Wits Launches Digital Pathology Hub to Transform Cancer Diagnosis and Training in Africa
- FHS Communications
Launch of the Wits Digital Pathology Hub
On the 10th of July 2025, the Department of Anatomical Pathology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University, launched its pioneering Digital Pathology Hub (DPH). A groundbreaking initiative designed to transform cancer diagnosis, pathology training, and research across South Africa and the African continent.
Addressing Africa’s Pathology Gaps
Speaking at the launch, and Co-Director of the Hub, Associate Professor Reubina Wadee, Head of the Department of Anatomical Pathology at Wits, explained that the Hub was born out of urgent necessity. “Anatomical pathology is required for definitive diagnosis on patient biopsy specimens. Unfortunately, South Africa faces a shortage of pathologists, which negatively impacts patient diagnostics as well as teaching,” she said.
The Digital Pathology Hub will serve as a multi-purpose platform for education, research, and eventually diagnostics, offering new ways of learning and collaboration across disciplines. Wadee emphasised that the Hub is envisioned not only as a resource for Wits but also as a tool that can be shared with other institutions locally, across Africa, and internationally.
Harnessing Technology for African Solutions
Associate Professor Tanya Augustine and Co-Director of the Hub, highlighted the broader vision. “This is about intermingling multiple disciplines, computational pathology, tumour biology, engineering, bioethics and law to develop innovative solutions for pathology diagnosis and cancer research,” she explained.
While artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly integrated into pathology in the West, Augustine noted that Africa has lagged behind in adapting these tools to its unique healthcare challenges. “There remains a lack of research in how we diagnose cancers, a lack of training in multidisciplinary approaches, and a lack of African-centred technological solutions. The Digital Pathology Hub is about changing that,” she said.
The hub seeks not only to advance research and diagnostics but also to create a pipeline of skilled professionals who can integrate coding, image analysis, and pathology to drive forward African innovation in healthcare.
A Future of Collaboration and Community Impact
Both Wadee and Augustine stressed that the hub will be a collaborative space, bringing together experts across Wits, Africa, and the globe. It aims to be disruptive in the best sense. Reimagining how cancer is diagnosed, how students are trained, and how innovation flows from South Africa to the continent and back again.
Ultimately, the Wits Digital Pathology Hub aspires to build a true African-centred platform for health technology, one that engages communities and contributes to stronger, more equitable healthcare systems.
