Editorial Team
FOUNDER / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DR. CHRISTIAN NTIZIMIRA
Dr. Christian Ntizimira is the Founder and Executive Director of the African Center for Research on End-of-Life Care (ACREOL), a non-profit organization promoting socio-cultural equality through “Ubuntu in End-of-Life Care” in Africa. A Fulbright alumnus and graduate of Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Dr. Ntizimira is the 2021 laureate of the Tällberg–Stervos Niarchos Foundation–Eliasson Global Leadership Prize for his advocacy for palliative care in Rwanda and across Africa. He pioneered the integration of palliative and end-of-life care into health services for cancer patients and community care systems in Rwanda, championing the belief that dignified end-of-life care is a fundamental human right.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL MEDICINE / DIVISION OF HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
ABBIOLA IBRAHEEM, M.D.
Abiola Ibraheem, M.D. — UI Health, Division of Hematology and Oncology – Department of Medicine. 840 S Wood Street Suite 820-E, Chicago, IL 60612. Phone: 404-8599151 — Email: abiolai@uic.edu — Last updated: 9/18/2024. Current Position(s): Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (2021 – Present). Past Positions: Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (2019 – 2021). Education: Clinical Medical Ethics Fellowship (2019 – 2020) — MacLean Center for Medical Ethics. Hematology and Oncology Fellowship (2015 – 2018) — University of Chicago, Chicago IL; Morehouse School Of Medicine, Atlanta GA. Internal Medicine Residency (2012 – 2015) — University of Chicago, Chicago IL. Housemanship, Lagos State General Hospitals (2007 – 2008). M.D., Obafemi Awolowo College Of Health Sciences, Shagamu (1998 – 2006), Nigeria. Certification and Licensure: Illinois State Medical License; Georgia State Medical License. American Board of Internal Medicine – Internal Medicine (2015 – Present); Medical Oncology (2018 – Present); Hematology (2019 – Present). Professional Memberships and Activities: Nigerian Medical Association (2012 – Present); American Medical Association (AMA) (2012 – Present); American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (2012 – Present); American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (2015 – Present); American Society of Hematology (ASH) (2015 – Present); African Organization for Research and Training In Cancer (AORTIC) (2017 – Present); European Society of Medical Oncologists (ESMO) (2018 – Present); Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC) (2019 – Present); Academy Health (2019 – Present); University of Illinois Cancer Center Full Member (2022 – Present); Big Ten Clinical Research Consortium (2021 – Present); Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (2021 – Present); Hoosier Cancer Research Network (HCRN) (2022 – Present); Big Ten CRC Global Oncology (2023 – Present); American Cancer Society ResearcHERS Ambassador (2024 – Present). Committee Assignments and Administrative Services: UICC Breast Research Disease Team Member (2021 – Present); UICC Center for Global Health Core Faculty (2021 – Present); UI Health Protocol Review Committee (PRC) Member (2022 – Present); Chicago Breast CME Rounds Member (2022 – Present) — Chair (2024 – Present); UI Diversity Committee Member (2021 – Present); UI Health Community Outreach Engagement (COE) Committee (2021 – Present); UI Health COE Liaison to Translational Oncology Program (2022 – Present); African Organization for Research and Training In Cancer (AORTIC) Board (2023 – Present); AORTIC Clinical Trial Special Interest Group Chair (2023 – Present); AORTIC Education Committee Member (2023 – Present); EMBER 4 Eli Lilly Diversity Committee Chair (2023 – Present). Honors and Awards: Clinical Teaching Excellence Designation, UI Health (2023); Global Health