ASSA 2026 PROGRAMME
ASSA 2026 PROGRAMME
Sunday
12 April 2026
Workshops and arrival
13:30-14:00 Arrival and Registration
14:00-16:00 Interest
Group Workshops
Venue: Swakopmund Plaza Hotel
Clinical Anatomy Interest Group Session:
Medical Education Interest Group Session:
Technical Interest Group Session:
16:00-18:00 ASSA
Council meeting
18:30-19:30 Thompson-Stibbe Lecture: Prof Adam Taylor
Venue: Swakopmund Plaza
Hotel – Waterberg Room
19:30-20:30 Canapés
and drinks
Monday
13 April 2026
Biological Anthropology Theme (Forensic
Anthropology, Bioarchaeology, Comparative Anatomy)
07:00-08:00 Registration
08:00-08:15 Welcome: Prof Wessels
– Chair of the Local Organizing Committee
08:15-08:30 Opening: Prof Brits – ASSA
President
08:30-10:30 Oral
presentations: Biological Anthropology Theme #1
Chairs: Prof Desiré Brits (Wits) and TBC
08:30-09:15 Plenary Presentation: Prof Eugénia Cunha
Why Forensic
Anthropology Is Now an Irreplaceable Discipline: Lessons Learned from African
Cases
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
09:15 |
Quantitative
morphometrics of the gonial angle and mastoid process for sex estimation
using regression formulae |
A
Poolman |
|
09:30 |
Effects
of differential patterns of tooth loss on craniofacial measurements and
forensic classification accuracy |
L
Liebenberg |
|
09:45 |
Craniometric
evaluation of population affinity among South African subadults
|
M
Harripershad |
|
10:00 |
Evaluating
the Utility of Population Affinity Estimation in the South African Forensic
Identification Context
|
A
Baliso |
|
10:15 |
Establishing
Facial Soft Tissue Thickness Standards for South Africans using Cone Beam
Computed Tomography Scans |
S
van der Walt |
10:30-11:00 Conference &
Council Photo
11:00-11:30 Tea/Coffee and
Poster Viewing
11:30-13:00 Oral
presentations: Biological Anthropology Theme #2
Chairs:
TBC
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
11:30 |
Reconstructing
Tsonga lifeways: Tracing health, stress and cultural identity in a 17th‑century
community from Nkomati
|
A
Meyer |
|
11:45 |
Preliminary
insights into the impact of burial environments on historic migrant
labourers’ skeletons |
N
Jackson |
|
12:00 |
Preliminary results: Overcoming
microCT segmentation challenges in taphonomically altered bone using custom
AI models |
C
Landsman |
|
12:15 |
Preliminary
findings on skeletal trauma patterns in South African historic diamond and
gold mines |
T
Mashego |
|
12:30 |
The
differential cortical bone morphology and trabecular bone microarchitecture
of taphonomically-altered bone |
NR
Loubser |
|
12:45 |
Claws,
Jaws or Tools? Differentiating Scavenger Marks from Screwdriver Trauma |
T
Lottering |
13:00-14:00
Lunch
and Exhibits
14:00-15:30 Poster presentations: Biological Anthropology
and Clinical/Morphological Anatomy Themes
|
Abstract
no |
Title |
Presenter |
|
1 |
Mendosal
(Accessory Occipital) Suture in Two Adult Skulls from Namibia: Morphometric
Analysis and Anatomical Significance |
JJ
van der Merwe |
|
2 |
Evaluating
mandibular asymmetry in a modern South African sample
|
M
Harripershad |
|
3 |
Anatomical
variations and functional implications of the three-dimensional morphometry
of the distal femur in a South African sample |
D
Kristen |
|
4 |
Dental
Calculus as a Molecular Archive: Expanding Bioarchaeological Insights into
Diet and Disease |
S
Maboea |
|
5 |
Reproducibility
and reliability of the Demirjian Classification Scheme for dental age
estimation in a selected South African population |
S
Ishwarkumar-Govender |
|
6 |
Evaluation
of computational models for age estimation |
D
Botha |
|
7 |
An
overview of forensic anthropology cases at the HVIRU: 2016-2025 |
D
Botha |
|
8 |
Domain
and Thematic Mapping of Forensic Anthropology and Taphonomy Research in the
Forensic Department at Wits University |
CA
Keyes |
|
9 |
Quantitative
assessment of cranial vault dimensional changes with desiccation: preliminary
findings
|
R
Kobedi |
|
10 |
Trends
in South African anatomy research: integrating traditional and emerging
research techniques
|
BC
Langa |
15:30-16:00 Tea/Coffee
16:00-17:15 Oral presentations:
Biological Anthropology Theme #3
Chairs:
TBC
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
16:00 |
“How
big is yours?” Taphonomy research facility size and other essential
experimental design questions no one is asking
|
DA
Finaughty |
|
16:15 |
Scavengers
and Decomposition: Experimental Forensic Taphonomic Studies on Table
Mountain, Cape Town |
KL
Snyckers |
|
16:30 |
The
effects of waterproofing coverings and environmental variables on data logger
