Dr. Christian Ntizimira is the Founder and Executive Director of the African Center for Research on End-of-Life Care (ACREOL), a nonprofit advancing culturally grounded, equitable end-of-life care in Africa through an “Ubuntu” framework. A Fulbright alumnus and a graduate of Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, he received the 2021 Tällberg–SNF–Eliasson Global Leadership Prize for his palliative care advocacy in Rwanda and across the continent. He is recognized for pioneering the integration of palliative and end-of-life care into Rwanda’s cancer and community health services, grounded in the view that dignified end-of-life care is a fundamental human right.

Abiola Ibraheem, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UI Health / the University of Illinois at Chicago (since 2021), with prior faculty experience at the University of Chicago and additional training in clinical medical ethics. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology, and her work centers on breast oncology with a strong emphasis on clinical trials, trial diversity, ethics, and global oncology partnerships. She holds extensive leadership and service roles across major oncology organizations (including AORTIC, ASCO, ESMO, and UICC), serves on multiple protocol review and outreach committees, and has received recognition for teaching and global health contributions. She has led and contributed to numerous multi-site trials and has a publication record spanning breast cancer research, health systems and teamwork in oncology, and evidence-building efforts linked to Nigeria.

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 work centers on cancer genetics, hereditary risk assessment, and prevention, with a focus on identifying inherited cancer patterns in African populations. He leads Rwanda’s first cancer risk clinic, which pairs genetic and family-history evaluation with practical, family-based strategies for screening and prevention. He is active in oncology and cancer genetics professional societies in Africa and internationally.

Professor Beatrice M. Ohaeri is a Professor of Nursing at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with expertise in oncology nursing, psycho-oncology, women’s health, and clinical leadership. She serves as Head of the Medical-Surgical Nursing department and is Vice President (Nursing) of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Her work emphasizes evidence-based cancer care and strong psychosocial support, with a focus on strengthening oncology nursing education and research across Africa. She also serves on the Editorial Board of the AORTIC Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR), reflecting her commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration and improving cancer outcomes.

Dr. Abba Aji Mallum is a radiation oncologist and global oncology faculty member based in South Africa, serving as an Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine and Clinical Oncology and as a Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban. He trained in Nigeria and South Africa and completed advanced doctoral work in radiotherapy and oncology, with additional research fellowship experience at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on multiple clinical trials, and his research focuses on hypofractionated radiotherapy strategies suited to low- and middle-income settings. Alongside his publication record, he is strongly focused on capacity building, mentoring oncology trainees and leading efforts to expand high-quality, equitable cancer care in underserved regions across Africa.

Dr. Evelyn M. Jiagge is a physician-scientist focused on aggressive breast cancers in women of African ancestry, combining molecular genetics and cancer biology to advance precision medicine. She earned a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from the University of Michigan, completed medical training in general surgery, and holds a BSc in Human Biology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, with postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Head of the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute in Detroit and an Adjunct Research Investigator at the University of Michigan. In her role as Director of Precision Medicine for Aggressive Breast Cancers, she leads a collaboration spanning nine African institutions and has published more than 65 papers and abstracts, including a Cancer Cell study on tumor sequencing in women of African ancestry.

Dr. Hannah Simba is an epidemiologist and Associate Research Scientist in the Chronic Diseases Management Unit at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Nairobi, Kenya, where she leads the Cancer Care Pathways focus area. Her work examines how people move through cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment systems, with emphasis on health-seeking behavior, access to care, and disparities affecting African populations. She holds a PhD in Public Health from Stellenbosch University and a Master’s in Environmental Health from the University of Pretoria, and previously trained as a postdoctoral scientist at the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in cancer epidemiology. She has been recognized with major awards, including the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Prize and the Margaret McNamara Education Grant, and her research prioritizes practical strategies for prevention and early detection across Africa.