UoC Award (2020); Morehouse Achievement Award (2020); CSCO/ASCO Travel Grant (2019); Illinois Fellows Award, Illinois Medical Oncology Fellows’ Award (2018); AACR Merit Award - Breast Scholars in training Award (2017); AORTIC African Cancer Leaders Institute (2015); Georgia American College of Physicians Resident Oral Presentation Award (2015); ASCO Conquer Foundation Residents Travel Award (2014); Ondo State Scholarship award (2004). Grants and Contract Awards — Current: UICC Faculty Start Up Funds (2021–Current); PI: UICC Fall Clinical Trial Stimulus Funding Award (2021–Current); PI: UICC Jump Award (2021–2022); PI: Cures Within Reach Repurposing Research Project (2023–Current); PI: WINN Career Development Award (2022–Present). Past: NIH K-12 Paul Calabresi Career Development Award, PI: Ibraheem (2019–2020); Kiphart Global Health Scholar, PI: Ibraheem Abiola (2019–2020). Clinical Trials — Lead PI: BRE-08: A Phase II Study of an All-Oral Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and Capecitabine (CMC) for Early-Stage Breast Cancer. Site PI examples: GS-US-595-6184 (Phase 3 study of adjuvant sacituzumab govitecan + pembrolizumab vs physician's choice in TNBC with residual disease); EMBER-4 (Phase 3 adjuvant imlunestrant vs standard endocrine therapy); A012103 OptimICE-PCR (de-escalation in early-stage TNBC after pCR). (Full list of site PI trials included in original CV.) Site Co-Investigator examples: BTCRC-BRE15-024 (Ribociclib + Bicalutamide in AR+ TNBC); BRE-03 (preop lenvatinib + pembrolizumab in early-stage TNBC); BRE-04 (preop low dose azacitidine in high-risk early breast cancer); A011801 CompassHER2 trials; TRE Breast Cancer; HCRN-BRE20-468; DECODE Heartland; HCRN-BRE17-141; A212102 (multicancer early detection reference set); BA3182 Phase 1 EpCAM/CD3 bispecific; BRE-09 (Abemaciclib dose escalation ADE‑MI); RiMO-401CL23-001; BRE-10 INNOVATE; S2206 (neoadjuvant durvalumab trial), and others. Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications (representative): 1. Fatiregun OA, Oluokun T, Lasebikan NN, Nwachukwu E, Ibraheem AA, Olopade O. Breast Cancer Research to Support Evidence-Based Medicine in Nigeria: A Review of the Literature. JGO. PMID: 33720754. 2. Anakwenze Akinfenwa CP, Ibraheem A, Nwankwo K, Lasebikan N, Ali-Gombe M, Aliyu UM, Ikhile E, Adegboyega O, Abdullahi A, Klopp AH, Schmeler K, Lin LL, Jhingran A, Page BR, Leng J, Grover S, Ntekim A. Emerging Use of Public-Private Partnerships in Public Radiotherapy Facilities in Nigeria. JGO. PMID 34351813. 3. Ibraheem AF, Giurcanu M, Sowunmi AC, Awolude O, Habeebu M, Popoola A, Sanni F, Agaga LA, Olopade O, Polite BN. 2020. Formal Assessment of Teamwork Among Cancer Health Care Professionals in Three Large Tertiary Centers in Nigeria. PMID: 32255716. 4. Ibraheem A, Olopade OI, Huo D. 2020. Propensity score analysis of the prognostic value of genomic assays for breast cancer in diverse populations using the National Cancer Data Base. PMID: 32521056. (Additional publications and full CV entries are listed in the original document.) Editorship and Peer Review: Journal of Oncology Practice — Peer Reviewer; Cancer — Peer Reviewer. Professional Community Engagement and Activities: UICC CAB Subgroup Clinical care, Trials and Policy meeting; Community Advisory Board for Breast Cancer, Chicago; Talk show host on clinical trials; Radio show host on breast cancer; ARCC Ethics for community participation; UI Cancer Center Community Advisory Board Member; Illinois State Representative Evans Event — Town Hall Speaker on Clinical Trials Diversity; Outpatient Performance Improvement Council; Fierce Flatiron Webinar; Patient Town Hall Meeting — Ending Disparities; ASSESTS for Cook County Series, Breast Cancer; BEST of ASCO — Nigeria; Eli-Lilly EMBER-4 Diversity Committee. (Information compiled verbatim from the provided CV-style text; all details preserved.)
