Speakers
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Prof Andreas Hochhaus
Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Head of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. -
Austin G Kulasekararaj
Consultant Haematologist, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London, London, UK -
Prof. Christian Buske
Medical Director, Institute of Experimental Cancer Research -
Dr Andrew Davies
Professor of Haematological Oncology in the Cancer Sciences Unit in the Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK -
Prof María Victoria Mateos
Consultant Physician Haematology Department, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain -
Dr Theo Gerdener
ACT Pretoria East Haematology Centre -
Dr Justin Du Toit
Clinical Haematologist/Oncologist at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (Pty) Limited -
Prof Johnny Mahlangu
Professor of Haematology and Academic Head of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service -
Prof Jessica Opie
Head of Haematology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). -
Dr Karin van den Berg
Medical Director of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) -
Dr Leana Maree
Clinical Virologist, Lancet Laboratories -
Dr Cecile Du Toit
Consultant in Clinical Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT, Honorary Senior Lecturer UCT -
Dr Jonathan Oxley Oxland
Internal medicine specialist and fellow in clinical haematology -
Dr Jackie Thomson
Clinical Haematologist, Dr Jackie Thomson Inc -
Dr Romana Jassat
Clinical Haematology Fellow at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH)

Prof Andreas Hochhaus
Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany, Head of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Professor Andreas Hochhaus is Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany in Jena/Leipzig and Head of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology and at Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. He was awarded the Endowed Professorship for Leukemia Research from the German José Carreras Leukemia Foundation in 2007 and the John Goldman award by the International CML Foundation in 2022. He has been interested in treatment optimization of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and has been involved in the management of randomized CML studies of the German CML Study Group for more than 30 years. As chair of the German CML Alliance his focus is to enhance access to clinical trials for all patients. Professor Hochhaus’ special interests are the molecular monitoring of minimal residual disease and mechanisms of resistance in CML. He is a member of the European Hematology Association (EHA), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and current president of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Professor Hochhaus has published over 680 peer reviewed papers and is regularly invited to speak at national and international symposia.

Austin G Kulasekararaj
Consultant Haematologist, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London, London, UK
Consultant Haematologist, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London, London, UK
Clinical Interests: Aplastic anaemia (AA) and bone marrow failure syndromes, PNH, MDS and myeloid malignancies. Leads the King’s National Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria service and National AA referral centre @ King’s.
Translational Research: Molecular/immunological pathogenesis of MDS and aplastic anaemia, particular focus on overlap disorders. Bloodwise foundation and British Society of Haematology (BSH) senior clinical research fellow.
Clinical Trials: Passionate about delivery of clinical trials. Current National/Global Coordinating Investigator for a number of early/late phase clinical trials. Current drive is to bring novel therapies for PNH, AA, TP53 mutated myeloid neoplasms and improvement of thrombocytopenia.
Scienticific advisor for patient advocacy group (MDS UK) and member of the MDS NCRN working group. Member of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and Secretary of the EBMT Severe Aplastic Anaemia Working Party. Member of ASH Scientific Committee on Bone Marrow Failure.
Authored/co-authored over 180 articles in peer-reviwed journals and has contributed to book chapters in major textbooks.

Prof. Christian Buske
Medical Director, Institute of Experimental Cancer Research
Christian Buske, MD, is the medical director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm and the Institute for Experimental Cancer Research at the University Hospital of Ulm, Germany. He is an attending physician and a professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology/Oncology at the University Hospital of Ulm.
Clinical focus and interest:
Professor Buske is primarily interested in indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In particular, his clinical interests include chronic lymphocytic leukemia, follicular lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and Marginal Zone Lymphoma. Professor Buske is the principal investigator of several national and international. In addition, he leads a large translational research group that focuses on the biology of hematologic neoplasms.
Experience:
Professor Buske qualified as a medical doctor in 1992 after studying at the WWU Münster and completed his thesis in medicine (hematology/oncology) in 1993. He has been a professor of internal medicine at LMU München since 2008, and has been the director of the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research and an attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine III at the University Hospital of Ulm since 2009.
Affiliations:
Since 2013, Professor Buske has been a subject editor of the ESMO Guidelines Committee for hematologic neoplasms, and he is also a member of the ESMO Haematologic Malignancy Faculty Group. He holds further memberships with ASH, ISEH, EHA, KML, DGHO, and DGIM, and is also the president of the German Lymphoma Alliance.

