ADVANCES IN BIOPHOTONICS
AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT
From Basic Mechanisms to Clinical Applications
19-20 August 2025 - Johannesburg - South Africa
2 Day Symposium Hosted By University of Johannesburg's Laser Research Centre
-
24 International Speakers
-
​Plenary Sessions
Join us for the latest in Innovation and
Clinical Research
Speakers Biographies
PROF LOTHAR LILGE
University Health Network and
University of Toronto
Lothar.Lilge@utoronto.ca
Prof. Lothar Lilge, Senior Scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto and Professor at the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada. Prof. Lilge earned a Master of Science in Physics and a PhD in Bio-Physics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (FRG) and Westfälische Wilhelms Universität (FRG) in 1987 and 1992. He served as a post-doctoral researcher at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, before becoming a scientist, manager, and director at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Prof Lilge has served and continues to serve on a number of national and international professional bodies and committees. Board of Directors of the "Ontario Photonics Technology Industry Cluster," reviewer for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, member of the NSERC/ISTC Global Partnership Grant Selection Committee, ad hoc member of the NIH Nano Panel, chair of the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, and the Canadian Prostate Cancer Grant Selection Committee, among many others. Prof Lilge serves on the Editorial Board and as a guest editor for a number of peer-reviewed international journals, including the Journal of Biomedical Optics, the Journal of Translational Biophotonics, the Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences, and Photodiagnostic and Photodynamic Therapy. He serves as an industry scientific consultant to Walsh Medical Inc., Oakville, Canada, Cytotelesis, Toronto, Ondine Biomedical Inc., Vancouver, and CleanslateUV, Toronto, on various preclinical investigations and prototype development. Prof. Lilge organised numerous international biophotonics conferences, including the International Photodynamic Association (IPA) 2023 confernce in Finalnd. He has received several grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He holds 11 patents and has over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 book chapters, three books, and 146 presentations and special lectures with published proceedings.
PROF ARUN MAIYA
Professor & Dean, Centre for podiatry & diabetic footcare research, Physiotherapy, MCHP MAHE Deemed University, Manipal, India
arun.maiya@manipal.edu, ajmaiya@gmail.com
.png)
Number of peer reviewed accredited publications: 197, H Index: 35
Published 03 Patent, and 10 copy rights. 26 PhD scholars were awarded PhD under the guidance and 08 are pursuing PhD. President: Undergraduate Regulation and Accreditation, Karnataka State Commission for Allied and Healthcare Commission, Karnataka Visiting Professor: Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa and Director: Maiya’s Healthcare Innovation PVT Ltd. Short Term fellowship on Low Level Laser in Oral Mucositis at Anti Pollis University France 2004. Expert member in consensus meeting on “ICF Core Sets for Head and Neck Cancer” a joint project between Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Germany and World health Organization at Notwil, Switzerland.
​DR MUTHUMUNI MANAGA
Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS),
University of South Africa, South Africa.
managme@unisa.ac.za
.png)
Dr Muthumuni Managa is a Senior Lecturer iNanoWS, UNISA. She completed Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry) at Rhodes University. Dr Managa is a Member (MRSC), she has been awarded with grants approximately 4.6 million Rands. Dr Managa is part of the Future Professors Programme (FPP) Phase 2: cohort 2 managed by (UJ). Dr Managa has UK Patent Application No. 2406259.8 under review and has published over 60 publications in the last 6 years in international Journals and boosts an h-index of 20 (Google Scholar). She has supervised 6 students to completion and currently supervises/co-supervises 9 MSc and 3 PhD students. Dr Managa is an Editorial Board member of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. She is also a member of the Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (SPP).Dr Muthumuni Managa is a Senior Lecturer iNanoWS, UNISA. She completed Doctor of Philosophy (Chemistry) at Rhodes University. Dr Managa is a Member (MRSC), she has been awarded with grants approximately 4.6 million Rands. Dr Managa is part of the Future Professors Programme (FPP) Phase 2: cohort 2 managed by (UJ). Dr Managa has UK Patent Application No. 2406259.8 under review and has published over 60 publications in the last 6 years in international Journals and boosts an h-index of 20 (Google Scholar). She has supervised 6 students to completion and currently supervises/co-supervises 9 MSc and 3 PhD students. Dr Managa is an Editorial Board member of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. She is also a member of the Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (SPP).