CLINICAL ONCOLOGIST / ASSISTANT PROFESSOR & RESEARCH DIRECTOR
ACHILLE MANIRAKIZA, M.D.
Dr. Achille Manirakiza is a Clinical Oncologist, Assistant Professor, and Research Director at King Faisal Hospital and the Africa University of Health Sciences in Kigali, Rwanda. His research focuses on cancer genetics, risk assessment, and prevention. He leads the first cancer risk clinic in Rwanda, which investigates hereditary cancer patterns in African populations and provides familial approaches to cancer screening and prevention. Dr. Manirakiza is an active member of oncology and cancer genetics societies both in Africa and internationally.
PROFESSOR OF NURSING / HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
BEATRICE M. OHAERI, Ph.D.
Professor Beatrice M. Ohaeri is a distinguished Professor of Nursing at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, specializing in Oncology Nursing, Psycho-Oncology, Women’s Health, and leadership. She currently serves as Head of Department, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and is Vice President, Nursing, at the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). A passionate advocate for evidence-based cancer care and psychosocial support, she advances oncology nursing education and research across Africa. Her appointment to the Editorial Board of the AORTIC Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR) highlights her leadership and commitment to improving cancer outcomes through nursing and multidisciplinary collaboration.
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL ONCOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
DR. ABBA AJI MALLUM
Dr. Abba Aji Mallum is an Adjunct Professor of Global Oncology and Public Health, Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine and Clinical Oncology at a South African university, and Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban. He holds an MBBS from the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, an MMed and FC Rad Onc from Stellenbosch University and the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, and an MD-PhD in Radiotherapy and Oncology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Mallum serves as Principal and Co-Principal Investigator on several clinical trials. His research focuses on hypofractionated radiotherapy in low- and middle-income countries, with multiple publications in leading oncology journals. Dedicated to capacity building, he mentors oncology trainees and leads initiatives to strengthen cancer care in underserved African regions, advancing oncology education, research, and equitable service delivery.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR / HEAD OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
DR. EVELYN M. JIAGGE
Dr. Evelyn M. Jiagge, MD, Ph.D., is a physician-scientist whose research integrates molecular genetics and cancer biology to address aggressive breast cancers among women of African ancestry. She earned her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from the University of Michigan, her MD in General Surgery, and her BSc in Human Biology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Dr. Jiagge completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center, where she focused on stem cell research. She currently serves as Assistant Professor and Head of the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute in Detroit, and as an Adjunct Research Investigator at the University of Michigan. As Director of Precision Medicine for Aggressive Breast Cancers, she leads an international collaboration with nine African institutions. She has authored over 65 scientific papers and abstracts, including a Cancer Cell publication on tumor sequencing in women of African ancestry.
ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST / CANCER CARE PATHWAYS LEAD
DR. HANNAH SIMBA
Dr. Hannah Simba, PhD, is an Associate Research Scientist in the Chronic Diseases Management Unit at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Nairobi, Kenya. An epidemiologist by training, she leads the Cancer Care Pathways Focus Area and conducts research aimed at improving cancer care for African populations. She holds a PhD in Public Health from Stellenbosch University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Health from the University of Pretoria. Before joining APHRC, Dr. Simba served as a Postdoctoral Scientist at the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), where she specialized in cancer epidemiology. Her outstanding contributions to cancer research have earned her prestigious honors, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Prize and the Margaret McNamara Education Grant. Her research focuses on chronic disease risk, health-seeking behavior, access to care, and health disparities, with a strong commitment to advancing prevention and early detection strategies to improve health outcomes across Africa.
