The establishment of the Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI) by the University of Pretoria in 2019, is an acknowledgement that cancer is emerging as a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and worldwide. Cancer mortality rates continue to increase worldwide, and it is the second leading cause of death globally. The Director of PACRI was also awarded a Directorship for the prestigious SAMRC/UP Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Extramural Unit in 2019. This Extramural Unit is funded by the SAMRC and has provided a very strong financial footing and spotlight for PACRI.  This is grounded on the fact that a high residual burden of infectious agents HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV)] in certain SSA countries still drives the rates of common cancers. The other funding that has created a strong backbone for PACRI is the SAMRC-SHIP/Newton Fund on “Targeting the abnormal MicroRNA and Splicing Signatures in HIV-associated cancers.”

PACRI provides a platform where “translational oncology” facilitates the movement of new ideas and treatments from the laboratory to the clinic, as well as the movement of clinical observations from the clinic to the laboratory i.e. investigators engaged in this area of research use holistic “bench to bedside” methodologies to solve real risk to real people. This is supported by the strong collaborative effort between the basic scientists and the physicians (oncologists, pathologists, surgeons) to advance and to support the PACRI slogan of “Defeating Cancer Together” and backed by local, regional and international partners inclusive of industry partners. The core of translational oncology is supported mainly by “oncogenomics” that includes splicegenomics aimed at splicing deregulation due to persistence in viral infection and other aberrant genomic mechanisms.

PACRI is aligned to the UP Strategic Plan 2025’s  vision which is “To be a leading research‐intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally”.

Director of PACRI

Prof Zodwa Dlamini