead of Digistain, working closely with Imperial College London and NHS clinical collaborators, Dr Amrania has led multidisciplinary programmes spanning early methodological development, large-cohort clinical validation and double-blinded head-to-head benchmarking against incumbent assays. His work is focused on advancing objective, scalable tumour intelligence intended to broaden access to precision oncology across multiple tumour types and treatment contexts. For his contributions to the field, Dr Amrania has been awarded multiple accolades, including the Royal Society Innovation Award and the Institute of Physics Innovation Award.

Zareen Moosa

Zareen Moosa is a Registry Co-ordinator at DKMS Africa, where she has been part of the patient registry team for the past three years. In her role, she works closely with transplant centres, healthcare professionals, and international donor registries to help coordinate unrelated stem cell donor searches and supporting patients across South Africa on their journey to receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant.
Holding a BSc in Medical Science, Zareen combines scientific knowledge with a genuine passion for helping others. She is dedicated to ensuring that patients receive seamless support and compassion throughout the process and is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by blood disorders.

Through her work at DKMS Africa, Zareen is proud to contribute to expanding access to stem cell transplantation and improving outcomes for patients across South Africa.

Jade Maxine Worrall

Jade is the Team Lead for Patient Registry Services at DKMS Africa, where she leads a dedicated team supporting patients in urgent need of unrelated stem cell donors. Her team plays a central role in coordinating donor searches, supporting transplant centres, and facilitating donor requests and stem cell product procurement for patients across South Africa.

She holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology and brings five years of hands-on experience in patient registry services. Combining scientific expertise with practical knowledge, Jade has developed a strong understanding of the donor search and registry process, the vital role of DKMS Africa, and the challenges faced within the South African healthcare environment.

Jade is passionate about improving access to stem cell transplantation by simplifying complex processes, creating clarity at every stage, and ensuring that patients and transplant teams feel supported throughout the journey. Her work is driven by a commitment to making each step as efficient, compassionate, and effective as possible, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients in need.

Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Holderried

Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Holderried is a physician-scientist specializing in hematology, oncology, stem cell transplantation, and cellular immunotherapy. Following his medical studies at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, where he graduated with distinction (summa cum laude), he completed extensive clinical and scientific training at the University Hospital Bonn and at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. He became board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology in 2017 and was awarded his Venia legendi in 2025.

His research focuses on translational immunology, particularly the immunological mechanisms regulating allogeneic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies such as CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapy. His work combines mechanistic laboratory research with early-phase clinical trials to develop innovative, personalized immunotherapies for hematologic and oncologic malignancies. Current projects include the investigation of regulatory T-cell biology, nanobody-based therapeutic approaches, the influence of metabolism on immune function, and AI-supported digital health solutions for patient monitoring. He has successfully secured competitive funding from organizations including the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Alongside his scientific activities, Prof. Holderried has held leading clinical positions in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy and has extensive experience as principal investigator in national and international clinical trials. As a committed academic teacher and mentor, he has long been involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and in the supervision of doctoral and PhD candidates.

Since 2026, he has been Professor of Cellular Therapy at the Medical University of Graz, where he aims to further strengthen the clinical application of cellular therapies, translational research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative education in cellular immunotherapy.

Dr. Alexander Schmidt

Dr. Alexander Schmidt has been part of DKMS since 2002. As Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for the DKMS Registry, which oversees the process of matching stem cell donors with patients.
The DKMS Registry is dedicated to ensuring that patients around the world find a compatible donor, regardless of whether that donor is registered with DKMS or another donor registry.

Alexander Schmidt holds doctorates in mathematics and medicine. After working as a physician at Heidelberg University Hospital, he joined the Boston Consulting Groups as a management consultant, before he joined DKMS.

Kusha Kalideen

Kusha Kalideen is a Principal Medical Scientist with expertise in molecular diagnostics, specializing in the genomic profiling of solid tumours. She completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town and has extensive experience in the application of next-generation sequencing technologies to support precision oncology. In her current role at Lancet Laboratories, she is involved in the molecular characterization of solid tumours, contributing to the identification of clinically relevant genomic alterations that inform diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted treatment decisions. Her professional interests include cancer genomics, molecular pathology, and the implementation of genomic medicine within clinical practice to improve patient care.