PROF MOHAMED ABOU-ZEID
Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt. Faculty of Basic Sciences, Galala University, Suez, Egypt
Mohamed.AboZied@Gu.edu.eg
.png)
Prof Mohamed Abou-Zeid is a Professor of Microbiology at ASU, Cairo, Egypt, and currently serves as Faculty of Science Dean at GU with over 30 years of academic and research experience. He earned his Ph.D. in 1995 from Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Italy, focusing on microbiological approaches to environmental protection. His research spans natural product bioactivity, environmental and food microbiology, and medical field. He has authored over 56 peer-reviewed papers and supervised 35 theses. Prof Abou-Zeid has held several academic leadership roles and participated in major international collaborations, earning prestigious awards for his contributions to microbiology and scientific development.
DR VESNA KARIC
School of Dentistry, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Vesna.karic@wits.ac.za
.png)
Prof Vesna Karic has served in a total of 43 committees (Senate) at WITS university and internationally. She is a peer reviewer for various laser journals. She has served as an internal and external examiner nationally and internationally (PhD). She is currently commencing interdisciplinary research projects in the field of medicine and dentistry (laser, neurosciences, cancer, 3D printing). She is a holder of the Doctorate (Biomedical Technology in Lasers and Stem Cells, UJ), BDS (BGD, EU), MSc Dent (WITS), Mastership, Laser Therapy in Dentistry, Aachen University, Germany. She is managing a unique laser clinic at WITS Dental school.
DR SULAIMAN CHERUTHAZHAKKAT
Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, Arya Vaidya Sala,
Kottakkal, India. Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
sulaimanct@aryvaidyasala.com
.png)
Dr. Sulaiman C T is serving as Senior Scientist & Head of the Phytochemistry Division of Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, India. The main focus areas of research are phytochemical characterization of medicinal plants, scientific validation of traditional knowledge and drug development for specific disease conditions. His research contributions are evidenced by more than 70 research articles in various international journals. He has delivered many lead lectures in more than 40 national and international Conferences and serving as Visiting Researcher at Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg. He is the recipient of Young Scientist award 2018 instituted by Government of Kerala, Dr. P D Sethi memorial National award 2020, Young Scientist award 2024 instituted by Society for Plant Research and Life time achievement award conferred at 8th Global Summit on Medicinal and Aromatic plants-2023, Bangkok, Thailand
PROF JOHN AKUDUGU
John Akudugu, Angela Chinhengo
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
jakudugu@sun.ac.za
.png)
Professor John Akudugu is head of the Division of Radiobiology, Stellenbosch University. His research includes ranges from biodosimetry through targeted cancer therapy to cancer biomarkers. His has 65 peer-reviewed papers, 97 conference contributions, and 3 patents (630 citations; h-index: 15). He has trained 26 postgraduates and clinical fellows. He is C1-rated NRF researcher and serves as a grants review panel member for the NRF and CANSA. In addition to Faculty commitments and evaluation of numerous postgraduate dissertations, his scientific assignments include manuscript review for more than 10 international journals. He has also served on several IAEA expert missions.
PROF AHMED EL-HUSSEIN
1Department of Biological Sciences, Galala University, Suez, Egypt.
2Department of Surface Engineering, Jožef Stephan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3The National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, Egypt
a.elhusseiny@gu.edu.eg
.png)
Dr. Ahmed El-Hussein is a Full Professor at the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo University, and at Galala University, where he directs the Molecular Biotechnology Program. With a PhD in Laser Science and Biotechnology (2010), his research focuses on nanobiotechnology and laser applications in food security and cancer treatment. Dr. El-Hussein has completed fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Oxford University, and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. He received Cairo University's Encouragement Prize in Biological Science (2018) and secured multiple grants for innovative laser application projects.
