Prestigious global award for Prof Keertan Dheda

The University of Cape Town (UCT)'s Professor Keertan Dheda received the prestigious Princess Chichibu Memorial TB Global Award at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Health. 

The 2025 World Conference on Lung Health, the world’s largest annual gathering dedicated to respiratory health, concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the announcement of one of the field’s highest honours. Professor Dheda was awarded the Princess Chichibu Memorial TB Global Award, presented by the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA), in recognition of his exceptional scientific contributions and global leadership in the fight against tuberculosis (TB). 

“I feel immensely grateful and humbled. Science is never a solo endeavour – it is shaped by teams, partnerships, and communities,” Professor Dheda said. “I accept this award as a figurehead of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity in recognition of our collective effort. Our unit is filled with people who work tirelessly every day, whose dedication to patients and communities drives everything we do. Without them, none of this work would be possible.” 

The award, established in memory of Princess Chichibu of Japan, celebrates individuals who have made outstanding, sustained contributions to reducing the burden of TB worldwide. Dheda’s selection reflects decades of impactful work spanning clinical care, research excellence, policy influence, and capacity development in high-burden regions. 

Life’s work 

A highly cited South African clinician scientist, Dheda has dedicated his career to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of TB, particularly in low-resource and high-prevalence settings across Africa and Asia. As the head of the Division of Pulmonology at UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital and the director of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity at the UCT Lung Institute, and holding a joint appointment as Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, he has played a central role in shaping global TB research and practice. 

His work has significantly informed international guidelines, strengthened national TB strategies, advanced innovation in diagnostics, and helped build scientific and clinical capacity across multiple countries. He is widely recognised for his alignment of scientific research with frontline clinical experience, ensuring that research outputs translate into meaningful public health benefits. 

Dheda also serves as a strategic advisor to numerous global and national health bodies, contributing to policy frameworks, guideline development, and strategic planning for TB control. His leadership is further reflected in a long list of prestigious national and international awards recognising his scientific impact. 

Receiving the Princess Chichibu Memorial TB Global Award recognises Prof Dheda's enduring commitment to reducing TB mortality, advancing scientific innovation, and strengthening global health equity. His work continues to influence research agendas and public health strategies worldwide, offering renewed momentum in the global effort to end TB.