Ernest Tambo
Cameroon
Belay Tessema
Ethiopia
Zegeye Hailemariam Tessema
Ethiopia
Chinyere Nneka Ukaga
Nigeria
Nadia Atiya
Malaysia
Doo Ryeon Chung
South Korea
Kerushini Govender
New Zealand
Carta Gunawan
Indonesia
Babalobi Olutayo Olajide is a Nigerian Veterinary Epidemiologist and Consultant/Lecturer/Researcher at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, where he was Acting Head of the Department between August 2008 and July 2010. He holds the DVM, MVPM, PhD, MCVSN, and FCVSN qualifications in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology.
He is a Consultant Facilitator and Trainer at the Membership and Fellowship levels of the postgraduate College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria, of which he is a member of the Academic Board.
Over the years, he has been actively involved in around fifty activities promoting the One Health Initiative in Nigeria.
Athanase Badolo is a Professor of Medical Entomology at “Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo” (UJKZ), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He is the Head of the Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases group in the Sciences and Technology Doctoral School. I have 15 years of research experience in malaria and dengue vector control-related topics, providing technical and operational support to the “Permanent Secretariat for Malaria Elimination” and the Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program, by supporting their vector control and entomological surveillance activities. I have carried out research projects related to the evaluation of vector control tools, malaria and dengue vector resistance to insecticides, resistance spatial and temporal variations, and the vectors populations dynamics. My current research is more focused on urban malaria vectors and dengue vector bionomics, with the aim of developing new early warning tools for dengue outbreak prediction to support dengue control in Burkina Faso, as well as developing new strategies for urban malaria mitigation.
Henry Mwandumba is Director of the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) and Head of the Mucosal and Vascular Immunology Group at MLW, Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi, and Honorary Consultant Physician at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. Henry studied medicine at the University of Zimbabwe School of Medicine and specialised in General (Internal) Medicine and Infectious Diseases in Liverpool. His research focuses on understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV-associated illnesses to improve patient outcomes. His research has three major themes: HIV, Tuberculosis and Vascular Diseases. Henry is Immediate Past-President of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS) and Immediate Past-Treasurer of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP). His research is supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the German Research Foundation (DFG). He was Cornell University’s Distinguished African Scholar in 2015, was awarded the MRC/DfID African Research Leader Award in 2017, the Royal Society Africa Prize in 2019 and the Weber-Parkes Prize in 2022.
Dr. Ernest Tambo, PhD is a MERL Specialist and Implementation Scientist at The Centre for Leadership in Global Health Equity, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE). Before Joining UGHE, He served a programmatic public health Auditor, with The GlobalFunds (HIV/TB, Malaria), IOG Unit, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Grants 2018-2023; Consultant and Senior Policy Analyst and Public health consultant on advocacy and promotion of Emerging technologies and tools (genetic engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Drones and digitalization) in tackling health, social and food insecurity challenges at Africa Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Nairobi, Kenya and National Consultant Monitoring and Evaluation, National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS: 2020-2024) Cameroon, as well as Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Research Coordinator and Capacity strengthening with vast technical and implementation experiences in Africa on Emerging and reemerging zoonones preparedness and emergency response interventions.
Prof. Belay Tessema Belay is currently a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, a Senior Scientist at Magdeburg Molecular Detections (MMD) GmbH & Co. KG and CellAir Construction (CELLGYM) GmbH, Germany, and Guest Scientist at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Dr. Zegeye Hailemariam Tessema is currently the national coordinator of the Ethiopian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training program. He is a researcher, mentor, and advisor for residents at different universities, and he is the chief consultant for research affairs in public health. He is also a professional instructor for One Health in the country at different universities.
Dr. Tessema is working on developing the surveillance workforce for Ethiopian public health management. He has worked in the Federal Ministry of Health for over thirty years, strengthening the Ethiopian Health System and developing policies and guidelines. He is actively working with the Ethiopian Public Health Association and the Ethiopian Veterinary Professional Association.
Chinyere, is a Professor of Public Health Parasitology of Imo State University Owerri Nigeria and is presently the pioneer Director Academic Planning and Quality Assurance of Wigwe University Isiokpo Rivers State Nigeria. Chinyere was the 1999 best graduating Ph.D student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka winning both the Vice Chancellor’s Prize and the Faculty of Science Prize. She was a Federal Government scholar at both the secondary school level (Fed. Govt. Girls College Onitsha) and Master’s degree level (University of Nigeria Nsukka). Chinyere holds a Ph.D degree in Medical Parasitology from the Department of Zoology University of Nigeria Nsukka. The Ph.D program was supported by the Tropical Diseases Research (TDR)/ World Health Organization (WHO) training grant with Dr. Hartwig Schulz-Key (University of Tubingen Germany) as co – supervisor.
Chinyere has more than 24 years post graduate research and teaching experience. She has to her credit more than 160 publications in reputable journals, produced more than 46 PhD graduates, as well as numerous MSc graduates.
She consulted for the African Program on Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) now ESPEN a subsidiary of World Health Organization, AFRO (another subsidiary of WHO) and has also consulted for the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Niger Delta Federal Amnesty Program.
Chinyere served Imo State University Owerri in various capacities including Head, Department of Animal & Environmental Biology (Zoology), the Director, Consultancy Services Unit, the first Director Quality Assurance unit, Member of the Imo State University 7th Governing Council, first female Director Academic Planning Unit as well as the first female Dean Student Affairs Directorate. She has very recently moved to Wigwe University Isiokpo as the pioneer Director Academic Planning and Quality Assurance.