PROF JUANITA J. ANDERS
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, USA
Juanita.anders@usuhs.edu
.png)
Juanita J. Anders, Ph.D. is a Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience, at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. She has researched Photobiomodulation for over 30 years and is an internationally recognized expert in PBM. Her specialty is nervous system injury and repair mechanisms, nerve regeneration and pain modulation using PBM. Dr. Anders received her Ph.D. in Anatomy from the University of Maryland Medical School then joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Currently, she is funded by the US Department of Defense and NIH to investigate the use PBM as a nonpharmaceutical therapy for pain management.
F MARI VAN DE VYVER
Experimental Medicine Group, Department of Medicine, FMHS,
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
vandevyverm@sun.ac.za
.png)
Prof M van de Vyver is an established NRF-rated researcher within the Department of Medicine at Stellenbosch University. She has >47 scientific publications, have co-authored x4 book chapters, graduated >32 postgraduate students and has a prominent national standing with international recognition in her field. She has expertise in endocrinology (diabetes), inflammation, stem cells and regenerative medicine. Her research is focused on a pertinent public health issue, and she continuously reaches out to collaborative partners to establish the most appropriate and impactful team to achieve the end goals; these partners are based in the academic, industry and clinical sectors, both in South Africa and beyond. This enables her group to bridge-the-gap between the laboratory and clinical setting to do translational research.
PROF SUPRAKASH RAY
Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSTI-CSIR
Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
rsuprakas@csir.co.za
Prof Ray is the author of 14 authored-books, co-author of 13 edited books, 65 book chapters on various aspects of polymer-based nanostructured materials & their applications, and author and co-author of 507 articles in high-impact international journals and 79 book chapters. He also has 11 patents (registered or filled) and 10 new demonstrated technologies (commercialized) shared with colleagues, collaborators, and industrial partners. So far, his team commercialized 19 different products. Over the last 15 years, he has trained 23 postdoctoral fellows and produced 41 PhD and 17 Master students under his direct supervision. He is one of the most active and highly cited (43400 citations; h factor 92, GS) authors in nanostructured materials.
PROF PILANI NKOMOZEPI
Department of Human Anatomy & Physiology,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Pilanin@uj.ac.za
Prof Pilani Nkomozepi, is an Anatomist who holds a PhD in Neuroscience (2018) from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is currently an Associate Professor in Anatomy at the University of Johannesburg. His research is focussed drug discovery in metabolic syndrome including diabetes and its complications using animal models. He has published more than 50 scientific papers and supervised more than 20 graduate students. He is a representative of the Anatomical Society in Southern Africa council to the South African Natural Scientific Professions Council. He is also a member of the Society of Neuroscientists in Africa, International Society of Neurochemistry, International Brain Research Organisation and the
African Chapter of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.
PROF SUDESH SIVARASU
Biomedical Engineering Research Centre,
Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department
of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Science,
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Sudesh.Sivarasu@uct.ac.za
.png)
Prof. Sudesh Sivarasu holds the SARChI Chair in Biomedical Engineering Innovation and leads UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre. Recognised as UCT’s most prolific inventor, he has 67 patent applications (27 granted) and pioneered FrugalBiodesign , enabling affordable medical devices for resource-limited settings. His work has led to five spin-off companies and award-winning devices like reScribe and ZiBiPen. An adjunct professor in the USA, Italy, and India, he has authored two books, over 100 publications, and received 16 MedTech awards globally. Prof. Sivarasu has supervised 62 students and continues to inspire innovation for equitable healthcare worldwide.
