Full Professor and Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, South Africa. After completing my medical degree (MBChB) and specialist training as physician (M.Med in Internal Medicine) at the University of Stellenbosch (both cum laude), I spent three years at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Universitaire Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium in Clinical Haematology from January 2001 to December 2003. In January 2004 I accepted the position of Head of Clinical Haematology, a subdivision of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of the Free State. In 2011, he obtained his Ph.D. in Health Professions Education at the University of the Free State on the development of a postgraduate education programme for medical doctors in Transfusion Medicine. This contributed to the development of the first Anglophone Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degree Programmes in Transfusion Medicine in Africa, which has graduated more than 30 students from all over Africa. I became Acting Head of the Department of Internal Medicine in April 2013 after the retirement of the previous Head of Department. In September 2013 I was appointed Head of the Department of Internal Medicine. In June 2014, I was elected to be the Chairperson of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee of the School of Medicine and a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Committee. I have served on many other committees over the years, inter alia on the School of Medicine Selection Committee, the Institutional Pathology Committee, the Museum Committee and the Blood Conservation Committee. I have received a number of awards, bursaries, grants and academic honours, including Academic Honours for being the top student in medicine at the University of Stellenbosch as an undergraduate student and the University of Stellenbosch Andries Brink medal for the best Postgraduate Student of all Health-related disciplines in the year 2000.

My research focus is in Transfusion medicine education, haematological malignancies and HIV-related haematological disease. I have authored or co-authored more than 70 papers in national and international peer-reviewed medical journals with more than 200 poster and oral presentations at national, and international meetings. I am a member of, inter alia, the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the International Society of Hematology (ISH), the European Haematology Association (EHA), the African Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT), the South African Society for Haematology (SASH), the South African Lymphoma Study Group (SASLG) and I am a founding member of the South African Society for Clinical Haematology (SASCH). I have also served on the scientific and organizing committees of a number of national and international conferences. I serve on the editorial board or as reviewer for a number of national and international medical journals, and is a member of and chairs a number of national and international advisory boards and trusts.

My major strengths include strategic leadership, building visionary teams and clinical teaching. My vision is to develop online learning platforms so that world-class medical teaching would be freely available anywhere in the world. To this end I have embarked on a project whereby I produce teaching videos which can be found on my Vernon Louw MedEd YouTube Channel.

