Dr. Gita Naidu

Gita Naidu is a South African paediatric oncologist affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Her work is closely linked to national collaborative groups and the development of standardized treatment guidelines in childhood cancer. She is recognized for advancing context-appropriate oncology care within resource-limited settings and strengthening multicentre research across South Africa.

Her research focuses on paediatric solid tumours, particularly neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, germ cell tumours, and Hodgkin lymphoma. A central theme is improving risk stratification and surgical decision-making through clinical, radiologic, and biological markers, including image-defined risk factors. She has also explored machine learning approaches using accessible laboratory tests to guide treatment where advanced imaging is limited.

Naidu’s scholarship further addresses nutrition, poverty, and health system factors influencing survival, highlighting the interplay between socioeconomic vulnerability and cancer outcomes. Through studies on national guideline implementation and multidisciplinary care, her work has contributed to policy development and improved survival benchmarks for children with cancer in South Africa and comparable settings.