PROF LUIS G. ARNAUT
Chemistry Department, University of Coimbra, Portugal
lgarnaut@ci.uc.pt
Luis Arnaut is a Professor at the University of Coimbra, Past-President of the International Photodynamic Association, founder and member of the Board of Directors of Luzitin SA. Founder and Chairman of LaserLeap Technologies SA. Founding Director of the Coimbra LaserLab, a member of the European research infrastructure LaserLab Europe, and member of the Executive Committee of LaserLab Europe. Founder and former Director of the BSc and MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Coimbra, and of the Portuguese Science Foundation PhD program on Medicinal Chemistry. Bibliometry: h-index > 50, citations > 10,000.
DR ASHLEIGH BHANJAN
Integrative specialist Neurologist
Durban, South Africa
Durbanneurolaserclinic@gmail.com
Dr. Ashleigh Bhanjan is a Specialist Neurologist currently working in private practice at Life Entabeni hospital, Durban, since 2009. He qualified as a Doctor at University of Witwatersrand, in 2002, and completed his post graduate degree in Neurology, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, in 2008. He is a Bioflex Laser Therapy Certified Practitioner, in SA. Currently the Director of the Durban Neuro Laser Clinic, established 2018, a Photobiomodulation therapy clinic targeting chronic pain syndromes, stroke rehabilitation as well as neurodegenerative
disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, to mention a few. Then there was LIGHT …
PROF VANDERLEI S. BAGNATO
IFSC -University of Sao Paulo – Brazil
BMEN- Texas A&M University - USA
Distinguished Visiting Professor, LRC University of
Johannesburg, South Africa
vander@ifsc.usp.br
.png)
PhD from MIT (1987). Double major in Material Science Engineering (Universidade Federal de São Carlos - Brasil - 1981) and Physics (Universidade de São Paulo - Brasil - 1981). Received the title of “Livre – Docente” by the University of São Paulo (1989) and Full Professor by the University of São Paulo (1993). Recently has also joined the Texas A&M University in Biomedical Engineering. His activities are based on laser cooling, trapping of neutral atoms, and applications of optics and laser to health science. Has published over 800 paper and has supervised more than 130 graduate students. Members of: National Academy of Science NAS - (USA), Pontifical Academy of Science (Vaticano), TWAS, Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC), and Latin America Academy of Science (ACAL).
​PROF MICHAEL R HAMBLIN
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
hamblin.lab@gmail.com
Michael R Hamblin Ph.D. is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Johannesburg. His research interests include photodynamic therapy, photobiomodulation, and drug delivery. He has published over 850 peer-reviewed articles with an h-factor 176 and >125,000 citations. He is Editor-in-Chief of “Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery”. He has authored/edited 40 textbooks. Honors include Fellow of SPIE in 2011, 1st Endre Mester Lifetime Achievement from NAALT, Outstanding Career Award from the Dose Response Society, 1st Ali Javan Photobiomodulation Basic Science Research from WALT, Lifetime Achievement from European Medical Laser Association, President’s Choice Award from International Photodynamic Association and ESP Gold Medal.
PROF YAHYA E CHOONARA
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit,
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of
Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Witwatersrand, South Africa
yahya.choonara@wits.ac.za
Professor Yahya Choonara is internationally recognised as an outstanding global Pharmaceutical Scientist working at the forefront of producing life-saving medicines. He is a South African DSI/NRF Research Chair and co-founded the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) (https://www.wits.ac.za/waddp), a flagship research unit, and Africa’s only fully integrated platform in its domain focused on designing Nanomedicine, Advanced Drug Delivery Systems, Functional Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicines. He has published >396 papers in the field (>14600 citations; H-index = 62), mentored/trained >121 graduates and is an inventor on 31 internationally granted patents in the pharmaceutical sciences.
DR SAJAN GEORGE
1School of Bio Sciences & Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, India.
