A powerful new chapter for childhood haematology-oncology research in South Africa begins today with the launch of the Wits–CMJAH Paeds Haem-Onc Research CoLab supported by CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
Spearheaded by Professor Jennifer Geel, Head of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and academic head of division, Wits Paediatric Haematology-Oncology, and made possible through the collaboration of CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa and generous donors Adcock Ingram and The Kinvest Trust, the centre will serve as a hub for groundbreaking research, data collection, and clinical collaboration aimed at improving outcomes for children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. the research team will focus on studies across priority diagnoses, including Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Burkitt lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, low grade glioma and nephroblastoma. these are the focus cancers identified by the who global initiative for childhood cancer as highly curable with available resources, constituting 60% of the cancers treated by this unit. In addition, there will be a focus on severe aplastic anaemia and stem cell transplantation.
The establishment of this centre also signals a powerful moment of renewal for Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. In the years following the devastating fire that disrupted services across the facility, this new Research Centre stands as a testament to what collaboration and collective resolve can rebuild, not just infrastructure, but confidence in the future of paediatric care. It reflects the hospital’s unwavering commitment to rise stronger, innovate faster, and ensure that every child and teenager has access to world-class research and treatment closer to home.
“This centre represents the bridge between research and real lives,” said Hedley Lewis, CEO of CHOC. “It’s a space where science meets compassion, ensuring that the children, teenagers, and families we serve today will benefit from tomorrow’s discoveries.”
Beyond being a physical space, the centre will drive impact through four key focus areas:
• Enhancing clinical research in paediatric haematology-oncology.
• Fostering data-driven innovation through partnerships with universities and international research bodies.
• Encouraging multi-disciplinary collaboration among oncologists, psychosocial teams and public health experts.
• Building and mentoring the next generation of paediatric haematology-oncology researchers.
Professor Jennifer Geel shares her vision of the centre: We aim to consolidate the excellent research performed in this unit and take it to new heights by collaborating with local and international partners, focusing on locally relevant projects that impact directly on the lives of the children, adolescents and family that we serve.
The launch event brought together representatives from the Department of Health, CHOC, the academic and research community, and corporate donors, all unified by a single goal, to give hope a stronger foundation through locally driven research and innovation.
For CHOC, this milestone reaffirms its legacy of holistic care, extending its support beyond psychosocial and practical services to now include research that will transform the future of paediatric haematology-oncology in South Africa and across the continent.
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Written together by Prof Geel and CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa
Date Released: December 2025
Written by: Taryn Seegers
Further information:
www.choc.org.za
Contact
086 111 3500 or bdu@choc.org.za