Johnny Mahlangu

Professor Johnny Mahlangu is Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. A clinician-scientist with >200 peer-reviewed publications, he leads translational and clinical research programmes centred on haemophilia A & B, novel coagulation therapeutics, and global bleeding-disorder epidemiology.

Education & Qualifications

• MB BCh – University of the Witwatersrand
• MMed (Haematology) – University of the Witwatersrand
• FCPath (Haem) – College of Pathologists of South Africa
• BSc (Laboratory Medicine) – University of the Witwatersrand

Research Interests

Professor Mahlangu’s work spans the full translational spectrum, from molecular studies on clotting-factor biology to multinational phase-3 trials and global gene-therapy registries. Key themes include:

• Development and evaluation of extended half-life recombinant factors (rFVIII-Fc, rFIX-Fc, rIX-FP, N9-GP).
• Non-replacement therapies such as the bispecific antibody emicizumab, anti-TFPI marstacimab and anti-tissue factor pathway inhibitor concizumab.
• Gene-therapy strategies for haemophilia A & B, including AAV-mediated FIX and FVIII gene transfer, long-term safety registries (WFH Gene Therapy Registry), and real-world evidence generation.
• Optimising peri-operative haemostasis in patients with inhibitors, with special emphasis on dosing algorithms for eptacog beta (activated rFVIIa).
• Health-related quality-of-life and caregiver burden in sub-Saharan African cohorts, and strategies for capacity-building and home-therapy roll-out.

Scientific Output & Trends

His 2024-2025 papers demonstrate a clear pivot toward post-marketing surveillance of emicizumab and eptacog beta, phase-3 read-outs for marstacimab, and evidence-based guideline updates for low-resource settings. Across >15 years of publications, the research arc moves from early PK/PD studies of long-acting factors, through pivotal trials (A-LONG, B-LONG, HAVEN programme), to contemporary gene-therapy and registry science.

Awards & Recognition

• While specific medals are not listed in the provided text, Professor Mahlangu has served on steering committees for pivotal trials and guideline panels including the World Federation of Hemophilia Guidelines 3^rd edition and ISTH Scientific Subcommittees.

Advising & Grants

He mentors postgraduate haematology trainees at Wits and leads investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored trials supported by Roche, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, CSL Behring, Bayer and Pfizer. Grant portfolios cover phase-3 multinational studies, local gene-therapy education initiatives with ASGCT and Muhimbili University, and WFH-sponsored training fellowships in sub-Saharan Africa.

Laboratory & Clinical Teams

Professor Mahlangu directs the Haemostasis and Thrombosis Research Unit within the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, integrating a GCLP-accredited coagulation laboratory, a clinical trials unit, and outreach clinics serving >400 patients with inherited bleeding disorders across South Africa.