2Laser Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
georgesajan@hotmail.com
.png)
Dr. Sajan George did his doctoral research in the LRC, UJ under the supervision of Prof Heidi Abrahamse. His project differentiated stem cells into neuron-like cells using the near infrared laser. Dr. George had identified the biological role of antibiotics as growth promoters in weanling piglets. He had conducted preclinical trials of Malassezia sp. with anti-fungal drugs in house-hold dogs. He had established an ‘Integrated Farming System’ with agronomy & animals for teaching & research in the Vellore Institute of Technology, India. Dr. George manages the laboratory animal facilities (vivarium) of Vellore Institute of Technology and Schieffelin Institute of Health Research, India. He generates surgical models of kidney fibrosis in rodents, bone and tissue implants in rodents and rabbits for testing drugs and small molecules as a part of student research projects.
PROF HEIDI ABRAHAMSE
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
habrahamse@uj.ac.za / https://pure.uj.ac.za/en/persons/heidi-abrahamse
.png)
Distinguished Professor Heidi Abrahamse has been the Director of the Laser Research Centre since 2007 and has held the DSI/NRF SARChi Chair in Laser Applications in Health in the faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg since 2015. As a NRF B-rated scientist with a Scopus H-index of 58 and 12 725 citations, her research is centered on Photodynamic therapy and Photobiomodulation, with a particular focus on cancer diagnosis and treatment, diabetic wound healing, and regenerative therapy. Her publication record is impressive with 359 peer reviewed accredited journal publications, 65 accredited full paper proceedings, 58 chapters and 2 books. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, as evidenced by her inclusion in Stanford University's prestigious Top 2% Scientists list for four consecutive years: 2020- 2024. The expertise of Prof Abrahamse ranks in the top 0.0049% expertise in photosensiting agents worldwide. In her current role as Director of the Laser Research Centre, she leads a dynamic research team consisting of six staff members, four visiting professors, 12 postdoctoral fellows, 20 doctoral students, and 10 master’s students. Her extensive service on various Faculty, University, National, and International Committees and Boards, including the National Health Research Committee and the UJ Council, underscores her unwavering commitment to academia and research. Prof. Abrahamse has received numerous national and international research awards, including being the first and only female to win the Distinguished Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellence in Research twice and the HERS Lifetime Achiever Award. In 2019 she received the International Photodynamic Association Humanitarian award recognize those who have made selfless efforts and personal sacrifices to enhance and promote the science of Photodynamic therapy and in 2022 she received the International Photodynamic Association for Basic PDT Research Excellence Award. She has been invited to deliver keynote and plenary talks at multiple international conferences.
PROF BLASSAN GEORGE
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
blassang@uj.ac.za / https://pure.uj.ac.za/en/persons/blassan-george
.png)
Blassan George is a Professor at the Laser Research Centre (LRC) within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Johannesburg. Prof. George's primary research expertise lies in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT), with a specific focus on the development and application of natural photosensitisers for cancer treatment. He currently coordinates the Phyto-Photodynamic Therapy Research Niche within the LRC, promoting interdisciplinary and translational research in this emerging biomedical field. He has an extensive publication record, with over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles to his credit. His research impact is reflected in a Scopus h-index of 26. He is actively engaged in postgraduate supervision and mentorship, currently supervising two Master’s students, four PhD candidates, and two postdoctoral research fellows. To date, he has successfully supervised the completion of four doctoral dissertations, ten Master’s theses, and five BSc Honours research projects. In addition to his research responsibilities, Prof. George is involved in
undergraduate teaching. He lectures in Cell Biology/Biochemistry to the Medical Laboratory Science students under the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Prof. George is an NRF Y1-rated researcher. He is an active member of the Higher Degrees Committee (HDC) within the Faculty of Health Sciences at UJ and serves on the NRF internal rating panel. He is also a member of Occupational Safety Committee. Prof. George was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Research Outputs Evaluation Sub-Panel for Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences for the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Republic of South Africa, for the 2025 evaluation cycle. He maintains active professional affiliations with several prestigious national and international scientific societies including fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
PROF ANINE CROUS
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
acrous@uj.ac.za
Prof Anine Crous is an Associate Professor and NRF Y-rated researcher at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where she is based at the Laser Research Centre and the Department of Biomedical Sciences within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research specializes in photobiomodulation (PBM), stem cell biology, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Prof. Crous has authored over 30 scholarly works, including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Her research impact is demonstrated by an h-index of 10 on Scopus and 11 on Google Scholar. She has supervised numerous honours students and currently mentors master's and PhD candidates, as well as postdoctoral research fellows. A dedicated educator, she lectures Immunology 1 and integrates constructivist learning strategies into her teaching. She plays an active leadership role in the academic and scientific community, serving as Chair of the OPTICA Technical Group on Therapeutic Laser Applications, Membership Director of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT), and as a member of the Faculty Board and Higher Degrees Committee at the University of Johannesburg. Prof. Crous has secured competitive research funding from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka Programme, the African Laser Centre, and institutional grants from the University of Johannesburg. She has delivered presentations at over 15 national and international conferences and served as a guest editor for leading international journals. Recognized for her leadership and mentorship, she was selected for the DSI/THENSA Supervisor Enhancement Programme, the U21 Programme for Mid-Career Researchers, and nominated for a national Research Leadership Programme. Through her research, teaching, and academic service, Prof. Crous remains committed to advancing therapeutic laser science and mentoring the next generation of biomedical researchers.