recording accuracy and reliability: implications for forensic taphonomic
research
|
CA
Keyes |
|
16:45 |
Integrating
region-based trait mapping for standardised palaeopathological data
collection |
S(J)
Tempest |
|
17:00 |
Impact
of Operator Movement Ability on Videogrammetry: Comparing Gimbal and Handheld
Capture Methods on Dental Profiles |
J
Gavin |
17:30-18:30 President’s Emergent Anatomist
Event/Student event - TBC
18:30-20:30 Student Social / Academic Networking
- TBC
Tuesday
14 April 2026
Traditional Anatomy Theme (Clinical/Morphological
Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology, Histology and Developmental
Biology)
07:30-08:00 Registration
08:00-10:30 Oral
presentations: Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology, Histology and Developmental
Biology Theme
Chairs:
TBC
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
08:00 |
Cytoprotective
and Hypoglycaemic Potential of Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg Aqueous Leaf
Extract Following the Induction of Hyperglycaemia in C2C12 Myotube |
CS
Opuwari |
|
08:15 |
Sex-specific
effects of a high sugar diet and the anti-psychotic drug olanzapine on
pancreatic histology in a Wistar rat model
|
V
Ntywankile |
|
08:30 |
Differential
regulation of OLIG1 in cortical and brainstem white matter following morphine
and ibogaine treatment in Sprague-Dawley rats
|
D
Govender |
|
08:45 |
The
in vitro antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of Dhingila as a
potential anti-diabetic and anti-melanoma therapy
|
PN
Nyashanu |
|
09:00 |
Effects
of Metformin on hippocampal cell proliferation and migration in Streptozotocin-Induced
Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats |
MK
Bodiba |
|
09:15 |
Root
to resource: South African sweet potato-mediated gold nanoparticles,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects |
PJ
Palm |
|
09:30 |
Evaluation
of erythrocyte-spleen axis malfunction biomarkers in High-Fat,
High-Carbohydrate (HFHC)-diet-induced prediabetes in primigravida
Sprague-Dawley rats as a risk for the development of preeclampsia |
A
Ludidi |
|
09:45 |
Anatomical
and Histological Characterisation of the Cricothyroid Membrane within a South
African Body Donor Population: Implications for Emergency Airway Management |
N
Briers |
10:00-10:30 Tea/Coffee and Poster Viewing
10:30-13:00 Oral presentations: Clinical/Morphological
Anatomy Theme #1
Chairs:
TBC
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
10:30 |
First
Molar Root Dentine Thickness: A Novel Software-Based Investigation |
M
Meyer |
|
10:45 |
Population-specific
root and canal morphology in Namibia: a CBCT atlas using Ahmed classification
|
GA
Streit |
|
11:00 |
The
anatomical spread of a simulated ultrasound-guided erector spinae fascial
plane block in the cervical region in neonatal cadavers observed through cone
beam CT scans |
AN
van Schoor |
|
11:15 |
Anatomical
Variations of the Clivus and Related Craniometric Measurements in the Adult
Population of Botswana: A CT-based Study |
G
Tanthuma |
|
11:30 |
Comparison
of conventional and cone beam computed tomography-derived lateral
cephalograms in cephalometric analysis in a South African sample |
R
Kobedi |
|
11:45 |
Three-dimensional
geometric morphometric evaluation of distal femoral shape and its congruence
with contemporary knee implant geometry in South Africans? |
D
Kristen |
|
12:00 |
Microstructure
analysis of the labyrinthine, tympanic and mastoid segments of the facial
nerve: Implications for three-dimensional computational modelling for
cochlear implants |
S
Govender |
|
12:15 |
Within
reach: spatial relationships between deep brain stimulation targets and the
deep cerebral venous system |
J
Naidoo |
|
12:30 |
Establishing
clinical guidelines for an anterior tibial tunnel placement for PCL
reconstruction |
J
Naicker |
|
12:45 |
Stature-Related
Variation in Internal Jugular Vein Anatomy: Implications for Cerebral
Temperature Regulation |
P
Hoogland |
13:00-14:00 Lunch and Exhibits
14:00-15:30 Poster presentations: Clinical/Morphological
Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Cell Biology, Histology and Developmental Biology
Themes
|
Abstract
no |
Title |
Presenter |
|
11 |
Antibody
Production with Synthetic Peptides Against Human Coronavirus-NL63 ORF3
Protein
|
YE
Mnyamana |
|
12 |
Simvastatin
had a barrel-specific neuroprotective effect against alcohol-induced damage
of the somatosensory posterior medial sub-field barrels of adolescent mice
|
AA
Efuntayo |
|
13 |
Fibrotic
Features Distinguish Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis from Seropositive