PROFESSOR / PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE PHYSICIAN
PROFESSOR JENNIFER MOODLEY
Professor Jennifer Moodley is a Public Health Medicine Physician at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She brings extensive experience in health systems research, epidemiology, advocacy, and public policy development. Throughout her career, Professor Moodley has played a pivotal role in designing and implementing a wide range of public health programs and policies, as well as conducting health systems research to advance national and provincial health priorities. She has also mentored numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students to develop similar expertise and leadership. Her current research focuses on cancer prevention and improving pathways to cancer diagnosis and care. Deeply committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, she emphasizes translating research into effective policy and practice to strengthen public health systems.
RESEARCH FELLOW IN ONCOLOGY
DR. KHALID EL BAIRI
Dr. Khalid El Bairi (MD) is a research fellow in oncology whose primary focus is ovarian cancer research. His scientific contributions have been published in leading international journals indexed in Web of Science (WoS) and Medline. His research aims to develop and validate affordable biomarkers for gynecological cancers, especially ovarian cancer, in resource-limited settings. Dr. El Bairi is an active member of global scientific organizations, including the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
He is also passionate about mentoring medical and PhD students in evidence-based medicine, clinical research methodology, and research ethics. His academic excellence and leadership have been recognized through several prestigious honors, including his selection as a Young Scientist at the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting and the 2024 IDEA Award from Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation. Dr. El Bairi is committed to advancing global oncology by providing free research training to young investigators in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, he serves as an extended committee member of the ESMO Cancer Medicines Committee, contributing to the global advancement of oncology and equitable access to cancer care.
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH
DR. NDOH
Dr. Ndoh is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington and Co-founder of Hurone AI, a digital health startup that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance cancer prevention, early diagnosis, patient management, and tele-oncology, starting with underserved regions in Rwanda. He also consults for the Ondo State Government in Nigeria on their cancer control program and facilitated the first access agreement for affordable cancer medicines between the Nigerian Government and pharmaceutical companies during his tenure at BIO Ventures for Global Health.
Recognized as a Union for International Cancer Control Young Leader in 2019, Dr. Ndoh is a member of the Technical Working Committee of the WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) and an Affiliate Member of the Vaccines and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. He earned his MD from the University of Jos and an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington. His work spans cancer, cervical cancer, COVID-19, epidemiology, mobile health (mHealth), non-communicable diseases, and research, with affiliations in both Nigeria and Rwanda.
LECTURER, DEPARTMENT OF CHILD HEALTH
LORNA AWO RENNER
Dr. Lorna Awo Renner is a lecturer in the Department of Child Health at the University of Ghana Medical School and Head of the Paediatric Oncology Unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. She serves as President of the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana and is a member of the Ghana National Childhood Cancer Steering Committee. Dr. Renner is the Founding Director of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer, Ghana, and a past Africa Continental President of the International Society for Paediatric Oncology.
She has received multiple awards, including the ASCO Women Who Conquer Cancer International Mentorship Award, the ISPO PODC Nursing Award, and the First Lady’s Excellence Award for Health in Ghana. With over 120 publications, Dr. Renner is a passionate advocate for improving access to quality care for children with cancer, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
CONSULTANT GENERAL SURGEON & INTERVENTIONAL ENDOSCOPIST
DR. MICHAEL MWACHIRO
Dr. Michael Mwachiro is the President of the Surgical Society of Kenya and Chair of the Education and Research Committee for the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). He is a Consultant General Surgeon and Interventional Endoscopist at Avenue HealthCare in Nairobi, Kenya, and Co-Chair of the AORTIC Education and Training Committee.
He is a founding member of the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC) and The AfrECC Foundation, with research interests in surgical education and gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly esophageal cancer. Dr. Mwachiro is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an Associate Member of the ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, a COSECSA Master Trainer, and Director & Endoscopy Training Lead at KIJANI Laparoscopy and Endoscopy for Africa, providing both basic and advanced endoscopy training across the region.
CONSULTANT BREAST SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST & HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCHER
DR. MUTEBI
Dr. Mutebi is a consultant breast surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. A clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher, her work focuses on identifying barriers to cancer care for women in Sub-Saharan Africa and designing interventions to address them.
