From the heart of Pretoria to the global stage, Dr Keamogetswe Ramonaheng is rewriting the rules of cancer treatment, and the world is taking notice!
Pretoria, South Africa (05 March 2026) – Dr Keamogetswe Ramonaheng, an esteemed lecturer at the University of Pretoria, has been recognised for her work advancing this rapidly developing area of cancer treatment.
A proud recipient of the prestigious Saul Hertz Award at the 8th Theranostics World Congress (TWC 2026), Ramonaheng was honoured for her contributions to theranostics – an emerging field where diagnostic imaging and radionuclide treatment are combined into a single, highly targeted process to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Receiving an award named after Dr Saul Hertz, widely regarded as the founder of theranostics, was described by Dr Ramonaheng as both humbling and profoundly meaningful.
The recognition honours research that advances patient-specific dosimetry (the calculation of absorbed radiation doses tailored to individual patients) to improve the safety, effectiveness and personalisation of radionuclide therapies.
“This award honours the origins of the field while recognising those shaping its future,” Dr Ramonaheng said.
The moment was made even more significant when the award was presented by Barbara Hertz, daughter of Saul Hertz, who shared a personal message.
“As an African woman and a nuclear medicine physicist, you are using your blessings to improve the human condition,” Ms Hertz said.
Dr Ramonaheng’s award-winning research builds on foundational principles established in the 1940s, when radioiodine therapy first demonstrated the link between radiation dose and biological response.
Today, her work advances patient-specific dosimetry for emerging theranostic radionuclides, enabling clinicians to:
- Perform image-based quantification of novel radioisotopes.
- Determine organ-specific absorbed radiation dose.
- Tailor radionuclide therapies to individual patients.
- Improve treatment safety and effectiveness.
By integrating next-generation imaging technologies with quantitative dosimetry frameworks, the research directly advances personalised cancer care and supports safer, evidence-based treatment planning.
It also has a strong academic impact, as reflected in the high-quality work of her students, whose projects have achieved recognition through awards in this domain.
Dr Ramonaheng’s research includes organ-specific dosimetry for alpha-emitting radionuclides in the treatment of metastatic cancer.
Ultimately, it contributes to precision oncology by providing evidence-based methodologies that improve therapeutic efficacy, patient outcomes, and quality of life.
Only a small number of centres worldwide have established expertise in alpha-therapy dosimetry, positioning the University of Pretoria and its partners among a select group advancing this specialised field.
The awards also reflect the strength of multidisciplinary collaboration across the University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, NuMeRI, and national and international.
“This recognition demonstrates that South African research and clinical practice are globally competitive,” Dr Ramonaheng said.
“It showcases our ability to bridge foundational science with practical clinical applications that benefit local communities.”
Sources: University of Pretoria
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