The Bronze factor

Briefly map your relationship with Celtic?

It's been a long journey! As a medical scientist at NHLS's Charlotte Maxeke Hospital laboratory, I relied on their best-in-class kits for molecular haematology. I maintained close ties with the team during my time in the commercial sector and now, returning to laboratory leadership, we've renewed our supplier partnership.

Trusted partners are vitally important, especially in smaller labs. Celtic play a crucial role as trusted advisors, sourcing innovative, cutting-edge products that in turn help us elevate our offerings. And their reputation for excellence has echoed consistently among clients wherever I have worked.

You used to run a company and are now back in the lab environment. Why the switch?

As a medical scientist by training and commercial diagnostics leader by experience, I felt compelled to return to the laboratory – channelling my business knowledge to drive meaningful impact closer to the patient.

This shift aligns with my deep-seated, patient-centric values, which, happily, resonate with Oncolab's mission to deliver compassionate, precise care that transforms lives at the frontline.

Oncolab has very specific goals.

Yes. It emerged as a spin-off from Alberts Cellular Therapy (ACT), Africa's largest private haematology practice, known for treating blood disorders by means of stem cell transplant and CAR-T cell therapy.

Our aim is to meet evolving clinical needs quickly, efficiently and with customer needs foremost in our minds. We're here to do our very best, as professionally and cost-effectively as possible.

In your opinion, what are the chief challenges facing smaller labs these days?

Staffing certainly. Smaller laboratories grapple with acute skill shortages. Attracting and retaining specialised talent in molecular diagnostics and haematology is proving increasingly difficult in a global world.

We have to delicately balance ethical practice – upholding rigorous standards like those from HPCSA, SAHPRA and SANAS – with patient demands for timely, comprehensive care, all while safeguarding business viability in a resource-constrained environment.

And price. Small labs struggle with price competitiveness. Limited discounts from suppliers in general are a challenge. And short turnaround times require resources of various kinds.

You're ideally placed to gauge current oncology trends. What is shaping oncology laboratories in 2026?

Oncology laboratories in 2026 are pivoting toward precision medicine, with next-generation sequencing (NGS) at the forefront - including whole genome sequencing and virtual panels - for comprehensive tumor genomic profiling and identifying actionable mutations to guide targeted therapies.

Liquid biopsies are revolutionizing monitoring of solid tumours by detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and treatment resistance non-invasively, complemented by AI-driven multi-omics for holistic patient insights.

In South Africa, these trends align with NHI-driven molecular diagnostics growth, though smaller labs must navigate skill shortages and capital limits to integrate them effectively

If you could highlight one thing for the industry, what would it be? 

Two things, actually. Adaptability and agility.

In resource-constrained environments like ours, success hinges on working smarter – embracing AI to bridge skill shortages, optimise workflows, and amplify our teams' expertise – rather than replacing it.

True innovation thrives not in limitless budgets, but in creatively adopting accessible technologies, from AI triage to automated molecular technology platforms. That way we deliver precision diagnostics without compromising viability or ethics.

And we shouldn't ever forget our primary focus – to provide the best clinically relevant diagnostics for our unique patient population. Staying true to what is truly clinically relevant for our setting, not simply doing what is being done elsewhere. On a macro level, diagnostics should lead innovation and best-practice. Others will follow!