She is President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), immediate past President of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), and serves on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She co-founded the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons and contributes to the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons, mentoring and advancing leadership for women in surgery.
Dr. Mutebi co-chairs the National Cancer Taskforce in Kenya, chairs the Commonwealth Taskforce for the elimination of cervical cancer, and serves as a commissioner on five Lancet Commissions, including Women, Power and Cancer, Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Breast Cancer. She was the 2024 ASCO Humanitarian Award recipient.
UROLOGIST & PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCHER
DR. MOHAMED JALLOH
Dr. Mohamed Jalloh is a urologist trained in Senegal, currently serving as Consultant Urologist at Hopital General de Grand Yoff, Dakar, and Assistant Professor of Urology at University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar. He specializes in urological cancers, with a research focus on prostate cancer in men of African descent.
Dr. Jalloh co-led an NIH-funded project on prostate cancer with Dr. Serigne Gueye and Dr. Timothy Rebbeck (Harvard University), contributing to the Men of African Descent Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) consortium. Through MADCaP, he is a co-investigator on NIH/NCI-funded grants studying genetic epidemiology of prostate cancer in Africa and training the next generation of cancer researchers.
He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Urologic Oncology at UCSF in 2013 under Dr. Peter R. Carroll and holds an MPH (2015) from University Alioune Diop, Senegal. In 2024, he earned a PhD from University Iba Der Thiam, Senegal, for his research on prostate cancer.
Dr. Jalloh served as Secretary General of the Senegalese Association of Urologists (2022–2026), chaired the local organizing committee of the 14th AORTIC Conference in Dakar (2024), and is currently President-Elect of the Pan African Urological Surgeons’ Association.
MOLECULAR GENETICIST & GENOMIC MEDICINE EXPERT
DR. MOHAMED ZAHIR ALIMOHAMED
Dr. Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed is a molecular geneticist, biomedical scientist, and genetic counseling practitioner committed to advancing genomic medicine in Africa. He holds a BSc in Biotechnology (Manipal University, India), MSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (University of Groningen, Netherlands), a PhD in Medical Genetics (University Medical Center Groningen), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Genetic Counseling (Indian Institute of Medical Genetics).
His research focuses on next-generation sequencing for genetic disease diagnosis (including oncologic, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders), CRISPR-based therapies for Sickle Cell Disease, pharmacogenomics, antimicrobial resistance, and rare disease diagnostics.
Dr. Zahir is a Lecturer and Research Scientist at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, a Research Fellow with the Sickle Cell Programme, and co-founder/Secretary General of the Tanzania Human Genetics Organization. He co-founded the African Genetic Counseling Association, chairs the Young Investigators Forum of AfSHG, and leads training for the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative.
A Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow (2025) and former Glocal Postdoctoral Fellow (UCSF–MUHAS), he advocates for equitable and ethical integration of genomics into African health systems.
MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST & GLOBAL HEALTH LEADER
DR. NAZIK HAMMAD
Dr. Nazik Hammad is a professor of medical oncology at Saint Michael Hospital, Department of Medicine, and the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan, and completed internal medicine and hematology/oncology training at Wayne State University, Detroit. She also holds an M.Sc. in Immunology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Education in the Health Professions from Johns Hopkins University.
Her research and academic interests include breast and gastrointestinal cancers, medical education, workforce development in low- and middle-income countries (particularly sub-Saharan Africa), and competency-based medical education in Canada. She also focuses on value-based cancer care, global inequities in cancer, cancer in conflict zones, and advancing women in healthcare.
Dr. Hammad has led initiatives such as Choosing Wisely Africa, contributed to the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, and serves as commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer. She is co-chair of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario Network for Advancing Black Medical Learners and Faculty Lead for the Toronto Addis Ababa University Collaboration (TAAAC). Her leadership roles include former Program Director of the Medical Oncology Training Program and Director of Global Health at Queen’s University, and past chair of AORTIC committees focused on education, training, and cancer in humanitarian settings.