Professor Jennifer Moodley is a Public Health Medicine Physician at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, with deep experience in health systems research, epidemiology, advocacy, and public policy. Her work has included designing and implementing public health programs and policies aligned with national and provincial priorities, alongside research aimed at strengthening how health systems function in practice. She is also an experienced mentor to undergraduate and postgraduate trainees, helping develop future public health leaders. Her current research focuses on cancer prevention and improving pathways to timely cancer diagnosis and care, with an emphasis on turning research findings into actionable policy and system improvements.

Dr. Khalid El Bairi is an oncology research fellow focused on ovarian cancer, with publications in internationally indexed journals (Web of Science and Medline). His research aims to develop and validate affordable biomarkers for gynecologic cancers, particularly ovarian cancer, designed for use in resource-limited settings. He is active in major professional organizations including ESMO, AORTIC, and ASCO, and is also committed to mentoring medical and PhD trainees in evidence-based medicine, clinical research methods, and research ethics. His work has been recognized through honors such as selection as a Young Scientist at the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting and the 2024 Conquer Cancer (ASCO Foundation) IDEA Award. He also supports capacity building in low- and middle-income countries through free research training initiatives and serves as an extended committee member of the ESMO Cancer Medicines Committee, contributing to efforts to improve equitable access to cancer medicines.

Dr. Kingsley I. Ndoh is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington and a co-founder of Hurone AI, a digital health startup using AI to support cancer prevention, early diagnosis, patient management, and tele-oncology, with an initial focus on underserved regions in Rwanda. He also advises the Ondo State Government in Nigeria on cancer control and previously helped facilitate Nigeria’s first access agreement for affordable cancer medicines with pharmaceutical companies while at BIO Ventures for Global Health. He was named a Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Young Leader in 2019, serves on the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative technical working committee, and is an affiliate member of the Fred Hutch Cancer Center’s Vaccines and Infectious Disease Division. He earned his MD from the University of Jos and an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington, and his work spans cancer control, cervical cancer, epidemiology, mHealth, and related public health priorities across Nigeria and Rwanda.

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 in Accra. She leads and advises major childhood cancer efforts in Ghana as President of the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana and a member of the Ghana National Childhood Cancer Steering Committee, and she founded Lifeline for Childhood Cancer, Ghana. Internationally, she has served as Africa Continental President of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology and is widely recognized for advancing access to quality pediatric cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. Her contributions have been honored with multiple awards, and she has authored more than 120 publications supporting advocacy, clinical care improvement, and systems strengthening for children with cancer.

Dr. Michael Mwachiro is a Kenyan surgeon and interventional endoscopist based in Nairobi, serving as a Consultant General Surgeon at Avenue HealthCare. He is President of the Surgical Society of Kenya and chairs the Education and Research Committee of COSECSA, reflecting a strong focus on surgical training and workforce development across East, Central, and Southern Africa. He also co-chairs AORTIC’s Education and Training Committee and is a founding member of the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC) and its foundation. His clinical and research interests center on gastrointestinal malignancies, especially esophageal cancer, and on strengthening surgical education. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a COSECSA Master Trainer, and leads regional endoscopy capacity building as Director and Endoscopy Training Lead at KIJANI Laparoscopy and Endoscopy for Africa.

Dr. Miriam Mutebi is a consultant breast surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Trained as a clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher, she focuses on understanding why women in Sub-Saharan Africa face delays and barriers in cancer care and on designing practical interventions to close those gaps. She serves as President of AORTIC, is the immediate past President of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), and sits on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is also a leader in women’s surgical mentorship and advocacy, including co-founding the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons. In national and global policy work, she co-chairs Kenya’s National Cancer Taskforce, chairs the Commonwealth taskforce to eliminate cervical cancer, and serves on multiple Lancet Commissions (including Women, Power and Cancer; Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa; and Breast Cancer). She received the 2024 ASCO Humanitarian Award for her impact on cancer care and equity.