Senait Kahsai

I am a registered nurse with over 30 years of clinical experience, beginning my career in gynecology and anesthesia before specializing in apheresis and stem cell collection. For the past 16 years, I have worked at the Collection Center Cologne, and for the last three years I have served as Nursing Team Leader and Head of Manufacturing at DKMS Collection Center Cologne — one of Europe’s leading stem cell donor centers.

In my current role, I lead a multidisciplinary nursing team across multiple sites, ensuring GMP-compliant collection processes, high-quality standards, and continuous staff development. My international work includes training partnerships with collection centers in South Africa, where I am committed to knowledge transfer and advancing global best practices in apheresis nursing.

My presentation at this congress focuses on contamination risks and disconnection procedures in stem cell apheresis from an international perspective — a topic I am passionate about bringing into broader clinical discussion.

Shamimah Diedericks

I hold a bachelor’s Degree in Oncology and is currently an Operational Manager of the tertiary health care institution, Groote Schuur hospital  in Cape Town. I have 26 years’ experience in the public health sector and extensive experience in haematology and oncology nursing, clinical operations, and service delivery.

Prior to my current leadership role, I served as Stem cell transplant coordinator where I gained valuable experience the coordination and management of patients undergoing complex haemopoietic stem cell transplantations. I am passionate to gain excellent patient outcomes in their treatments by collaborating with an excellent multidisciplinary team.

Dr. Elias Jabbour

Dr. Elias Jabbour serves as Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Section within the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. His research is centered on translational and clinical developmental therapeutics in leukemia, with a particular emphasis on advancing novel treatment paradigms across disease subtypes.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Jabbour has made seminal contributions that have significantly enhanced prognosis, survival outcomes, and therapeutic strategies for patients with various forms of leukemia. His work is reflected in an extensive body of scholarship, with more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications, underscoring his leadership and impact in the field of hematologic malignancies.

Dr Fredrik Schjesvold

Fredrik Schjesvold is the founder and Head of Oslo Myeloma Center, in Oslo, Norway. He is head of the Norwegian myeloma association, President of the Nordic Myeloma Study Group and a board member of the European Myeloma Network. He is principal investigator for 5 academic studies and has enrolled more than 1000 patients in 67 clinical trials in myeloma. He is a co-author of European (ESMO) and global (IMWG) guidelines, as well as lead author of the Norwegian myeloma guidelines. He is peer reviewer of several international journals, and co-editor of the journal Hemato, and Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia. He is an international expert on myeloma and has given talks in Europe, America, and Asia.

Karen Applebaum

Karen Appelbaum is a clinical psychologist and medical and educational sociologist whose career spans academia, clinical practice, supervision, and international development. She has extensive experience as a university academic, clinical supervisor, psychotherapy practitioner, and project director for international development initiatives. Her professional background also encompasses many years of academic and clinical work in sociology, as well as child, family, and couple therapy.

Following the diagnosis of cancer in members of her own family and the difficulty of accessing psychologically sophisticated cancer care, Karen redirected her academic and clinical work towards psychosocial oncology. For more than two decades, she has devoted her career to advancing the science and practice of psycho-oncology, integrating insights from psychology, sociology, medicine, and the lived experience of patients and families.

Karen’s work critically examines many of the prevailing theoretical assumptions, epistemological foundations, and clinical practices that have shaped contemporary psycho-oncology. She has developed a comprehensive, scientifically grounded theoretical framework that seeks to broaden and strengthen the field through greater conceptual clarity and empirical rigour.

She has recently been commissioned to write a book that challenges established international approaches to psychosocial oncology while presenting a theoretically coherent and empirically informed alternative model for research and clinical practice. Through her writing, teaching, and clinical work, Karen continues to advocate for a more integrated, evidence-based, and patient-centred approach to psychological care in oncology.

Sr Drina Lee Heyns

Drina Lee Heyns is a seasoned healthcare professional with extensive experience in oncology nursing, patient care, and pharmaceutical sales. Beginning her career in 2002 at Netcare Kingsway Hospital, she progressed from a Pupil Enrolled Nurse to a Registered Nurse, specializing in emergency and orthopaedic care. She later developed a strong focus on oncology, working at several institutions, including Rainbow Oncology Centre and King Abdul Aziz National Guard Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia, where she provided comprehensive chemotherapy support and patient education.

Currently serving as Unit Manager of the Outpatient Department at Dr Brittain and Partners, she oversees department operations and ensures exceptional patient care.