Dr. Hammad has published extensively on medical education, faculty development, workforce optimization, women and cancer, and cancer in conflict-affected or nomadic populations. She received the ASCO 2025 International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award for her contributions.
PHARMACIST & CANCER RESEARCHER
DR. OMAIMA SALAHEIDIN ALI
Dr. Omaima Salaheidin Ali is a Pharmacist and cancer researcher specializing in molecular pharmacology, biochemistry, and translational oncology. She is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida, focusing on cancer immunoprevention and the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression.
Dr. Ali earned her Ph.D. through a joint program between Purdue University, USA, and Cairo University, Egypt. She has served as a lecturer of Biochemistry at Sinai University and as adjunct faculty in biomedical sciences at Zewail City of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Her research interests include cancer prevention, tumor immunology, and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.
CLINICAL ONCOLOGIST & CANCER RESEARCHER
DR. OMAR ABDIHAMID
Dr. Omar Abdihamid is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Cancer Researcher based in Nairobi, Kenya, serving as the lead oncologist at Garissa Cancer Center, the first radiotherapy facility in Northern Kenya. He is a 2024 Common Sense Oncology Fellow at Queen’s University, Canada, and a Cancer Research Fellow at the Centre for Cancer Care and Epidemiology in Kingston, Canada.
Dr. Abdihamid’s work focuses on advancing cancer care, research, and policy in Africa, emphasizing accessibility, innovation, and culturally informed oncology services. He is a 2023 Africa Cancer Leadership Institute Fellow and, in 2025, was appointed as a founding Editorial Board Member of the AORTIC Journal for Cancer Research (AJCR), a peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC).
PATHOLOGIST & ACADEMIC LEADER
PATRICK KAFUI AKAKPO
Kafui Akakpo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana. A fellow of the West African College of Physicians and a consultant pathologist, he is passionate about modernizing pathology practice in Ghana. Beyond academia, he is cofounder and director of Pathologists Without Borders LTD, the largest histopathology laboratory in Ghana.
Kafui leads key quality improvement projects, including implementing a synoptic reporting system in Ghana. He serves as President of the Society of Laboratory Physicians, Ghana, and Chairman of the Ghana Chapter of the Faculty of Laboratory Medicine, West African College of Physicians. An active academic, he has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and participates extensively in the academic peer review process.
MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST & LEADER
DR. PAULO SALAMANCA
Dr. Paulo Salamanca, born in Luanda, Angola, is a dedicated Medical Oncologist committed to evidence-based practice, compassionate care, and professional excellence. He earned his Medical Degree in 2008 from Coimbra, Portugal, and completed specialist training at the Oncology Portuguese Institute in Porto. During his residency, he trained in Breast and Gynaecologic Cancers at Vall D’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, and completed a post-graduation in Pain Medicine at the University of Porto. He successfully passed the ESMO examination in 2016.
Currently, Dr. Salamanca serves as the Scientific and Educational Director of Cacuaco General Hospital in Angola and is President of the College of Oncology of the Order of Doctors. Within AORTIC, he is Vice-President for the PALOP region and a member of the Research Committee for 2024–2025.
SENIOR RESEARCHER & CERVICAL CANCER SPECIALIST
DR. RAKIYA SAIDU
Dr. Rakiya Saidu is a Senior Research Officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cape Town, leading research on cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings with a focus on HPV-based technologies and implementation science. She also heads the Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, providing screening, colposcopy, and treatment services.
Her academic achievements include a PhD in Gynaecology from the University of Cape Town, an MPH from the University of Liverpool, a Fellowship in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (FMCOG) from the National Postgraduate College of Nigeria, and an MBBS from the University of Maiduguri. Dr. Saidu’s work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2023 Faculty Merit Award from UCT, and her research focuses on HPV diagnostics, screen-and-treat strategies, and automated visual evaluation for cervical cancer.