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
|
S
Palosaari |
|
14 |
Anatomical
variations of the celiac trunk: new South African data and reemphasis of the
clinical relevance
|
KS
Mpolokeng |
|
15 |
A
cadaveric study investigating the spread of injectate following an interspace
between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee block in a
neonatal sample: a pilot study
|
S
Pillay-Addinall
|
|
16 |
From
Classification to Degeneration: A Retrospective Radiographic Analysis of
Femoro-Acetabular Joint Changes in Avascular Necrosis in South Africa |
R
Khan |
|
17 |
Pulpal
Floor Thickness in First Molars: A Micro-CT Study of a Black South African
Sample |
M
Meyer |
|
18 |
Variations
in the morphology of the arch of C1 and its relations to the surrounding
neurovascular structures
|
N
Mogale |
|
19 |
Location
of the Nipple-areolar Complex among Nigerian Males
|
BS
Ominde |
|
20 |
Vertebral-Level–Specific
Prediction of Vertebral Artery Size Using Transverse Foramen Dimensions
|
KS
Regan |
|
21 |
Fibre
bundle morphology and aponeuroses of the soleus muscle in neonates: A
three-dimensional modelling study |
AN
van Schoor |
15:30-16:00 Tea/Coffee Break
16:00-17:30 Oral presentations: Clinical/Morphological
Anatomy Theme #1
Chairs:
TBC
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
16:00 |
A
Dissection-Based Evaluation of the Origins and Dimensions of the Deep
Femoral, Medial Circumflex Femoral, and Lateral Circumflex Femoral Arteries |
KA
Keet |
|
16:15 |
Morphometric
analysis of the bicondylar width of the femoral condyles as well as the
surface area of the tibial plateau in a selected South African population
group: Implications for knee replacement surgeries |
K
Kouame |
|
16:30 |
The
course pattern of the sphenoid emissary vein and its clinical implications in
a selected South African population |
T
Cele |
|
16:45 |
Anatomical
Patterns of Pulmonary Involvement in Long COVID: A Scoping Review of Imaging
Evidence |
M
Mahasha |
|
17:00 |
Rotarod
Performance and Sciatic Nerve Morphometry in a Valproic Acid Rat Model of
Autism |
PM
Chinyengetere |
|
17:15 |
Mapping
the innervation to the anterior knee joint capsule in a South African sample |
N
Mogale |
18:30-20:30 Gala Dinner: Tiger Reef
Beach Bar & Grill
Wednesday
15 April 2026
Medical Education and Ethics Theme
07:30-08:00 Registration
08:30-10:30 Oral presentations: Medical Education
and Ethics Theme
Chairs:
TBC
08:00-08:30 Plenary Presentation: Prof Kathryn Smith
HeartWorks:
transformative learning through interdisciplinary art-science and
cross-curriculum collaboration
|
Time |
Title |
Presenter |
|
08:30 |
Predicting
Academic Success in First-Year Anatomy Using Admission Metrics: A Decision
Tree Classification Approach |
N
Jooste |
|
08:45 |
Hands-On, Minds-On:
Student perceptions of active musculoskeletal anatomy learning
|
L
Prigge |
|
09:00 |
Finding the overlap: a
secondary analysis of student and educator perspectives of histology
education in South Africa |
V
Ntywankile |
|
09:15 |
Integrating generic
skills in histology education |
S
Palosaari |
|
09:30 |
Colonial Legacies,
Postcolonial Responsibilities: Managing State-Donated Anatomical Collections
in South Africa |
A
Alblas |
|
09:45 |
Should we be promoting
regional initiatives to support ethical body sourcing in southern Africa? |
B
Kramer |
|
10:00 |
The Xhosa ethnic
group’s knowledge, willingness and perceptions towards whole-body donation |
BZ
De Gama |
|
10:15 |
Leveraging
Digital Transformation for Longitudinal Analysis of Body Donation Trends in a
South African Context
|
N
Briers |
|
10:30 |
Documented
human osteological collections in Africa and their associated ethical and
managerial challenges |
Q
Chinenere |
|
10:45 |
Naming the unclaimed:
negotiating the terminology for non-consensual anatomized decedents |
VE
Gibbon |
11:00-11:30 Tea/Coffee and Poster Viewing
11:00-11:30 Poster presentations: Medical
Education and Ethics Theme
|
Abstract
no |
Title |
Presenter |
|
23 |
Free
Forensic Anthropology Online Training 2026: Help me help Africa (and beyond)…
|
D
Brits |
|
24 |
Investigating
undergraduate health science students’ perceptions toward histology at a
South African Tertiary Institution |
P
Budaki |
|
25 |
Patterns
of student-GenAI interaction in higher education and their perceived
educational consequences
|
JI
Layman-Lemphane |
|
26 |
Glass
Slides or Digital Skies? Student Perspectives on Blended Histology Microscopy
in a South African Medical School
|
A
Alblas |
11:30-13:00 ASSA
AGM
13:00-13:30 Conference Prize-giving and Closure