UJ laser researcher to assist health department

Director of the Laser Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Professor Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed to the National Health Research Committee.

Prof Abrahamse’s role at the committee will expect her to provide expertise in identifying research priorities and advising the Minister of Health on these.

She will also be involved in the development and advising on the application and implementation of an integrated national strategy for health research, among many other roles.

Prof Abrahamse has been recognised for her research and efforts aimed at improving the quality of life in Africa.

She has been lauded for her contributions in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) that have led the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to identify and support Biophotonics in Health as a major area of focus and investment through a newly established photonics initiative of South African (PISA) to prevent and treat disease.

Prof Abrahamse and other UJ academics were nominated in the 2017/2018 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF-South32) Awards in the TW Kambule Research category.

A category reserved for those who have contributed to research and its outputs for over 15 years, predominantly in South Africa.

As director of the Laser Research Centre at UJ Professor Abrahamse is a key figure in the centres efforts to investigate the field of phototherapy with specific emphasis on Low Intensity Laser Irradiation (LILI) or photobiomodulation (PBM), Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Phyto-Photodynamic Therapy (P-PDT) and Stem Cell Therapy.

According to UJ, laser therapy is under-utilised by many disciplines in South Africa while being quite established in many other countries. In 2019 Professor Abrahamse was named the 2019 recipient of the IPA Humanitarian Award at the 17th International Photodynamic Association (IPA) World Congress in Boston, Massachusetts, which was held between June and July.