1. Louw VJ, Moosa MR. Letter to the Editor – Carcinoid tumour. Lancet. 1998;352:1554
2. Louw VJ, Burgess LJ, Reuter H, Corbett C, Doubell AF. The preferred route of adjuvant steroid therapy in patients with tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiovascular Journal of Southern Africa, SAMJ 1998;88:Suppl 5: C327
3. Reuter H, Louw VJ, Corbett C, Burgess LJ, Doubell AF. Idiopathic pericarditis – quo vadis? Cardiovascular Journal of Southern Africa, SAMJ 1998;88:Suppl 5: C320
4. Reuter H, Louw VJ, Corbett C, Burgess LJ, Doubell AF. Human immunodeficiency virus associated tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiovascular Journal of Southern Africa, SAMJ 1998; 88: Suppl 5: C321
5. Louw V, Reuter H, Corbett C, Van Niekerk J, Doubell AF. The preferred route of administration for steroid therapy in pericardial disease. Cardiovascular Journal of Southern Africa 1998; 5: C327
6. Burgess LJ, Reuter H, Louw VJ, Corbett C, Doubell AF, Taljaard F. The diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and interferon-g (g-IFN) in tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiovascular Journal of Southern Africa, SAMJ 1998;88:Suppl 5: C328
7. Louw VJ, Schmidt A, Bolliger CT. The silhouette-sign revisited. Respiration, March 2000;67(1):89
8. Smedema JP, Katjitae I, Reuter H, Burgess L, Louw V, Pretorius M, Doubell AF. Twelve-lead electrocardiography in tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiovasc J S Afr. 2001 Feb-Mar;12(1):31-34
9. Arts J, Louw VJ, Bolliger CT. Pushed, pulled or twisted? Respiration. 2001; 68(4):405
10. Louw VJ, Reuter H, Smedema JP, Katjitae I, Burgess LJ, Doubell AF. Clinical experience with pericardiocentesis and extended drainage in a population with a high prevalence of HIV. Netherlands Heart Journal. 2002 Oct; 10(10): 399-406
11. Verhoef G, Delforge M, Maertens J, Verburgh EV, Louw VJ, Boogaerts M. Behandeling van indolente Non-Hodgkin Lymfomen. [Treatment of the indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas]. Tijdschrift voor geneeskunde. Feb 2003
12. Maertens J, Verhoef G , Delforge M, Theunissen K, Verburgh E, Louw V, Boogaerts MA. Behandeling van febriele neutropenie gebaseerd op risicostratificatie: (wanneer) is ambulante therapie haalbaar? Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde. 2003; 59(20):1263-1268
13. Louw VJ. Hairy cell leukemia – an overview. Stellmed Updates, Sep 2003
14. Louw VJ. Thrombocytopenia in Pregnancy. Stellmed Updates, Sep 2003
15. Louw VJ. Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Stellmed Updates, Sep 2003
16. Louw VJ. Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Stellmed Updates, Sep 2003
17. Louw VJ. Platelet dysfunction in renal failure. Stellmed Updates, June 2004
18. Verburgh ER, Achten R, Brusselmans C, Louw VJ, Delforge M, Vandenberghe P, Hagemeijer A, Boogaerts M, De Wolf-Peeters C, Verhoef G. A new disease definition of low-grade MDS based on the expression of cytopenia and dysplasia in one or more lineages at diagnosis improves on the FAB and WHO classification. Haematology Journal Supplement June 2004, Abstract 269
19. Louw VJ. Renal disease in multiple myeloma. Stellmed Updates, February 2005
20. Louw VJ. Hypercalcemia of malignancy. Stellmed Updates, February 2005
21. Louw VJ. Drug-induced haemolytic anaemia.  Stellmed Updates, March 2005
22. Goorts K, Boogaerts MA, Dubois B, Goossens W, Dedeken P, Louw V, Verstegen G, Vermeire S. Een loodzwaar probleem van onverklaarde abdominale pijn en anemie. Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde. 2005. 61 (14-15):1061-1069
23. Louw VJ. Immuun-trombocytopenische purpura. Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde. 2005. 61 (11): 865-868
24. Louw VJ. Pseudo-thrombocytopenia – a common, but often unrecognized phenomenon. Stellmed Updates, December 2005
25. Dedeken P, Louw V, Vandooren AK, Geert V, Goossens W, Dubois B. Plumbism or lead intoxication mimicking an abdominal tumor. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jun; 21(6):C1-3
26. Reuter H, Burgess LJ, Louw VJ, Doubell AF. Experience with adjunctive corticosteroids in managing tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiovascular Journal of South Africa. Sep/Oct 2006. 17(5): 233-238
27. Louw VJ, Louw H. Rural Doctors given fresh hope. S Afr Med J. 2006 Nov;96(11):1139