With over two decades of diverse healthcare experience, Drina combines clinical expertise with leadership skills, contributing significantly to both patient outcomes and operational success.

Dr Raquel Viana

Dr Raquel Viana is the Scientific Head of Molecular Pathology at Lancet Laboratories, South Africa, where she leads the strategic development and implementation of advanced molecular diagnostic services across oncology, infectious diseases and clinical trials. With more than 20 years of experience in molecular diagnostics and translational science, she has played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding precision medicine programmes within the private healthcare sector.

Dr Viana completed her PhD in Molecular Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg South Africa in collaboration with the Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC) at Ghent University, Belgium and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Her current interests focus on the molecular characterisation of haematological malignancies and the clinical application of genomic technologies to improve diagnosis, prognostication and therapeutic decision-making. She is passionate about translating genomic discoveries into routine clinical practice.

Natasha Nunan

Natasha Nunan is a highly accomplished Oncology and Haematology Professional Nurse with more than 20 years of experience in clinical oncology, nursing leadership, stem cell transplantation, managed healthcare, and clinical research. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) degree from the Medical University of Southern Africa and has completed advanced international training at the University of Public Health in Jönköping, Sweden, where she specialised in oncology, haematology, community health, psychiatric care, international child health, and oncology pain management.

Throughout her career, Natasha has held senior clinical and leadership positions across both hospital and specialist oncology practices. Her experience includes serving as Oncology Unit Manager at Netcare Parklands Hospital, Unit Manager of a chemotherapy suite and Stem Cell Transplant Coordinator , Senior Oncology Case Manager and Peer Review Case Manager at Discovery Medical Scheme, and Practice Manager and Clinical Trial Coordinator in a specialist haematology practice.

Natasha has extensive expertise in managed healthcare, oncology and haematology case management, medical scheme funding and authorisations, multidisciplinary care coordination, clinical governance, and the implementation of evidence-based treatment guidelines. She is highly skilled in patient advocacy, chemotherapy administration, stem cell transplant coordination, nursing management, healthcare quality improvement, and clinical research. Her strong understanding of both the clinical and business aspects of private healthcare enables her to bridge patient care with sustainable healthcare delivery.

Currently Natasha practises as a private consultant facilitating practises, pharma and hospital with oncology and haematology case management, medical scheme funding and authorisations, multidisciplinary care coordination training , clinical governance, andnurse education and training. She is also the co-chair of Blood SA .

Passionate about improving patient outcomes, Natasha is recognised for her compassionate, patient-centred approach, leadership, and commitment to excellence. She is an active supporter of various organisations reflecting her dedication to advancing cancer care and supporting patients beyond the clinical setting.

Dr Sam Molepo

Dr Sam Molepo is a Specialist Physician and Medical Oncologist, who completed his undergraduate as well as postgraduate studies at Wits. He has a special interest in breast, lung, gastrointestinal, urological, haematological and sarcomatous malignancies, as well as a keen focus on the genetic basis of malignancies. He worked at Charlotte Maxeke Medical Oncology from 2022 to the end of his contract in June 2025, integrating various disciplines and has now joined the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre. He is a strong advocate for patient-centred care, customised anticancer treatment, and a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Dr. Kagiso Seripe

Dr. Kagiso Seripe is a health executive with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of clinical practice, managed care, public health, health economics and health systems strategy. She currently serves as the Head of Oncology Risk Management and Care Coordination, where she leads initiatives focused on improving patient outcomes, optimizing funding models, and strengthening care delivery pathways.

Dr. Seripe began her career as a medical practitioner, gaining extensive experience across both public and private healthcare sectors, including participation in South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot. She later transitioned into public health, and health systems strengthening, providing technical advisory support to the Department of Health on HIV and TB programme delivery, performance and quality improvement.

She has held senior leadership roles within managed healthcare (Discovery), where she led multidisciplinary teams spanning medical advisory, clinical review, and medico-legal functions. In these roles, she was responsible for driving strategic transformation, enhancing clinical governance frameworks, and improving operational efficiency in healthcare funding environments.

A passionate advocate for innovation in healthcare, she is particularly interested in leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based approaches to improve clinical decision-making and system-wide efficiency, quality health care delivery and outcomes.

Dr. Seripe holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh) from the University of the Witwatersrand, along with a qualification in Evidence-Based Decision Making in Healthcare.