Biography

Prof. Abrahamse BSc (RAU), BSc Honours (Biochemistry; US and Psychology; UNISA), MSc (Medical Biochemistry; US), PhD (Molecularbiology/ Biochemistry; Wits University), Executive Leadership (Gibs, UP), Global Clinical Scholar Research Program (Harvard Medical School) is currently the Director of the Laser Research Centre, UJ and DST/NRF SARChI Chair for Laser Applications in Health (2016-2025). She is appointed as Adjunct Professor to the Manipal College of Health Professions, India. Her research interests include photobiology and photochemistry with specific reference to Photodynamic cancer therapy and Photobiomodulation. She was the recipient of the Faculty of Health Sciences highest research output for 2009 and the University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Outstanding Researcher of the Year, 2010 and again in 2020 and the NLC Rental pool grant-holder bestresearch output for 2008, most masters graduates 2013 and most IP produced 2013 and most doctorategraduates, 2014. She was runner up to the DST WISA Distinguished Scientist award in 2015 and placed second in the SAWiSA awards, 2023. She was granted a DST/NRF SARChI chair in 2016 which was renewed for another 5 years in 2020.In 2019 she received the International Photodynamic Association Humanitarian award recognize those who have made selfless efforts and personal sacrifices to enhance and promote the science of Photodynamic therapy and in 2022 she received the International Photodynamic Association for Basic PDT Research Excellence Award. She was also awarded the South African Higher Education Resources Services Lifetime Achiever award in 2023. According to Expertscape: The expertise of Heidi Abrahamse ranks in the Top 0.0044% of 44 977 published authors worldwide on Photosensitizing Agents from 2012 through 2023 based on contributions to 44 articles on the topic. https:// expertscape.com/au/photosensitizing+agents/Abrahamse%2C+H She has supervised 63 masters, 38 doctorates and 26 post-doctorate fellows. She has acted as external examiner for masters and doctorate theses from several national and international universities and has an impressive record for external grant applications. Her international standing as a researcher of distinction is supported by the fact that she has hosted 6 international conferences including the World Association for Laser Therapy, Photodynamic therapy conference supported by the DST SA/ Germany year of science, a Phototherapy workshop, Biophotonics in Cancer symposium and Photobiomodulation:Trends in Disease Management in 2022. She has co-chaired 6 BRICS meetings in 2020, 2021 Brazil and2021, 2023 Russia and the International Commission for Optics, Optics & Photonics AFRICA 2023. She was the president of the international society, WALT for 2010 to 2012. She has been invited to present her research at several international conferences as invited,