PROFESSOR OF HUMAN GENETICS
DR. ROKHAYA NDIAYE
Dr. Rokhaya Ndiaye is a Professor of Human Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Odonto-stomatology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal. She completed her pharmacy training at Cheikh Anta Diop University and earned a Master’s and PhD in Human Genetics from Paris 7 University, France. Her research focuses on genetic variation in cancer predisposition, particularly breast, ovarian, and oral cancers, and exploring the genetic diversity of West African populations for personalized medicine.
She is the principal investigator of the SEN-GENOME project, establishing a Senegalese reference genome. Dr. Ndiaye serves as President of the Senegalese Society of Human Genetics (S2GH), is a member of the Executive Committee of the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG), a WHO expert on genomics, and a fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacy. Contact: rokhaya9.ndiaye@ucad.edu.sn
PROFESSOR OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
ROSE IHUOMA ANORLU, MBChB, MPH, MD, FMCOG, FWACS, FRCOG
Professor Rose Ihuoma Anorlu is a distinguished Nigerian obstetrician and gynecologist with extensive experience in gynecologic oncology, focusing on the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. She has served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2015–2018) and Head of the Oncology and Pathological Studies Unit at the University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (2009–2024). She has published widely and mentored numerous resident doctors in gynecologic oncology throughout Nigeria.
Professor Anorlu served as President of AORTIC from 2021 to 2023 and is currently a member of the AORTIC Council (2019–2025). She also serves on the FIGO Committee on Women’s Cancers (2021–2025) and was an IGCS Council Member representing Africa, Europe, and the Middle East (2010–2014).
MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST & HEALTH SYSTEMS LEADER
DR SITNA MWANZI
Dr Sitna Mwanzi is a medical oncologist and health systems leader with over 20 years of clinical experience, including more than a decade focused on transforming oncology care in Kenya and the broader region. As Head of the Cancer Treatment Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital, she leads multidisciplinary teams in delivering comprehensive oncology services while managing strategic planning, budgets, and talent development.
Dr Mwanzi serves as Principal Investigator in international Phase III clinical trials and has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications on real-world cancer outcomes and system barriers in low-resource settings. She is dedicated to advancing equitable cancer care through system design, policy engagement, and outcome-driven innovation.
CANCER GENOMICS SCIENTIST
PROFESSOR SOLOMON ROTIMI
Professor Solomon Rotimi is a cancer genomics scientist with over 15 years of expertise in clinical biochemistry, genomics, and computational drug discovery. He serves as Professor and Head of Biochemistry at Covenant University and Research Coordinator at the World Bank-funded CApIC-ACE. He also co-leads the NIH/NCI-funded Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) and acts as a Visiting Consultant to Nigeria’s National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.
His research addresses the genomic, environmental, and social drivers of cancer disparities among Black populations globally. Professor Rotimi has led over 30 funded projects, including pioneering cancer genomics sequencing in Nigeria, establishing African biorepositories, and identifying BRCA/ATM mutations in Nigerian prostate tumors. He is a recipient of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Fellowship and the AACR African Cancer Researchers Award, advancing precision oncology and equitable cancer care across Africa and the diaspora.
EPIDEMIOLOGIST & CANCER RESEARCH LEADER
PROF. THEMBA G. GININDZA
Prof. Themba G. Ginindza is Director of the Cancer & Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU) and an appointee to the Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Prevention & Control of Cancer. An experienced epidemiologist, he has conducted research across STIs and cancer epidemiology, resulting in over 130 peer-reviewed publications, more than half in Q1 journals, with an h-index of 34. He holds a PhD in Public Health Medicine (Epidemiology) from UKZN, MSc in Epidemiology from LSHTM, and MPH-Epi from the University of Melbourne.