Dr. Mohamed Jalloh is a Senegal-based urologist and academic leader, serving as Consultant Urologist at Hôpital Général de Grand Yoff in Dakar and Assistant Professor of Urology at Cheikh Anta Diop University. He specializes in urologic cancers, with research centered on prostate cancer in men of African descent, particularly the genetic and epidemiologic factors shaping risk and outcomes across African populations. He is a co-investigator in the Men of African Descent Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) consortium and has contributed to NIH/NCI-supported work that combines prostate cancer research with capacity building and training for emerging investigators. His training includes a postdoctoral fellowship in urologic oncology at UCSF (2013) and advanced public health and doctoral research credentials (MPH in 2015; PhD in 2024) focused on prostate cancer. He also holds major leadership roles in the field, including Secretary General of the Senegalese Association of Urologists (2022–2026), Chair of the local organizing committee for AORTIC 2024 in Dakar, and President-Elect of the Pan African Urological Surgeons’ Association.

Dr. Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed is a molecular geneticist, biomedical scientist, and genetic counseling practitioner focused on expanding equitable genomic medicine across Africa. He has multidisciplinary training spanning biotechnology, molecular biology, medical genetics, and genetic counseling, with academic degrees from institutions in India and the Netherlands. His research includes next-generation sequencing for diagnosing genetic diseases across oncology, cardiovascular, and neurologic conditions, as well as pharmacogenomics, antimicrobial resistance, rare disease diagnostics, and CRISPR-based therapeutic approaches for sickle cell disease. Based at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), he serves as a Lecturer and Research Scientist and is affiliated with the Sickle Cell Programme. He has also helped build regional genomics capacity through leadership and co-founding roles, including Secretary General of the Tanzania Human Genetics Organization and founding roles in the African Genetic Counseling Association, while leading training initiatives through global genomics collaborations. Recognized as a Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow (2025) and a former UCSF–MUHAS Glocal Postdoctoral Fellow, he advocates for ethical, practical integration of genomics into African health systems.

Dr. Nazik Hammad is a professor of medical oncology at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto, with clinical and research expertise in breast and gastrointestinal cancers and a major focus on global oncology and medical education. Trained in Sudan and the United States, she also holds graduate degrees in immunology (University of Toronto) and health professions education (Johns Hopkins), reflecting her long-standing commitment to workforce development and competency-based training. Her work spans value-based cancer care, cancer inequities in low- and middle-income countries, cancer care in conflict and humanitarian settings, and advancing women in healthcare. She has led and advised high-impact initiatives including Choosing Wisely Africa, served on major Lancet Commissions (Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa; Women, Power, and Cancer), and holds leadership roles supporting Black medical learners and international academic partnerships (including the Toronto Addis Ababa University Collaboration). She has published widely across oncology and education, and she received the ASCO 2025 International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award in recognition of her mentorship and leadership.

Dr. Omaima Salaheidin Ali is a pharmacist and translational cancer researcher with expertise in molecular pharmacology and biochemistry. She is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Florida, where her work focuses on cancer immunoprevention and the molecular mechanisms that drive tumor development and progression. She earned her Ph.D. through a joint program between Purdue University and Cairo University and has held academic teaching roles as a Biochemistry lecturer at Sinai University and adjunct faculty in biomedical sciences at Zewail City of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Her research interests center on cancer prevention, tumor immunology, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Omar Abdihamid is a consultant clinical oncologist and cancer researcher based in Kenya, serving as the lead oncologist at Garissa Cancer Center, the first radiotherapy facility in Northern Kenya. His work focuses on strengthening cancer care, research, and policy across Africa, with an emphasis on improving access, supporting innovation, and delivering culturally informed oncology services. 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, and he was a 2023 Africa Cancer Leadership Institute Fellow. In 2025, he was appointed a founding Editorial Board Member of the AORTIC Journal of Cancer Research (AJCR), supporting the growth of rigorous, open-access cancer scholarship in Africa.

Patrick Kafui Akakpo is an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana and a consultant pathologist and Fellow of the West African College of Physicians. He is focused on strengthening and modernizing pathology practice in Ghana, combining academic leadership with hands-on service development. He co-founded and directs Pathologists Without Borders LTD, described as the country’s largest histopathology laboratory, and leads quality improvement initiatives including the implementation of synoptic pathology reporting. He also holds national professional leadership roles as President of the Society of Laboratory Physicians, Ghana, and Chair of the Ghana Chapter of the Faculty of Laboratory Medicine (WACP), alongside ongoing contributions to peer-reviewed research and scientific review.

