UCL-WITS Workshop Advances 3D Preclinical Cancer Modelling in Africa
- Associate Professor Pascaline Fru, FHS Communications
In a pioneering initiative to advance cancer research in Africa, Professor Pascaline Fru (WITS) and Dr. Uzoamaka Okoli (UCL) co-hosted a five-day workshop (May 26–30, 2025), funded by a UCL-WITS Strategic Partnership Grant. Held in the Department of Surgery, the workshop addressed the urgent need for African representation in preclinical cancer modelling.
Bringing together leading scientists, clinicians, and early-career researchers, the event focused on 3D cancer modelling, an emerging area with significant potential to improve translational medicine. Participants from WITS, North-West University, Rhodes University, University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria, received hands-on training in 3D cell culture techniques, including spheroid development, and data analysis, with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion in research.
Keynote speakers included Prof. Eirini Velliou (UCL) and Dr. Felix Ikuomola (UH Mānoa/WITS), who spoke on the translational relevance of 3D models from a bioengineer and clinician scientist perspective respectively. Plenary presentations by Dr. Nireshni Chellan (SAMRC) and Prof. Mandeep Kaur (WITS) highlighted the development and application of preclinical models for advancing cancer research across Africa.
The workshop established a platform that fostered interdisciplinary collaboration through expert panel discussions with stakeholders, hands-on sessions, and team proposals, culminating in a Team Science Award, tailored to the African context. Supported by industry partners including Thermo Fisher, Merck, Lasec, and Inqaba Biotec, the event was seen as a turning point for regional capacity building, offering strong prospects for sustained collaboration, technology transfer, and skills development.
Participant feedback praised the workshop’s expert-led, inclusive, and hands-on format, with many reporting significant knowledge gains and recommending more practical sessions and panel discussions in future events. Widely regarded as inspiring and impactful, the workshop was seen as essential for advancing cancer research in Africa. Professor Fru and Dr. Okoli aim to build on this momentum through continued mentorship, webinars, and future workshops addressing gaps in preclinical cancer research.
