Prof Christopher Mathew

Christopher Mathew is a South African medical geneticist and cancer genomics researcher whose work centers on hereditary cancer and population genomics in African populations. Affiliated with leading South African academic and clinical institutions, his research integrates genomic discovery with clinical implementation, strengthening precision oncology in resource-constrained settings.

His publications highlight genome-wide association studies in breast and cervical cancer, identification of novel risk loci, and evaluation of polygenic risk models in African cohorts. He has advanced understanding of genetic heterogeneity across African populations and demonstrated the limits of transferring European-derived risk markers to African settings, underscoring the need for locally generated genomic data.

Mathew also contributes to translational cancer genetics through studies on genetic testing guidelines, cascade testing, variant reclassification, and liquid biopsy approaches. His work on somatic mutation profiling and saliva-based detection reflects strengths in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics, with sustained impact on equitable access to genomic medicine in Africa.