Dr. Atul Lakha

Atul Lakha is a South African clinician-researcher and hematopathology specialist affiliated with Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand. His work focuses on lymphoid malignancies in high HIV and tuberculosis burden settings, integrating clinical observation with advanced molecular and pathological techniques to address diagnostic and prognostic challenges in resource-limited environments.

His research centers on HIV-associated lymphomas, including plasmablastic lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and rare T- and NK-cell neoplasms. He has contributed to studies on MYC aberrations, Epstein–Barr virus involvement, and the application of cell-free DNA and immunoglobulin sequencing to improve diagnostic pathways. Recent prospective work examines the impact of HIV and active tuberculosis on lymphoma presentation and survival in South Africa.

Lakha’s publications also include analyses of rare disorders such as Rosai-Dorfman disease and Castleman disease, highlighting regional disease patterns and therapeutic constraints. His scholarship advances understanding of aggressive hematologic cancers in sub-Saharan Africa and emphasizes collaborative, pathology-driven approaches to improve outcomes in vulnerable populations.