Agenda
The 2025 annual AHPBCC conference is scheduled August 12-16, 2025, at Protea Wanderer’s Hotel and Conference Center in Johannesburg, South Africa in conjunction with local hosts from the University of Witwatersrand, Dr. John Devar and Dr. Emmanuel Ekene Nweke.
Collaborating for Sustainable Progress in HPB Cancer Care, Education, and Research in Africa
DRAFT CONFERENCE AGENDA
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
(August 12th and 13th)
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
Advanced Endoscopy, Surgical Skills, and Ultrasound Techniques
Transportation to off-site locations will be provided.
Boston Scientific has generously donated their cutting-edge Johannesburg facilities to AHPBCC for the day, including their advanced endoscopy training suite.
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
Basic and Translational Research, Patient Advocacy, HPB Pathology, and Liver Transplant Program Establishment
The grant writing workshop will be 8:00-11:00am on August 13th so that all can attend. All other workshops will be held 11:00am-4:00pm.
| Workshop | Chair(s) | Location |
| Grant Writing | Prof. Mohamed El-Kassas (Egypt) | Wanderer’s Hotel |
| Advanced Endoscopy | Dr. Akwi Asombang (USA, Zambia), Prof. Sandie Thomson (South Africa), Dr. Neo SEABE (South Africa) | Boston Scientific IAS |
| Basic and Translational Research | Prof. Ekene Emmanuel Nweke (South Africa), Dr. Marco Zaki (Egypt), Prof. Bolini Marius Nagalo (USA, Burkina Faso) | Wanderer’s Hotel |
| Surgical Skills | Dr. Michael Okello (Uganda), Dr. Jackson Chipaila (Zambia), Prof John Devar (South Africa), Dr T Marumo, Dr lahoud | Wits Medical School |
| Patient Advocacy | Dr. Riaz Kasmani (Kenya), Dr. Pelisa Ford | Wanderer’s Hotel |
| Ultrasound Techniques | Prof. Ashraf Omar (Egypt), Dr. Yaw Wiafe (Ghana), Dr. Charles Sanyika | GE Innovation Center (TBD) |
| HPB Pathology | Dr. Ernest Adjei (Ghana), Dr. Martin Hale (SA) | Wanderer’s Hotel |
| Liver Transplant Program Establishment | Prof. Abidemi Omonisi (Nigeria), Prof Loveland, Dr. Bilal Bobat, Prof Martin Hale (South Africa), Prof Ashraf Omar (Egypt) | Wanderer’s Hotel |
Thursday, August 14th
Day 1: Epidemiology of and Standards of Care in HPB Cancers in Africa
- 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration and Welcome Coffee
- 09:00 – 09:30 | Opening Remarks
- 09:30 – 10:00 | Keynote Address: “Opportunities for Biomedical Science Training and Mentorship in Africa – Equipping the Next Generation and Leveraging Multiomics, Biotechnology, AI to Transform Health in Africa”
- 10:00 – 11:00 | HPB Cancer Risk and Genetics in Africa
- 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break & Networking
- 11:30 – 12:00 | Molecular and Environmental Influences of HPB Cancer Development
- 12:00 – 13:30 | Current Management and Palliation of HPB Cancers in Africa
- 13:30 – 14:30 | Lunch Break & Strategic Networking
- 14:30 – 15:30 | Session 1: Oral Abstract Presentations
- 10 Presenters (to be chosen from submitted abstracts)
- 15:30 – 16:30 | Next Frontiers in HPB Clinical Care (Immunotherapies, clinical trials…)
Friday, August 15th
Day 2: Clinical Training, Capacity/Collaborative Building, and Patient Advocacy
- 09:00 – 09:30 | Keynote: “Addressing Clinical Gaps in HPB Cancer Management in Africa
- 09:30 – 10:30 | Innovative Training and Collaboration in Africa
- 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break & Strategic Networking (Meet the Experts Tables)
- 11:00 – 12:00 | Session 2: Oral Abstract Presentations
- 10 Presenters (to be chosen from submitted abstracts)
- 12:00 – 13:00 | Poster session
- 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
- 14:00 – 15:00 | Strategies for Early Detection of HPB Cancers in Resource-Limited Settings
- 15:00 – 16:00 | Sustainable Models for HPB Cancer Training and collaborative efforts in Africa
- 16:00 – 16:30 | Roundtable Discussion: Building African HPB Research Networks
- 16:30 – 17:00 | Patient Advocacy in Africa: Present and Future
Saturday, August 16th
Day 3: Translational Research and Innovation in HPB Cancer Management and Treatment
- 09:00 – 09:30 | Keynote: “The Right Drug to the Right Patient: Precision Therapies for HPB Cancers”
- 09:30 – 10:50 | Precision Medicine and Personalized Therapy for HPB Cancers
- 10:50 – 11:10 | Coffee Break & Strategic Networking (Meet the Experts tables)
- 11:10 – 11:45 | AI and Machine Learning in Predictive Modeling for HPB Cancers
- 11:45 – 13:00 | Closing Ceremony: Future Directions and Conference Outcomes
- Consortium project progress reports, consortium member successes
- Closing remarks by Conference chair and AHPBCC leads
END OF PROGRAM