DR SATHISH SUNDAR DHILIP KUMAR
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
sathishd@uj.ac.za
Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar is an NRF C2-rated researcher and academic specializing in nanobiotechnology. Currently, he is working as a senior lecturer and researcher at the Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr Dhilip Kumar research focuses on the innovative application of nanobiomaterials in photobiomodulation therapy for wound healing, and photodynamic therapy for cancer. Dr. Dhilip Kumar has made significant contributions to both research and academia, with a robust portfolio of publications in international peer-reviewed journals (h-index of 21, i10 index 28, and >1950 citations) and presentations at numerous prestigious conferences. He is recognized for his exceptional skills in research and teaching, exemplified by his commitment to fostering academic excellence. Dr. Dhilip Kumar’s dedication to advancing the field is further demonstrated through active involvement in professional organizations, including the Royal Society of Biology, American Chemical Society, South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), and the International Association of Advanced Materials. Dr. Dhilip Kumar has been an active member of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, since 2022. Dr. Dhilip Kumar's work aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG #3: Good Health and Well-being, #4: Quality Education, #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and #17: Partnerships for Goals). Dr. Dhilip Kumar was recognized for his leadership potential, earning distinction in the Emerging Leader 2023 – Leadership Development Program (UJ, six-month program) and awarded for the U21 Programme for Mid-Career Researchers (four-week program in partnership with Common Purpose, Universitas21).
PROF NICOLETTE HOURELD​
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences,​
University of Johannesburg​
Prof Nicolette Houreld is a Professor and the DST-NRF SARChI Deputy Chair-holder: Laser Applications in Health in the Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Johannesburg. Prof Houreld has demonstrated dedication, innovation, and leadership in the field of biophotonics and photobiomodulation (PBM) over the last 28 years, making significant contributions that have advanced our understanding of the
fundamental biological processes of PBM on diabetic wound healing. She currently coordinates the Wound Healing Research Niche within the LRC. Prof. Houreld is a NRF C1-rated researcher, and with a Scopus H-index of 35 and over 130 scholarly works, her research has gained widespread recognition from the scientific community. She is ranked #9 in Wound Healing by ScholarGPS and has been listed among the top 2% most cited scientists in the Elsevier-Stanford University database for the last four years (2020-2024). She has
supervised numerous postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows. Prof. Houreld is also involved in undergraduate teaching, where she lectures Medical Sciences (microbiology) to the Podiatry students. She plays an active leadership role in the academic and scientific community, serving as the President of the World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy (WALT), Chair of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, and serves on the Senate Research Ethics Committee at the University of Johannesburg. She is also on the editorial board for the journal Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. She has delivered numerous presentations at national and international conferences and delivered several plenary and keynote presentations. In 2022 she was awarded the UJ Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Outstanding Researcher of the Year.