Dr Bawinile Hadebe, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, South Africa
Dr. Bawinile Pearl-gene Hadebe is a leading South African Nuclear Medicine physician and academic. She currently serves as the Head Clinical Unit at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. With a commitment to innovation in cancer care, she is pursuing her PhD focused on advanced imaging techniques for head and neck cancers, especially in HIV-positive populations. Dr. Hadebe is passionate about improving outcomes through molecular imaging and targeted therapies. Her clinical expertise is complemented by her prolific research contributions in nuclear oncology. She is a highly respected figure in South Africa’s medical landscape, known for her leadership, mentorship, and dedication to advancing healthcare equity. Fluent in IsiZulu and English, Dr. Hadebe is also recognized for her impactful presentations at national and international scientific forums and has received major grants to support her transformative research in oncologic nuclear medicine.
Publication Profile
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Education
Dr. Hadebe began her academic journey at St. Francis College, Mariannhill, where she completed her matric as Head Girl in 2001. She then earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Cape Town (2002–2007), where she was a recipient of the Boehringer Ingelheim Merit Scholarship. She later completed her Fellowship with the College of Nuclear Physicians of South Africa in October 2015 through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. Dr. Hadebe also earned a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree with a research thesis focused on the role of 99mTc-MIBI in diagnosing breast fibroadenomas. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, researching the use of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among HIV-infected and non-infected patients. Her academic journey reflects her deep commitment to improving cancer diagnostics in Africa.
Experience
Dr. Hadebe’s clinical journey began as a medical intern at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (2008–2009), followed by community service and medical officer roles at Mmametlhake Community Hospital. She completed her registrar training in Nuclear Medicine at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (2011–2015). Afterward, she served as a Specialist Nuclear Physician in a registrar post and later assumed a full specialist role at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (from 2019). She was appointed Head Clinical Unit in April 2020 and simultaneously served as Acting Academic Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her experience spans both clinical leadership and academic mentorship. She continues to lead efforts in advanced nuclear imaging and personalized oncology. Her work is grounded in public service, with a strong drive to enhance healthcare delivery through precision diagnostics and sustainable, evidence-based approaches.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Hadebe has earned prestigious awards in recognition of her academic excellence and impactful research. In 2023, she was awarded the Discovery PhD Fellowship worth R800,000 to support her innovative research in nuclear oncology. Additionally, she receives annual funding of R200,000 from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Self-Initiated Research Fund, highlighting the importance and promise of her work in nuclear medicine imaging, particularly for HIV-associated cancers. Earlier in her academic career, she was honored with the Boehringer Ingelheim Merit Scholarship (2002) for outstanding performance at the University of Cape Town. She has also been recognized for her leadership and service, serving as Head Girl at St. Francis College. Her invited presentations at leading medical congresses and publications in high-impact journals reflect her influence in the field of nuclear medicine, with particular focus on PET/CT imaging, theranostics, and molecular diagnostics in oncology.
Research Focus
Dr. Hadebe’s primary research interest lies in nuclear oncology, with a special focus on cancers associated with HIV infection in the South African population. Her PhD research investigates the clinical impact of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT imaging in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, comparing HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. She is particularly interested in understanding the expression of CXCR4 receptors and how molecular imaging can reveal tumor behavior in immunocompromised individuals. Her broader research aims to introduce and evaluate novel radiotracers for targeted imaging and therapy, contributing to the growing field of theranostics. Through her work, Dr. Hadebe envisions improving early cancer detection, guiding individualized treatment plans, and monitoring therapy response, ultimately optimizing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs by avoiding ineffective treatments. Her studies have the potential to transform cancer management, particularly in regions with limited resources and high burdens of infectious disease.
Publication Top Notes
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🧪 The role of 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography in patients suspected to have fibroadenoma of the breast
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🫀 The clinical utility of 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-d-glucose PET in guiding myocardial revascularisation
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🎯 The Role of PET/CT in Breast Cancer
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🔬 Current Status of 68Ga-Pentixafor in Solid Tumours
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🧬 Molecular Imaging and Theranostics in Ovarian Cancer: The Role of Nuclear Medicine
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🧠 Segmented linear correlations between bone scan index and prostate cancer biomarkers
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💉 Theranostics in breast cancer
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🧭 Chemokine Receptor-4 Targeted PET/CT Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer
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♀️ [68Ga] Pentixafor PET/CT imaging in cervical cancer, a comparison with [18F] FDG
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🦴 Should 18F-FDG PET/CT Replace 99mTc-MDP Bone Scintigraphy in Breast Cancer?
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⚖️ Comparison of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT-based split renal function with 99mTc-MAG3 in prostate cancer