Prof. Ginindza currently serves as Lead PI for the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme (MLCCP) and the Cervical Cancer Prevention, Access and Control (CCPAC) Programme in South Africa. He is Co-PI on multiple projects including the Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment algorithms study (CESTA), the DUAL-SAVE-FGS study for Female Genital Schistosomiasis and cervical cancer, and research on healthcare professionals’ compassion fatigue during COVID-19. His international experience spans Kenya, South Sudan, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Eswatini, the Philippines, and Finland. He also contributes as a member of the UKRI International Development Peer Review College, Global Burden of Disease collaborators, and national guideline writing groups for palliative care and lung cancer screening in South Africa.
CLINICAL ONCOLOGIST & GLOBAL CANCER LEADER
PROF. VERNA VANDERPUYE, MBChB, FWACS, FGCP, FASCO
Prof. Verna Vanderpuye is a distinguished clinical oncologist with over 25 years at the National Centre of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. She is also an adjunct professor in the Global Oncology Program at Queen’s University, Canada, and affiliated with the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences. Her clinical and research interests include breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, sarcoma, and lung cancers. She has held leadership roles at AORTIC, contributed to NCCN Resource-Stratified Guidelines, WHO cancer initiatives, IAEA educational committees, ESMO, ASCO, IASCLC, and has served as commissioner for multiple Lancet Commission publications, including co-chairing the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer.
Prof. Vanderpuye is a mentor to nurses, oncologists, scientists, and allied health professionals across Africa and globally, earning the 2019 ASCO Conquer Cancer Global Mentor Award. She has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications, 14 book chapters, and numerous technical documents focused on delivering cancer care in LMICs. She is an invited speaker at regional and international conferences, serves on editorial boards, and co-leads multiple international research and training grants in Africa. Outside of medicine, she enjoys music, dancing, low-key fashion, gardening, and financial counseling.
ADVANCED PHARMACY TECHNICIAN & HEALTHCARE RESEARCHER
WISSAM NOUR
Wissam Nour is an Advanced Pharmacy Technician and healthcare researcher dedicated to improving medication access and outcomes for underserved populations. He leads initiatives at Cityblock Health to streamline prior authorizations, optimize Medicaid formulary use, and expand access to oncology and chronic-care therapies, integrating clinical insight with data-driven process design.
Beyond clinical practice, Wissam contributes to health-equity and cancer-care research, focusing on digital health, evidence translation, and the intersection of technology, health policy, and community-based medicine. His work emphasizes precision oncology and the democratization of care across the Global South. Wissam brings a strong commitment to rigor, equity, and collaboration to his role on the AJCR Editorial Board.
MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST & GLOBAL HEALTH SCHOLAR
DR. YEHODA MARTEI
Dr. Yehoda Martei is a medical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Hematology-Oncology Division at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a global health scholar at Penn’s Center for Global Health and a Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, as well as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Botswana. Her research focuses on improving access to cancer medicines and developing implementation strategies to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings.
Dr. Martei has served in advisory roles for the Union for International Cancer Control, the World Health Organization, and the Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition. She earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and her medical degree at Yale University, completed Internal Medicine training at UCSF, and a Hematology-Oncology fellowship along with a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology.
CANCER GENOMICS & PRECISION MEDICINE EXPERT
YOSR HAMDI, PHD
Yosr Hamdi is a biologist and researcher at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, specializing in cancer genomics and precision medicine. Her expertise in human genomics has been recognized through her appointment to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Genomics. She contributes to key advisory and policy-making bodies, including the European Union–African Union Cooperation in Health, the African Union–Africa CDC Human Genomics Expert Group, the MENA-NCCN Expert Committee, H3Africa & H3ABioNET, AORTIC, and is a founding member of the Tunisian Society of Human Genomics. She is also a member of the Lancet Oncology Cancer Genomics Commission and the Lancet Commission on Precision Medicine.
Dr. Hamdi began her career in human genetics in 2004 with the Human Genome Project at Laval University, Canada, earning a Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a PhD in Molecular Medicine from the University Hospital Research Center of Laval. She currently leads the Genome Tunisia Collaborative Alliance (GTCA) and the PerMediNA Consortium, driving research on cancer genomics and implementing genomic medicine and precision oncology in North Africa.