Dr. Paulo Salamanca is an Angolan medical oncologist from Luanda with a strong focus on evidence-based practice, compassionate patient care, and oncology education. He earned his medical degree in Coimbra, Portugal (2008), completed specialist oncology training at the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto, and expanded his clinical expertise through training in breast and gynecologic cancers at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. He also completed postgraduate training in pain medicine at the University of Porto and passed the ESMO examination in 2016. In Angola, he serves as Scientific and Educational Director at Cacuaco General Hospital and is President of the College of Oncology within the Order of Doctors. Regionally, he supports oncology capacity building through AORTIC as Vice-President for the PALOP region and as a member of the AORTIC Research Committee (2024–2025).

Dr. Rakiya Saidu is a Senior Research Officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cape Town, where she leads research to improve cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings. Her work focuses on HPV-based screening technologies and implementation science, translating evidence into practical screening models. She also leads the Khayelitsha Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, overseeing service delivery that includes screening, colposcopy, and treatment. Her training spans clinical and public health expertise, with a PhD in Gynaecology (UCT), an MPH (University of Liverpool), an FMCOG (National Postgraduate College of Nigeria), and an MBBS (University of Maiduguri). Her contributions have been recognized with honors including UCT’s 2023 Faculty Merit Award, and her research emphasizes HPV diagnostics, screen-and-treat strategies, and automated visual evaluation for cervical cancer.

Dr. Rokhaya Ndiaye is a Professor of Human Genetics at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Senegal, with training in pharmacy and advanced degrees in human genetics from Paris 7 University in France. Her research examines genetic variation in cancer predisposition, with particular focus on breast, ovarian, and oral cancers, and on leveraging West African genetic diversity to support more precise, locally relevant approaches to prevention and care. She leads the SEN-GENOME project, which is building a Senegalese reference genome to strengthen genomic research and clinical translation. Dr. Ndiaye also holds key leadership roles in the field as President of the Senegalese Society of Human Genetics, an executive committee member of the African Society of Human Genetics, and a WHO genomics expert.

Professor Rose Ihuoma Anorlu is a Nigerian obstetrician-gynecologist and gynecologic oncology leader whose work centers on cervical cancer prevention and treatment in Africa and other low- and middle-income settings. At the University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, she served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2015–2018) and led the Oncology and Pathological Studies Unit (2009–2024), combining clinical leadership with training and mentorship of resident doctors in gynecologic oncology across Nigeria. She has published extensively and contributed to regional capacity building in women’s cancers. Internationally, she served as President of AORTIC (2021–2023) and continues as an AORTIC Council member (2019–2025), with additional service on the FIGO Committee on Women’s Cancers (2021–2025) and prior representation on the IGCS Council for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East (2010–2014).

Dr. Sitna Mwanzi is a medical oncologist and health systems leader with more than 20 years of clinical experience and a long track record of strengthening oncology services in Kenya and the region. As Head of the Cancer Treatment Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital, she leads multidisciplinary teams providing comprehensive cancer care while also overseeing operational strategy, budgeting, and workforce development. She serves as a Principal Investigator on international Phase III clinical trials and has published on real-world cancer outcomes and the structural barriers that limit care in resource-constrained settings. Her work focuses on building more equitable cancer systems through service redesign, policy engagement, and outcomes-driven innovation.

Professor Solomon Rotimi is a cancer genomics scientist with 15+ years of experience spanning clinical biochemistry, genomics, and computational drug discovery. He is Professor and Head of Biochemistry at Covenant University and serves as Research Coordinator for the World Bank-funded CApIC-ACE, while also co-leading the NIH/NCI-funded Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) and advising Nigeria’s National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment as a visiting consultant. His research targets the genomic, environmental, and social drivers of cancer disparities affecting Black populations worldwide. He has led more than 30 funded projects, including early large-scale cancer sequencing efforts in Nigeria, the development of African biorepositories, and work identifying BRCA and ATM mutations in Nigerian prostate tumors. He is a Fulbright Visiting Scholar and recipient of the AACR African Cancer Researchers Award, and his work advances precision oncology and more equitable cancer care across Africa and the diaspora.

