National Cancer Research and Innovation Strategy Meeting Hosted by UKZN
UKZN hosted KwaZulu-Natal’s National Cancer Research and Innovation Strategy Meeting which was attended by multidisciplinary captains of industry at the Medical School.
The meeting was in line with the partnership between the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC); the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI); the University of Pretoria (UP), and the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRi).
Consultative meetings take place in various South African provinces to address the increasing prevalence of cancer in the country. The proposed multi-stakeholder strategy, which is being prioritised by the national Department of Health, will include cancer prevention and treatment research, early detection and diagnosis as well as palliative care and survivorship.
SAMRC President Professor Ntobeko Ntusi said more funding needed to be invested in non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses.
UKZN’s College of Health Sciences’ newly-appointed Dean of Research Professor Bongani Nkambule highlighted various ongoing cancer research projects at UKZN. The research includes specialist work being done at the Cancer and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU) as well as the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme (MLCCP) involving Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Eswatini, Lesotho and Ethiopia, and screening by Spectral Artificial Visual Examination (SAVE) for Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) and Cervical Cancer (DUAL-SAVE-FGS).
Nkambule highlighted the human papillomavirus (HPV) related research being led by UKZN’s Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor Motshedisi Sebitloane; and the Peptide Synthesis Platform in Pharmaceutical Science, which is a potential area of research investment for biomarker discovery.
Speakers included the international, multi-award-winning Head of UKZN’s Nuclear Medicine Head of Discipline, Professor Mariza Vorster, whose presentation on: “The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cancer Care”, highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to “democratise” access to cancer diagnostics, support non-specialists in image interpretation, and optimise patient referral pathways. ‘Investing in local data infrastructure and AI-driven tools tailored to the South African context will be vital for realising these benefits,’ said Vorster.
The National Department of Health’s Dr Busisiwe Ndlovu said they were hard at work to upgrade the National Cancer Strategic Framework for South Africa (2017 – 2022). Cancer of the breast, cervix, colorectal, uterus and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are the top five cancers affecting women, while prostate, colorectal, lung, NHL and melanoma were the top five affecting men. Risk factors included lifestyle, direct and indirect causes and associations, and occupational as well as environmental exposures.
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) Chief Operations Officer Dr PinkieMekgwe welcomed the delegates and said the institute was delighted to host the day’s proceedings because AHRI believed in supporting national strategies such as this one. AHRI’s research combines population, basic and translational, social, and clinical sciences to understand and intervene in the health and well-being of South African communities.
AHRI works in partnership with local communities and South African academic, government and other policy stakeholders while collaborating with over 60 institutions globally. AHRI prioritises the training of the next generation of African scientists.
The DSTI said its involvement underscored the government’s recognition of science and innovation as a cornerstone in addressing society’s most pressing challenges, including health.
The day’s proceedings were chaired by Professor Mike Sathekge, Head of Nuclear Medicine Department at the University of Pretoria and the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Words: Lunga Memela
Photograph: Supplied
