Dr. Pascale Willem

Pascale Willem is a South African academic pathologist affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Her work centers on hematopathology and molecular pathology, with a strong focus on malignancies prevalent in high HIV-burden and resource-constrained settings. She contributes to advancing diagnostic precision through integrated morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genomic approaches.

Her research extensively examines plasmablastic lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and related hematologic cancers, highlighting distinctive clinicopathological and cytogenetic patterns in Southern Africa. Through studies on MYC alterations, EBV association, and regional translocation profiles, she has clarified disease behavior and prognostic factors in populations underrepresented in global literature.

In solid tumor research, she has led genomic investigations into esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and breast carcinoma biomarker testing, establishing workflows for tissue processing and molecular analysis in African contexts. Her work strengthens local biobanking capacity and supports equitable access to targeted therapies by defining molecular landscapes relevant to African patients.