28. Verburgh E, Achten R, Louw VJ, Brusselmans C, Delforge M, Boogaerts M, Hagemeijer A, Vandenberghe P, Verhoef G. A new disease categorization of low-grade myelodysplastic syndromes based on the expression of cytopenia and dysplasia in one versus more than one lineage improves on the WHO classification. Leukemia. Apr; 21(4):668-77. Epub 2007 Feb 15
29. Reuter H, Burgess LJ, Louw VJ, Doubell AF. The management of tuberculous pericardial effusion: experience in 233 consecutive patients. Cardiovasc J S Afr. 2007 Jan-Feb; 18(1):20-5.
30. Smedema JP, Louw VJ. Pulmonary arterial hypertension after splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis. Cardiovasc J S Afr. 2007 Mar-Apr; 18(2):84-9.
31. Louw V. Heyns A du P. The role of the state in establishing a public cord stem cell bank. Centre for international political studies. Electronic briefing paper No. 43/2007. Epub July 27, 2007
32. Smedema JP, Abrahams S, Louw VJ. Partial Reversal of Hemolysis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Response to Oral Administration of L-Arginine in a Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis. Acta Haematol. 2007 Sep 21;118(3):167-168 [Epub ahead of print]
33. Louw VJ, Du Preez P, Malan A, Van Deventer L, Van Wyk D, Joubert G. Pica and food craving in adult patients with iron deficiency in Bloemfontein, South Africa. S Afr Med J 2007 Nov; 97(11):1069-1071
34. Louw VJ, Louw H. Citrus aurantium, beware of the bitter orange. S Afr Med J. 2008;98(7):496
35. Bosch FJ, Badenhorst L, Le Roux JA, Louw VJ. Successful treatment of Chromobacterium violaceum sepsis in South Africa. J Med Microbiol. 2008; Oct; 57(Pt10):1293-5
36. Alli N, Coetzee M, Louw V, Van Rensburg B, Rossouw G, Thompson L, Pissard S, Thein SL. Sickle cell disease in a carrier with pyruvate kinase deficiency. Hematology. 2008; 13(6):369-372
37. Du Toit M, Claassen D, Le Roux A, Nel E, Van Biljon W, Joubert G, Louw VJ. Percutaneous injuries in doctors in the School of Medicine, University of the Free State: incidence, reporting and adherence to precautionary and management procedures. SA Fam Pract. 2009; 51(2):128-131
38. Webb MJ, Mlombe Y, Louw VJ. South African guidelines on venous thromboembolism. S Afr Med J. 2009;99(9):614
39. Louw VJ, Louw H, Webb MJ. Autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2009 Sep 10; 361(11):1118-9; author reply 1119
40. Coetzee MJ, Louw VJ, Gartrell K, Viljoen, CD. Chakalaka-induced vasodilatation in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia on tyrosine kinase inhibitors. S Afr Med J. 2009;99(12):870-871
41. Louw VJ, Nel TJ, Leipoldt EJ, Badenhorst PN, Hay JF, Nel MM. Challenges in transfusion medicine recruitment and training-a solution. Transfus Med.2010;20:70-71 First published online Sep 2009
42. Louw VJ, Webb MJ. Prognosis and treatment of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. 2010 Apr; 42(2):193-7. Epub 2010 Feb 8
43. Louw VJ. Novel therapies in multiple myeloma for newly diagnosed nontransplant candidates. Editorial. Cancer J (South African excerpts edition). 2010 Mar-Apr; 2(1)
44. Visagie GJ, Louw VJ. Myocardial injury in HIV-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Transfus Med. 2010 Aug 1;20(4):258-64. Epub 2010 Apr 14
45. Louw VJ, Heyns A du P. The role of the state in establishing a public cord blood stem cell bank. S Afr Med J. 2010;100(5):264-265
46. Mlombe YB, Louw VJ, Webb MJ. Chronic small lymphocytic neoplasm: proposal for nomenclature change in order to clinically integrate chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma. Afr J Haematol Oncol. 2010 (1):26-27
47. Feys HB, Roodt J, Vandeputte N, Pareyn I, Lamprecht S, van Rensburg WJ, Anderson PJ, Budde U, Louw VJ, Badenhorst PN, Deckmyn H, Vanhoorelbeke K. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura directly linked with ADAMTS13 inhibition in the baboon (Papio ursinus). Blood. 2010 Sep 23; 116(12):2005-10. Epub 2010 Jun 15
48. Nel TJ, Louw VJ. Report on the Postgraduate Diploma in Transfusion Medicine at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Africa Sanguine 2010 Jul; 13(1):34-36
49. Chen W, Leiter A, Yin D, Meiring M, Louw VJ, Koeffler HP. Cucurbitacin B inhibits growth, arrests the cell cycle, and potentiates antiproliferative efficacy of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Int J Oncol. 2010 Sep; 37(3):737-43
50. Barrett CL, Webb MJ, Louw VJ. The role of nurses in massive transfusion. Professional Nursing Today 2010; 14(3).
51. Louw VJ, Van Der Westhuizen J, Rautenbach W, Van Der Berg E, Wamelink M, Joubert G. The antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from blood cultures during episodes of neutropenic fever in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. South Afr J Epidemiol Infect 2010;25(2):09-11
52. Louw V, Webb MJ. Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma.  S Afr J Anaesthesiol Analg 2010;16(1):57
53. Ludwig H, Beksac M, Bladé J, Cavenagh J, Cavo M, Delforge M, Dimopoulos M, Drach J, Einsele H, Facon T, Goldschmidt H, Harousseau JL, Hess U, Kropff M, Leal da Costa F, Louw V, Magen-Nativ H, Mendeleeva L, Nahi H, Plesner T, San-Miguel J, Sonneveld P, Udvardy M, Sondergeld P, Palumbo A. Multiple Myeloma Treatment Strategies with Novel Agents in 2011: A European Perspective. The Oncologist 2011;16(4):388-403. First published online March 26, 2011 doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2010-0386
54. Louw VJ, Dreosti L, Ruff P, Jogessar P, Moodley D, Novitzky N, Patel M, Schmidt A, Willem P. Recommendations for the management of adult chronic myeloid leukaemia in South Africa. S Afr Med J. 2011;101(11):840-846
55. Hellmann A, Rule S, Walewski J, Shpilberg O, Feng H, van de Velde H, Patel H, Skee DM, Girgis S, Louw VJ. Effect of Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inducers on the Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic and Safety Profiles of Bortezomib in Patients with Multiple Myeloma or Non-Hodgkin`s Lymphoma. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2011 Dec 1; 50(12):781-91. doi: 10.2165/11594410-000000000-00000
56. Louw VJ, Bassa F, Chan SW, Dreosti L, du Toit M, Ferreira M, Gartrell K, Gunther K,  Jogessar V, Littleton N, Mahlangu J, McDonald A, Patel M, Pool R, Ruff P, Schmidt A, Sissolak G,  Swart A, Verburgh E, Webb MJ. Guideline for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in South Africa. S Afr Med J 2011; 101(12):900-906
57. Webb M, Barrett C, Barrett S, Janse van Rensburg J, Louw V. Cranial plasmacytoma: a case series and a review of the literature. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus Published online November 2011. DOI 10.1007/s12288-011-0126-7
58. Wilson JC, De Kock A, Weyers R, Louw V. Triple Heterozygous Thrombophilic Mutations: a Family Study. Medical Technology SA 2011; 25(2):36-39
59. Webb MJ, Barrett CL, Pretorius C, Van Jaarsveld MF, Louw VJ. Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Int J Hematol. 2012 May; 95(5):556-63. First published online 20 April 2012
60. Louw VJ. Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in South Africa. Hematology. 2012 Apr;17 Suppl 1:75-8
61. Louw VJ. The Consultation. Ann Intern Med May 1, 2012 156:634
62. Meiring M, Webb M, Goedhals D, Louw VJ. HIV-associated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - what we know so far. European Oncology & Hematology. 2012;8(2):89–91
63. Louw VJ, Nel MM, Hay JF. Postgraduate education in transfusion medicine in the absence of formal residency training: Assessment of factors needed to develop and sustain a postgraduate diploma program. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. Published online August 2012
64. Barrett C, Webb M, Louw V. The management of massive transfusion in adults. Africa Sanguine. 2012;15(1):1-5
65. Cappellini MD, Beshlawy AE, Porter JB, Kattamis A, Taylor K, Rose C, Louw VJ, El-Ali A, Martin N, Gattermann N. Concomitant Medications and Gastrointestinal Events in Thalassemia and MDS Patients Receiving Deferasirox for Transfusional Iron Overload: Data From the EPIC Study. Blood (ASH Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings) 2012 120: 5182
66. Experts in chronic myeloid leukemia. Price of drugs for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), reflection of the unsustainable cancer drug prices: perspective of CML Experts. Blood. 2013 May 30;121(22):4439-42. First published online Apr 25. [Epub ahead of print]
67. Barrett CL, Louw VJ, Webb MJ. Exchange transfusion as a life-saving intervention in three patients with different haematological malignancies with severe hyperleukocytosis where leukapheresis was not available. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. Epub ahead of print 2013, Sep 20.
68. Bidmos MA, Joubert S, Van Jaarsveld MFPC, Louw VJ. Plasma cell leukaemia and HIV co-infection: profile of patients and experience at Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Int J Hematol. 2013 Dec; 98:672-680. First published online 21 November 2013.
69. Joubert S, Bosman M, Joubert G, Louw VJ. The utilization of red cell concentrates at Kimberley Hospital Complex, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. 2013 Dec;49(3):522-527. First published online June 10, 2013
70. Louw VJ, Nel MM, Hay JF. Factors affecting current status of transfusion medicine education in South Africa. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. 2013 Dec;49(3):665-672. First published online June 3, 2013.
71. Louw VJ, Nel MM, Hay JF. Postgraduate education in transfusion medicine in the absence of formal residency training: Assessment of factors needed to develop and sustain a postgraduate diploma program. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. 2013 Dec;49(3):681-686. First published online August 2012
72. Louw VJ, Wood L. Professor Peter Jacobs FRRSAf. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. Published online: 31 March 2014. DOI:10.1080/0035919X.2014.900524
73. Alli NA, Patel M, Alli DW, Bassa F, Coetzee MJ, Davidson A, Essop MR, Lakha A, Louw VJ, Novitzky N, Philip V, Poole JE, Wainwright R. Management of sickle cell disease: South African guidelines. SAMJ. Published online June 20, 2014.
74. Alli NA, Patel M, Alli HD, Bassa, F, Coetzee MJ, Davidson A, Essop MR, Lakha A, Louw VJ, Novitzky N, Philip V, Poole JE, Wainwright RD. Recommendations for the management of sickle cell disease in South Africa S Afr Med J 2014;104(11):743-751. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.8470
75. Louw VJ. Biography: Professor Vernon J. Louw. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):5. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.014. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
76. Louw VJ. Transfusion Education and Practice in South Africa (Editorial). Transfusion and Apheresis Science. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):6-7. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.015. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
77. Louw VJ. Determining the outcomes for clinicians completing a postgraduate diploma in transfusion medicine. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.009. Epub 2014 Oct 16.
78. Jacobs P, Wood L, Louw V. The future of transfusion medicine in under resourced countries.Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):8-9. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.010. Epub 2014 Oct 18
79. Sonnekus PH, Louw VJ, Ackermann AM, Barrett CL, Joubert G, Webb MJ. An audit of the use of platelet transfusions at Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.011. Epub 2014 Oct
80. Van den Berg K, Murphy EL, Pretorius L, Louw VJ. The impact of HIV-associated anaemia on the incidence of red blood cell transfusion: Implications for blood services in HIV-endemic countries. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):10-18. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.012. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
81. Joubert J, Joubert S, Raubenheimer J, Louw V. The long-term effects of training interventions on transfusion practice: A follow-up audit of red cell concentrate utilisation at Kimberley Hospital, South Africa. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.013. Epub 2014 Oct 17.
82. Barrett CL, Joubert D, Griffiths VP, Ebersohn S, Joubert G, Louw VJ, Webb MJ. Patients` recall and perceptions regarding consent to blood transfusion at Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):19-24. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.007. Epub 2014 Oct 14.
83. Louw VJ. The difference in scope of practice between a specialist in transfusion medicine and the clinician who deals with transfusion on an ad hoc basis. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Dec;51(3):33-37. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.10.008. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

2004: Principal Investigator for:

A randomized controlled study of DOXIL®/CAELYX® (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) and VELCADE™ (Bortezomib) or VELCADE monotherapy for the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma. (Protocol: DOXIL-MMY-3001: Phase 3)

2005: Principal Investigator for:

A Phase 2 Study to Determine The Activity Of BMS-354825 in Subjects with Chronic Phase Philadelphia Chromosome –Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Who Have Disease that is Resistant to High Dose Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) or Who are Intolerant Of Imatinib, Protocol: CA 180013

A Randomized Multi-center Open Label Study of BMS -354825 vs. Imatinib Mesylate(Gleevec) 800 mg/d in Subjects with Chronic Phase Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Who Have Disease That is Resistant to Imatinib at a Dose at 400-600 mg/d, Protocol: CA 180017

A Randomized Two-by-Two, Multicenter, Open-Label Phase III Study of BMS-354825 Administered Orally at a Dose of 50 mg or 70 mg Twice Daily or 100 mg or 140 mg Once Daily in Subjects with Chronic Phase Philadelphia Chromosome or BCR-ABL Positive Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Who are Resistant or Intolerant to Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec®), Protocol: CA 180034

A Randomized Two-Arm, Multicenter, Open-Label Phase 2 Study of BMS-354825 Administered Orally at a Dose of 70 mg Twice Daily (BID) or Once Daily (QD) in Subjects with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in Accelerated Phase (AP) or in Myeloid (My) or Lymphoid (Ly) Blast Phase (BP) or with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ALL) Who are Resistant or Intolerant to Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) Protocol: CA 180-035

A randomized, open-label study of 400mg versus 800mg of Gleevec in patients with newly diagnosed, previously untreated chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) using molecular endpoints – TOPS Study


2006: Principal Investigator for:

Randomised, Controlled, Open-labeled, Multi-centre, Comparison of Thalidomide versus High-dose Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Protocol: THA PH INT 2005 CL 001

2007 Principal Investigator for:

A Phase I/II Study of SKI-606 in Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Leukemias. Protocol: 3160A4-200-WW

A phase II, multicenter study of oral LBH589 in patients with accelerated phase blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia with resistant disease following treatment with at least two BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Protocol: CLBH589B2211

2008 Principal Investigator for:

A Worldwide, Observational Registry collecting Longitudinal Data on the management of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) patients (The WORLD CML Registry) in routine practice. Protocol: CST1571A2402

An open-label, multicenter, expanded access study of oral AMN 107 in adult patients with Imatinib(Glivec/Gleevec)-resistant or –intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis, accelerated phase or chronic phase. Protocol: CAMN107A2109

An open-label study to assess the effect of CYP3A4 induction on the pharmacokinetics of Velcade.

2009 Principal Investigator for:

A Phase I open-label study to assess the effect of CYP3A4 liver enzyme induction on the pharmacokinetics of Velcade. Protocol: 26866138-CAN-1006

2010 Principal Investigator for:

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled phase III study of Panobinostat in combination with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Protocol no: CLBH589D2308

Medical Education and the use of technology and online learning in student teaching

Haematological Malignancies, especially Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), Myelodysplastic syndromes and Multiple Myeloma

Transfusion-related iron overload

Postgraduate Diploma in Transfusion Medicine

Clinical Haematology (MBCHB and Postgraduate students in Haematology and Internal Medicine)

Vernon Louw MedEd

Vernon Louw MedEd is a personal initiative, whereby I produce YouTube teaching videos in the form of screencasts. The aim is to teach the basic concepts of haematology in an electronic blackboard format. This allows students to watch these in their own time, while class-time can be used for interactive case discussion and problem-solving activities. Connecting this with social networking (at this stage Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr), allows for continuous interaction between lecturer and students. The long-term vision is to create an online training platform that encompasses clinical exercizes with screencasting videos and gaming mechanics, which would encourage mastery of study material and self-paced learning. These websites would then be turned into mobile applications for tablets and mobile phones, thus addressing the variety of ways in which the modern students learn. For examples of completed videos, visit my YouTube channel: Vernon Louw MedEd or my Vernon Louw MedEd Facebook page. The Twitter handle is @vernonlouwmeded

Myeloma Iphone app development

I was invited to be involved with the development of mmApp, a Multiple Myeloma application for use on a smartphone or tablet, aimed at Clinical Haematologists and Oncologists in collaboration with a team of Swiss colleagues, Werner Linkisch, Prof. Johannes Drach, Prof. Eberhard Gunsilius, Dr Wolfgang Willenbacher, Prof. Mario Bargetzi, Dr Urs Hess, Dr Erika Lerch and Dr Christian Taverna. This was done with financial support of Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH. The app will be exclusively available for authorized medical professionals in South Africa and is an exciting milestone in our programme of enhancing our digital learning and practice platforms. My responsibility was to change and adapt the app for the South African environment.