Dr Andrew Davies
Professor of Haematological Oncology in the Cancer Sciences Unit in the Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
Andrew Davies, BSc, BM, FRCP, PhD, is Professor of Haematological Oncology in the Cancer Sciences Unit in the Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK. He completed his training in Medical Oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, UK, and as a Cancer Research UK clinical fellow he undertook a PhD examining the molecular mechanisms underlying transformation of follicular lymphoma to more aggressive histological sub-types.
Professor Davies specialises in the treatment of malignant lymphoma and the use of high-dose chemotherapy. He has a particular interest in the investigation of monoclonal antibody-containing therapies applied to lymphoma and also in the translation of biomarkers and novel therapies to the clinical arena. He has extensive experience in early phase trials, including leading several first-in-man lymphoma studies.
He is the past Chair of the UK National Cancer Research Institute High Grade Lymphoma Study Group and Director of Cancer Research UK/National Institute of Health Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. He is also the Wessex Regional Lead for Cancers in Teenagers and Young Adults.
Positions of responsibility:
Professor of Haematological Oncology
Consultant in Medical Oncology

Prof María Victoria Mateos
Consultant Physician Haematology Department, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain
Info to follow

Dr Theo Gerdener
ACT Pretoria East Haematology Centre
Theo Gerdener was born on 25 November 1978 in Pretoria, South Africa and grew up in the city.
He completed his specialization in Haematopathology at the University of Cape Town and followed this with subspeciality training in Clinical Haematology at the same institution.
Theo decided to return to Pretoria in 2013 to join the fast-growing stem cell transplant unit at ACT, where he was appointed as processing facility medical director in addition to performing duties as a clinical haematologist and transplant physician, and managing the clinical diagnostic laboratory.
He is currently still performing duties as processing facility medical director in the JACIE-accredited facility, as well as serving as medical director of the DKMS stem cell registry in South Africa. The diagnostic laboratory he manages currently performs a range of tests designed to benefit transplant patients, including immunophenotyping, next generation sequencing, FISH and karyotyping, next generation sequencing and chimerism monitoring and measurable residual disease detection.
In his spare time he enjoys reading , darkroom photography and traveling.

Dr Justin Du Toit
Clinical Haematologist/Oncologist at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (Pty) Limited
Justin du Toit was awarded the MBChB degree from the University of Pretoria in 2005. He enrolled for post – graduate studies in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town and qualified as a Specialist Physician in 2013. He obtained a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree of Science in the field of Infection and Immunology at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for a period of two years. During that time he completed two internships in the Viroscience laboratory studying interactions between viruses and the human immune system.
In 2015 he returned to South Africa to further his studies in the field of Clinical Haematology at the University of Cape Town. He graduated as a Clinical Haematologist in 2018 and received the Mabashan prize that same year for the best student in Clinical Haematology. He is currently pursuing a PhD.
Dr du Toit established his private practice at the Wits Donald Gordon Cellular + Immunotherapy Centre in 2019. He is currently the Bone Marrow Collection Director and Bone Marrow Transplant Physician at the Wits Donald Gordon Cellular + Immunotherapy Centre which is currently in the process of obtaining JACIE accreditation. He is has a keen interest in bone marrow and stemcell transplantation and believes in offering the best possible care to his patients and always going the extra mile.
Dr du Toit is passionate about teaching and education and have established the first online education platform for senior registrars and physicians who has an interest in bone marrow transplantation. He is also a member of the European Bone Marrow Transplant Training committee and an executive member of the South African Stemcell Transplant Society.
He enjoys running, cycling, and travelling

Prof Johnny Mahlangu
Professor of Haematology and Academic Head of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service
Johnny Mahlangu is a Professor of Haematology and Academic Head of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service. He is also a Consultant Clinical Haematologist at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Johnny received his undergraduate and postgraduate training in science and medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand with haematology specialist and clinical haematology sub-specialist qualifications through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. His main area of research is novel therapies in bleeding disorders, in which he has served as Principal Investigator for a large number of international multicentre studies. He has published many peer review journal articles in high impact journals including the NEJM, Lancet, Blood and JTH. He has presented more than 500 oral talks and posters abstracts at national and international scientific meetings. His academic citizenship includes membership of many national and international Scientific Committees.

Prof Jessica Opie
Head of Haematology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).
MBChB Hons (UCT) MRCP (UK) FRCPA (Haem), is Head of Haematology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).
She has almost 20 years’ experience in the academic haematology laboratory at NHLS, Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT with broad expertise and research interests including haematological complications of HIV, HIV-associated lymphomas, and the improved diagnosis of iron deficiency. She is a passionate teacher and trains registrars in Haematology Pathology, Clinical Haematology and Clinical Pathology. She is an examiner, convener, and moderator for the College of Medicine of South Africa (Pathology). She has successfully supervised 7 Master of Medicine registrar projects, three with distinction, and has 35 peer reviewed publications, most in international journals.
She has delivered plenary lectures at international haematology congresses and in 2023, was honoured to be appointed to the Board of the International Society of Laboratory Haematology. She strives to lead her dynamic and dedicated team of pathologists, registrars, scientists and students to deliver a high-quality haematology diagnostic service and perform clinically relevant research, whilst simultaneously teaching and training to a high standard.

Dr Karin van den Berg
Medical Director of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS)
Karin is the Medical Director of the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), serves on the Board of the South African Bone Marrow Registry and is an affiliated lecturer at the University of the Free State. Previously, she was the Lead Consultant for Translational Research for SANBS where she was responsible for research development and management. She is a medical doctor, holds a Master’s in Transfusion Medicine, is on the steering committee of the Global Transfusion Forum, co-author of the Model Framework for Global Transfusion Medicine Education and member of several of the International Society for Blood Transfusion and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Working Parties. Her main research focus area is the intersection of the HIV epidemic and blood donation in South Africa, which is also the focus of her PhD.

Dr Leana Maree
Clinical Virologist, Lancet Laboratories
MBBCh, MMed, FCPath, Cert Clin Haem
Dr Leana Maree is a clinical virologist with Lancet Laboratories. Originally from Pretoria, she obtained her bachelor degree in medicine and surgery (MBChB) from the University of Pretoria. After internship and community service she started her post-graduate training in virology. She obtained her MMed (Virol Path) cum laude at the University of Stellenbosch, with special interest in viral lower respiratory tract infections in children. During her post-graduate training period she also obtained a diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene (DTM&H) from the University of the Witwatersrand. For 18 months she was the only clinical virologist in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, before she joined Lancet Laboratories in 2015.

Dr Cecile Du Toit
Consultant in Clinical Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT, Honorary Senior Lecturer UCT
Undergraduate training in Medicine and post graduate training in Internal Medicine and Haematology – University of the Free State
Consultant in Clinical Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT from 1996 to retiremnt in November 2023.
Honorary senior lecture UCT from 2024
Main interest stem cell transplantation and Myeloma

Dr Jonathan Oxley Oxland
Internal medicine specialist and fellow in clinical haematology
Jonathan Oxley Oxland completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Cape Town after which he completed his internship and community service at the Port Elizabeth hospital complex. Jonathan then went on to complete his FCP (SA) and MMed in 2021. He was awarded the Discovery Rewards Foundation – Rural Individual Fellowship for his work on the scope and resource burden of severe theophylline toxicity. He has recently completed his tenure as a fellow in Clinical Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Outside of work, Jonathan is a grateful father, husband and supporter of the Springboks!

Dr Jackie Thomson
Clinical Haematologist, Dr Jackie Thomson Inc
Info to follow

Dr Romana Jassat
Clinical Haematology Fellow at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH)
Dr Romana Jassat completed her undergraduate studies at the University of the Natal and thereafter her registrar training and Masters in Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand. She subsequently qualified as a Specialist Physician in 2021. She is currently a Clinical Haematology Fellow at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in Soweto, Johannesburg.