R15m Funding for Cancer and Infectious Diseases Research

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The Cancer & Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Research Unit (CIDERU) in the College of Health Sciences at UKZN has been awarded a grant of R15m by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) to further its pioneering work in lung cancer care across KwaZulu-Natal.

The funding will support the Lung Cancer Care Continuum in KwaZulu-Natal initiative - a project that officially began on 1 November this year and will continue until 31 January 2026.

Led by Principal Investigator Professor Themba Ginindza and an interdisciplinary team, the project is an extension of the critical work previously carried out under the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Programme (MLCCP). Building on phases 1 and 2, which addressed essential areas of lung cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, this third phase aims to expedite the lung cancer care pipeline in KZN, beginning with patients awaiting further diagnostic evaluation and early intervention. Phase 3 will advance the Lung Cancer Diagnostic Unit (LCDU) at Addington Hospital in Durban, addressing diagnostic backlogs and facilitating early treatment.

This project is part of the MLCCP covering the nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with the overall goal of improving access to early diagnostic services for lung cancer by addressing the barriers of cancer care through working with communities and the Ministries of Health in the identified region. This co-operation between African countries has grown in leaps and bounds - beginning with only Eswatini, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania, it has grown to include Lesotho and Ethiopia, and now a further expansion to incorporate Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe is foreseeable. This augurs well working towards the University’s goal of being: ‘A globally-ranked research-intensive university responding to major societal, economic and environmental challenges’ affecting the African continent.

‘With BMSF’s continued support, we’re not only able to improve early detection and diagnostic capacity, but also foster a healthcare environment that empowers local communities through cancer awareness and palliative care,’ said Ginindza. ‘The formal signing of the funding agreement with BMSF cemented this partnership, aligning resources and goals for impactful cancer care.’

The CIDERU programme will also expand its outreach by training healthcare professionals and community leaders, providing them with skills essential to cancer awareness and palliative care, which are pivotal in regions with limited access to cancer treatment resources. As part of the BMSF-backed initiative, CIDERU’s work with the MLCCP now includes nine African countries, positioning it as a significant force in shaping sustainable cancer care pathways across the continent.

CIDERU’s role in lung cancer research and patient advocacy highlights UKZN’s commitment to health equity, advancing collaborative efforts with government and healthcare institutions to ensure that the improvements made during the programme’s duration endure well beyond its funding cycle.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Supplied