WOMEN IN HEALTH & WELLNESS Heidi Abrahamse DSTI NRF SARChI Chair: Laser Applications in Health | Director: Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg Heidi Abrahamse, distinguished professor, is a pioneer in health research and laser applications, serving as DSTI NRF SARChI Chair and Director of the Laser Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg. Her leadership at the Laser Research Centre, which includes six senior researchers, around 30 Master’s and PhD students, and 10 postdoctoral fellows, is a testament to her ability to manage a large team and lead complex projects. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of the Witwatersrand and further honed her leadership skills at GIBS and Harvard Medical School’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program. Her days are a combination of mentoring, strategic leadership, grant development, and presenting research internationally. She thrives on seeing emerging researchers grow in confidence, innovate boldly, and make meaningful contributions to science. Her work focuses on pioneering therapies that utilise photodynamic and photobiomodulation techniques, achieving breakthroughs in molecular pathways and the development of autologous stem cell grafts. Beyond the lab, Heidi finds joy in gardening, history, travel, and celebrating the growth of her students and children. She credits her perseverance and dedication to lessons from her mother and years of rigorous research. For Heidi, meaningful progress comes from patience, persistence, and nurturing potential in others. She embodies a rare combination of scientific brilliance and mentorship, creating ripples of impact that extend from the laboratory to communities, inspiring a new generation of researchers to pursue discovery with curiosity, courage, and a sense of purpose.
Heidi Abrahamse
