PRETORIA – Professor Zodwa Dlamini, Founding Director of the University of Pretoria (UP) Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), has been appointed a Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow’s School of Cancer Sciences based in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, effective from June 2025.

Prof Dlamini is also the Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU) and holds the DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention (POCP). 

This prestigious new appointment, conferred by the University Court (Council) of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, recognises Prof Dlamini’s outstanding contributions to cancer research, and her leadership in the field. As Visiting Professor, she will play a vital role in contributing to the university’s academic mission through lectures, seminars, mentorship and collaborative research initiatives.

“I am deeply honoured by this recognition from the University of Glasgow,” Prof Dlamini said. “This appointment is both humbling and inspiring, and it affirms the importance of collaborative, cross-continental research in transforming cancer care. I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the University of Glasgow’s academic and research endeavours, while also fostering stronger ties between African and UK cancer research communities.”

World-changing research work

In 2024, Prof Dlamini was part of a team selected to receive a Cancer Grand Challenges award of up to $25m over five years to tackle cancer inequities. Cancer Grand Challenges is a global funding platform, co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the US, that supports a community of diverse, global teams to come together, think differently and take on some of cancer’s toughest challenges.

The funded project is titled ‘Societal, Ancestry, Molecular and Biological Analyses of Inequalities’ (SAMBAI). The team consists of clinicians, advocates and scientists with expertise in computational biology, epidemiology, exposomics, genomics and immunology, across 15 institutions and 4 countries. The project aims to create a comprehensive biobank and data repository to study cancer disparities, especially among populations of African descent. It will examine how societal, environmental, genetic, and immunological factors contribute to cancer outcomes, focusing on prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancers which are more aggressive and have a higher incidence of early onset in Black populations. The project was set to be conducted from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029 across various locations, including UP, with collaborations in the US, Africa and the UK.

“I am excited and humbled by the opportunity to make a real difference in global cancer disparities with Team SAMBAI,” Prof Dlamini said at the time. “This award is not just a milestone, but a testament to our dedication and the urgency of our cause.”

Also in 2024, at the South African Women in Science Awards hosted by the national Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), Prof Dlamini won the Distinguished Woman Scientist Award in the Natural and Engineering Sciences category.

Reflection of UP excellence

Professor Flavia Senkubuge, Dean of UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences, applauded the appointment. 

“This recognition not only honours Professor Dlamini’s global impact but also reinforces the University of Pretoria’s standing as a leader in cutting-edge cancer research and innovation,” Prof Senkubuge said. “It reflects the University’s commitment to advancing African scholarship on the world stage, and strengthens the Faculty of Health Sciences’ international partnerships, which are aimed at tackling global health challenges – of which cancer disparities in low- and middle-income countries is one of the most pressing.”

Prof Senkubuge congratulated Prof Dlamini on behalf of the University of Pretoria: “This appointment reflects her international scholarly stature. We applaud this achievement and her continued commitment to advancing global cancer equity, innovation and academic excellence.”