Prof. Themba G. Ginindza is an epidemiologist and Director of the Cancer & Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU), and he serves on South Africa’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Prevention and Control of Cancer. His work spans cancer and infectious disease epidemiology, with more than 130 peer-reviewed publications and extensive experience designing and leading multi-country research programs. He holds advanced training in epidemiology and public health medicine, including a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, an MSc from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and an MPH (Epidemiology) from the University of Melbourne. He is Lead Principal Investigator for major South African initiatives in lung cancer control and cervical cancer prevention and is Co-PI on projects addressing cervical screening algorithms, the intersection of female genital schistosomiasis and cervical cancer, and health workforce impacts such as compassion fatigue during COVID-19. His collaborations span multiple countries in Africa and beyond, and he contributes to peer review, global burden of disease work, and national guideline development, including palliative care and lung cancer screening.

Prof. Verna Vanderpuye is a Ghana-based clinical oncologist and global oncology leader with over 25 years of service at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s National Centre of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Nuclear Medicine in Accra. She is affiliated with the University of Ghana College of Health Sciences and serves as an adjunct professor in the Global Oncology Program at Queen’s University (Canada). Her clinical and research interests span multiple solid tumors, including breast, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, sarcoma, and lung cancers, with a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality care in low- and middle-income settings. She has held major leadership roles within AORTIC and has contributed to wide-ranging international guideline and policy efforts, including NCCN resource-stratified guidelines, WHO cancer initiatives, IAEA education work, and professional societies such as ESMO and ASCO, as well as serving on several Lancet Commissions and co-chairing the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer. A highly active mentor and capacity builder, she received the 2019 ASCO Conquer Cancer Global Mentor Award and has authored 120+ peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and technical guidance documents supporting cancer care and training across Africa.

Wissam Nour is an Advanced Pharmacy Technician and healthcare researcher focused on improving medication access and outcomes for underserved communities. At Cityblock Health, he leads work to streamline prior authorization processes, optimize Medicaid formulary use, and reduce barriers to oncology and chronic-care therapies by combining frontline clinical expertise with data-driven workflow design. His broader interests sit at the intersection of digital health, evidence translation, and health policy, with a focus on practical approaches that support equitable cancer care and expand access in the Global South. He brings an equity- and rigor-centered perspective to his role on the AJCR Editorial Board.

Dr. Yehoda Martei is a medical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Hematology-Oncology Division at the University of Pennsylvania, with additional roles as a global health scholar at Penn’s Center for Global Health, a Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Botswana. Her research focuses on improving access to cancer medicines and building implementation strategies that reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes, especially in low-resource settings. She has advised major global health and cancer organizations, including the Union for International Cancer Control, the World Health Organization, and the Access to Oncology Medicines Coalition. Her training includes undergraduate study at Harvard, medical school at Yale, internal medicine residency at UCSF, and hematology-oncology fellowship training alongside a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology.

Dr. Yosr Hamdi is a cancer genomics and precision medicine researcher at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, working to advance genomic medicine and precision oncology in North Africa. Her expertise in human genomics is reflected in her appointment to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Genomics and her participation in major regional and international advisory bodies, including EU–AU health cooperation initiatives, the Africa CDC human genomics expert group, MENA-NCCN expert activities, H3Africa/H3ABioNET, and AORTIC; she is also a founding member of the Tunisian Society of Human Genomics. She serves on the Lancet Oncology Cancer Genomics Commission and the Lancet Commission on Precision Medicine, linking research to policy and implementation. Dr. Hamdi began her career in 2004 with Human Genome Project work at Laval University in Canada and later earned a Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine through Laval’s university hospital research center. She now leads the Genome Tunisia Collaborative Alliance (GTCA) and the PerMediNA Consortium, coordinating research and infrastructure to expand precision oncology across the region.