Hannah Sebitloane | Clinical Trials | Research Excellence Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hannah Sebitloane | Clinical Trials | Research Excellence Award

University of Natal | South Africa

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hannah Sebitloane is a highly respected obstetrician and gynaecologist whose career embodies academic excellence, clinical leadership, and unwavering commitment to women’s health. She began her medical education at the University of Natal in Durban, where she completed her primary medical degree. She later advanced to specialist training through the South African Colleges of Medicine, earning her Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Her academic journey progressed at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she completed both her Master of Medicine and doctoral qualifications in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. To further enhance her leadership capabilities, she pursued advanced training in health-care leadership at the University of South Wales in the United Kingdom.Dr. Sebitloane holds major leadership roles in both academic and clinical environments. She serves as Head of the Academic Department at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine while simultaneously leading the Clinical Department and functioning as Chief Specialist at King Edward VIII Hospital. As overall coordinator of the women’s health directorate, she oversees strategic planning, service delivery, and implementation of high-level maternal and reproductive health programs. Her earlier professional progression included serving as Head of a Clinical Unit and later as Specialist at King Edward VIII Hospital, building on foundational experience as a medical officer and trainee in the discipline.A prominent scholar in her field, Dr. Sebitloane has accumulated more than 2,700 citations across over 2,500 scientific documents, supported by 62 publications and an h-index of 20. These metrics highlight her significant contributions to reproductive health, maternal medicine, cervical cancer screening, HIV in pregnancy, and infectious diseases affecting women. Her research has informed clinical practice, influenced national policies, and supported global guideline development.Dr. Sebitloane actively contributes to national and international professional bodies. She is registered as an independent specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and is a longstanding member of the South African Medical Association. She has served in leadership roles within the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa through the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and has contributed extensively to the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Her leadership extends to the South African Papilloma Virus Society, where she serves as chairperson, reinforcing her national impact on cervical cancer prevention.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Anonymous. (2025a). Immunoexpression of placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble FMS‑like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‑1) in the placental bed of preeclamptic women of African ancestry living with HIV infection. Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 163(3), 215‑228.

Anonymous. (2025b). Association of angiogenic factors (placental growth factor and soluble FMS‑like tyrosine kinase‑1) in preeclamptic women of African ancestry comorbid with HIV infection. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 312(2), 101‑112.

Erratum. (2024). Correction to: Extensive cervical lesion and treatment outcomes in women with HIV/HPV co‑infection. AIDS Research and Therapy, 21(1), 101.

Anonymous. (2025c). The histomorphology to molecular transition: exploring the genomic landscape of poorly differentiated epithelial endometrial cancers. Journal of Molecular Pathology, 12(4), 345‑360. (link unavailable)

Anonymous. (2025d). From genes to clinical practice: exploring the genomic underpinnings of endometrial cancer. Clinical Oncology Reviews, 9(1), 78‑92.

Narendra Bagri | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narendra Bagri | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

All India Institute of Medical Sciences | India

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narendra Bagri is a distinguished clinician and academician in the field of pediatric rheumatology, presently serving as Additional Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. A graduate and postgraduate of the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, he has built a remarkable career through a blend of clinical excellence, teaching, and groundbreaking research in pediatric autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. He completed the prestigious PRES EMERGE Fellowship in Pediatric Rheumatology at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UK, under the mentorship of Prof. A.V. Ramanan, enhancing his expertise in advanced pediatric rheumatologic care and translational research.Dr. Bagri’s scientific contributions encompass numerous impactful publications addressing critical aspects of pediatric inflammatory diseases, musculoskeletal imaging, and immunological mechanisms underlying juvenile idiopathic arthritis. His research includes the longitudinal analysis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children temporally related to COVID-19, the evaluation of pulse dexamethasone therapy in non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and the technical and interpretive insights into pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound. He has also authored work on the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the forgotten figure in the history of methotrexate, sympathetic blocks for Raynaud’s phenomena in pediatric rheumatological disorders, and the conception of a national biologics registry for pediatric rheumatology.As a principal investigator and collaborator in multiple funded research projects by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Dr. Bagri has contributed extensively to the understanding of synovial fluid proteomics, biomarker discovery, and immune-pathogenic mechanisms in childhood arthritis. His pioneering efforts include the development of transitional care services, collaborative rheumatology clinics, and the initiation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures such as ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections and synovial biopsies.Dr. Bagri is a life member of several professional bodies, including the Indian Rheumatology Association, the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society, and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Recognized for his outstanding contributions, he has received multiple academic honors, travel grants, and leadership roles in national guideline formulation, including contributions to WHO and IAP documents on pediatric inflammatory syndromes. His dedication to research, patient care, and education continues to shape the evolution of pediatric rheumatology in India and beyond.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bagri, N. K., Jose, B., Shah, S. K., Bhutia, T. D., Kabra, S. K., & Lodha, R. (n.d.). Impact of malnutrition on the outcome of critically ill children. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 82(7), 601–605.

Sivasubbu, S., & Scaria, V. (n.d.). Genomics of rare genetic diseases—experiences from India. Human Genomics.

Basu, S., Kumar, A., Kapoor, K., Bagri, N. K., & Chandra, A. (n.d.). Neonatal endogenous endophthalmitis: A report of six cases. Pediatrics.

Bagri, N., Saha, A., Chandelia, S., Dubey, N. K., Bhatt, A., Rai, A., & Bhattacharya, S. (n.d.). Fireworks injuries in children: A prospective study during the festival of lights. Emergency Medicine Australasia.

Bagri, N. K., Yadav, D. K., Agarwal, S., Aier, T., & Gupta, V. (n.d.). Pericardial effusion in children: Experience from tertiary care center in northern India. Indian Pediatrics.

Kumar, A., Bagri, N. K., Basu, S., & Asthana, R. K. (n.d.). Zinc supplementation for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatrics.

Bagri, N. K., Deepak, R. K., Meena, S., Gupta, S. K., Prakash, S., Setlur, K., Satapathy, J., Chopra, K., Upadhyay, A. D., Ramakrishnan, S., Lodha, R., Dar, L., Trikha, A., & Kabra, S. K. (n.d.). Outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children temporally related to COVID-19: A longitudinal study. Rheumatology International.

Gupta, D., Thakral, D., Kumar, P., Kabra, S. K., Lodha, R., Kumari, R., Mohanty, S. K., … & Bagri, N. K. (n.d.). Primary immunodeficiency disorders among north Indian children. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics.