Global and African Perspectives on Lung Cancer Integrating Infections, Genomics, and the Exposome

Chapter 1: Understanding the Global and African Landscape of Lung Cancer: Epidemiology, Histological Subtypes, and Multifactorial Etiologies. Chapter 2: Genomic Alterations and Molecular Signatures in Lung Cancer: From Somatic Mutations to Population-Specific Insights in Africa. Chapter 3: The Role of the Exposome in Lung Cancer Risk: Integrating Lifetime Environmental and Lifestyle Exposures with Genomic Susceptibility. Chapter 4: Transdisciplinary Framework for Lung Cancer Research: Integrating Infections, Genomics, and the Exposome in African and Global Contexts. Chapter 5: Infectious Agents as Drivers of Lung Cancer: Viral, Bacterial, and Parasitic Contributions to Carcinogenesis in Global and African Contexts. Chapter 6: Tobacco Smoke and Air Pollution as Core Environmental Drivers of Lung Cancer: Mechanisms, Global Burden, and African-Specific Challenges. Chapter 7: Occupational and Residential Exposures to Carcinogens: Assessing Risks from Asbestos, Silica, Radon, and Indoor Pollutants in Lung Cancer Development. Chapter 8: Chronic Infections, Immune Modulation, and the Lung Microbiome: How Pathogens Influence Lung Cancer Risk and Therapy Outcomes. Chapter 9: The Social Determinants of Health in Lung Cancer: Linking Poverty, Education, Cultural Beliefs, and Healthcare Access to Risk and Outcomes. Chapter 10: Innovations in Molecular Diagnostics and Biomarker Discovery: Transforming Lung Cancer Detection, Prognosis, and Personalized Care. Chapter 11: Precision Oncology in Lung Cancer: Advances in Targeted Therapies, Immunotherapies, and Overcoming Barriers in African Settings. Chapter 12: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Applications in Lung Cancer: Enhancing Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment through Digital Innovation. Chapter 13: Integrating Environmental and Infectious Exposure Data into Clinical Decisions-Making Comprehensive Lung Cancer Care. Chapter 14: Patient Experiences, Psychosocial Challenges, and Quality of Life Considerations in Lung Cancer Management. Chapter 15: Comprehensive Lung Cancer Prevention Strategies: Public Health Policies, Community Engagement, and Evidence-Based Interventions. Chapter 16: Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Lung Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment: Addressing Access Gaps and Disparities. Chapter 17: Future Directions in Lung Cancer Research and Care: Integrating Multi-Level Determinants and Promoting African-Led Innovation.

Biography

Zodwa Dlamini is a Professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of Pretoria with a strong track record in advancing cancer research, prevention, and care across Africa and globally. She is the Founding Director of the Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), Director of the SAMRC Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU), and holder of the DSTI/NRF SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention (POCP). She is a recipient of the 2024 South African Women in Science Award (SAWiSA) for Distinguished Woman Researcher and was awarded the prestigious Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Sabbatical Grant in 2026 to advance research on the exposome and cancer. She also serves as a Co-Investigator on the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative addressing global cancer inequities. Professor Dlamini is Founding President and Executive Board Member of the African Academy of Integrated Morphology and Health Sciences (AAIMHS), providing strategic leadership and institutional direction. She contributes to global science initiatives through the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health  (GA4GH) and the Global Exposome Forum (GEF), and in 2025 chaired a high-level African exposomics consultation shaping continental strategy. She holds visiting professorships in the UK and USA, advancing global dialogue on precision health, exposomics, and cancer equity.