SHaRE Initiative (Sub-Sahara Africa Regional Expertise):

I formally initiated and direct the SHaRE initiative as a project focused on capacity building, skills development and networking in Clinical Haematology and Transfusion Medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. Our vision is that every sub-Saharan African country will have at least one Clinical Haematologist and/or one medical doctor trained in Transfusion Medicine by 2030. Expertise in the field of Clinical Haematology and Transfusion Medicine is greatly lacking in Africa, especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Although medical schools abound, specialist training and services are only available in a select number of centers in a limited number of countries. Thus far, we have trained or are in the process of training three additional Clinical Haematologists within the context of this initiative (one from Malawi, one from Zimbabwe and two from South Africa). We have trained 29 medical doctors from sub-Saharan African countries outside South Africa in a two-year transfusion medicine course (Five from the DRC, three from Malawi, two from Namibia and two from Nigeria, 17 from South Africa) and have done an outreach visit to teach at the University of Botswana. This initiative is going from strength to strength. Our Division has also won a Discovery Award for training of Clinical Haematologists and received funding from the International Society for Blood Transfusion for the development and implementation of our Transfusion Medicine training programs.

Semonkong Hospital Project:

The Semonkong Hospital Project in the Kingdom of Lesotho is a health, educational, social and economic empowerment program, directed by Dr Michael-Robert Waldeck, but jointly run by the International Missions Hospital Trust (IMHT) and the Semonkong Hospital Trust. The project is run in close collaboration with the Lesotho Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and has at its aim the building of a 120-bed hospital in a very rural part of Lesotho where medical services are almost non-existent. Students from different universities are involved in different related projects, including medical and dentistry, social development, agriculture, engineering, educational and veterinary sciences. I have served as one of three members of the Advisory Board to the Boards of the Trusts. I have also been directly involved with the planning of the project, the hospital design and has joined the students and doctors on their outreaches on numerous occasions.

Artists Against Cancer:

I started the Artists Against Cancer initiative in 2004, with the aim of alleviating the suffering of leukaemia patients who have been admitted for in-patient care for protracted periods of time. Patients with leukemia and other cancers that require long-term isolation and in-hospital management are in danger of becoming depressed and losing hope while going through intensive chemotherapy while at the same time trying to cope with the emotions of dealing with a life-threatening disease. This often leads to depression and hopelessness and patients wanting to give up. Secondly, many of our poorer patients’ families do not have the financial means to visit them in hospital which just worsens this cycle of despair. The aim was to get artists involved in alleviating the isolation and suffering of cancer patients, by showing their support in a creative and inspiring way through the medium of art, whether it be in painting, drawing, sculpturing, poetry, music, drama, flower-arranging or photography. Since then, many musicians, artists, photographers, schools, singers, and even local art societies have become involved, and have had a fantastic impact on patient lives. At the same time, we have been able to transform our wards into beautiful environments filled with inspiration and pictures of hope.

Haematology Research Trust

I am an appointed trustee of the Haematology Research Trust that serves the purpose of supporting research into haematological malignancies and stem cell transplantation. It also supports the organization and funding of the biannual South African Lymphoma Study Group Congress, as well as other conferences, such as the European Haematological Association (EHA) and European School of Hematology (ESH) joint meeting in Cape Town on HIV-related haematology in 2013.

Social Entrepreneurship:

Since 2004, the Division of Clinical Haematology has been actively involved in clinical trials with novel agents, mainly for haematological malignancies and patients who have limited or no other options. All the funding generated from this have been invested back into our department for the use of clinical research, support of the SHaRE project, bursaries to students, support of staff to attend and present research at congresses, for the upgrading of infrastructure (painting wards, laying new floors in hospital wards), acquiring new equipment (EKG machines, monitors, computers, printers, blood pressure and other clinical measurement instrumentations, blood warmers, etc.). This has allowed the unit to function on a very high level despite the resource constrained environment that we are situated in.

Oranje Meisieskool (OMS), Bloemfontein (Oranje Girls Secondary School)

I serve on the School Board of Oranje Girls Secondary School and is responsible for the Academic portfolio. Oranje has always been one of the top secondary girls’ schools in the country and it was a great honour to be asked to join the Board at the beginning of 2012.