Chinyere was the immediate past National President of the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria and is presently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Society. She is an Executive Council member (representing Africa) of the International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID) where she is part of the mentorship program with two mentees from Africa. She is a National Executive Council member of the World Federation of Parasitologists as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Dr. Rashad Abdul-Ghani received his bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science from Sana’a University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1998. He pursued his postgraduate studies at Alexandria University, where he received his Master of Public Health Sciences in 2010 and a PhD in Applied and Molecular Parasitology in 2014. He is currently an Associate Professor at Sana’a University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, with partial affiliation with the Tropical Disease Research Center, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a. His research focuses primarily on tropical parasitic and vector-borne diseases. Dr Abdul-Ghani has been actively involved in several training workshops, conferences and committees and has supervised undergraduate projects, master, and doctoral theses. He has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications for indexed journals and served as a temporary WHO consultant for Yemen’s National Malaria Control Program. From August 2018 to July 2022, he served as a member of the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE IVD) for three terms, contributing to a number of WHO documents and reports. He is also a member of the Uniting to Combat NTDs Consultative Forum. In 2021, Dr Abdul-Ghani was honored with the TDR Global Career Impact Contest award, organized by TDR Global and Social Entrepreneurship to Spur Health (SESH), recognizing TDR-supported scholars working on infectious diseases of poverty.
Hakan Leblebicioglu is a Professor of Infectious Disease and Medical Director at VM Medicalpark Samsun Hospital in Turkey, as well as an elected fellow of the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). He has extensive experience in clinical diagnostic services and infection control programs, and has led research efforts in viral hepatitis, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, and healthcare associated infections in Turkey. Prof. Leblebicioglu has published more than 179 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 42 (SCI). Professor Leblebicioglu is a member of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME); he is editor-in-chief of Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials and is an editor of Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, BMC Infectious Diseases and Antiviral Research.
Professor Leblebicioglu has also served as the founding chair of ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Travellers and Migrants (ESGITM), member of ESCMID Study Group for Viral Hepatitis (ESGVH). He has taught clinical seminars and supervised postgraduate fellows. He has conducted workshops and courses on effective communication, presentation skills, and proposal and manuscript writing.
Dr. Nada M. Melhem is a tenured Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (Virology and Immunology) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut. Melhem is currently the Director of the Division of Health Professions and the Chair of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
With a unique background and training in virology, immunology and epidemiology, Melhem developed at AUB a transdisciplinary and translational research program focusing on viral immunopathogenesis and the epidemiology of viruses, and their impact on global human health. Melhem’s research program focuses on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), viral diarrheal diseases specifically noroviruses and COVID-19. Melhem is currently leading the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients.
In addition to a track-record of productive research work and publications, Melhem has a track record in professional service. She is an elected council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases and serves on the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Evolution Technical Advisory Group. She is also a member of the National Committee for Communicable Diseases since 2009 serving as a scientific advisor to the Minister of Public Health and the Director General of the Ministry in Lebanon. She has been selected to serve as the National Polio Containment Coordinator in Lebanon since 2022. Melhem has been recently selected to serve on the External Advisory Board for Wayne State University’s new Center for Emerging and Infectious Diseases (CEID). Melhem is also a member of the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), a global network of pathogen genomic actors of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Melhem served as a member of the National COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee in Lebanon, as well as the WHO COVID-19 Epidemiology Technical Advisory Group, and was the representative of Low-Resource Settings on Rapid Evidence Assessment of Drug Candidates of the COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition.
Dr. Mohamed Rhajaoui is currently the director of the National Institute of Hygiene in Morocco and the current National Focal Point of the Biological Weapons Convention. He is also a member of the Permanent National Scientific Research Committee, a member of the jury of the Lalla Hasnaa Sustainable Littoral trophy, and a member of the National Scientific and Technical Vaccine Committee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mohamed Rhajaouiwas coordinated the National Genomic Consortium of SARS-CoV-2 and was the Technical responsible for the National COVID-19 Laboratoires.Dr. Rhajaouiis graduated in Health Management and Marketing and specialized in Health Program Management and Parasitological and Vector Borne diseases.
Professor of Hepato-gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Zagazig University, Egypt. Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician at Zagazig Fever Hospital, Egypt. Clinical Infectious Disease Trainer at the Egyptian Fellowship (High Committee of Medical Specialities). Former Head of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, Zagazig University, Egypt. Secretary General of the Permanent Scientific committee for Promotion of Professors at the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities. Council member of ISID. Member of the viral working group of ISAC.
Dr. Waqas Ahmad has been serving as an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology & Public Health at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Narowal Campus, Pakistan. His academic and research interests include epidemiological investigations of dog-mediated rabies, zoonotic diseases, One Health, and infectious diseases at the animal-human interface. He has also been serving as a member of the Unite Against Rabies (UAR) forum of the WOAH and edited the first open-access research book about rabies in Asia Pacific entitled ‘One Health For Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination In Asia, A Collection of Local Experiences.’ Dr. Ahmad is the leading young scientist who holds various international nominations to present his research work regarding rabies in peer-reviewed international meetings, conferences, and trainings. He has also been serving as a reviewer of several peer reviewed journals and published many research and review articles as well. Dr. Ahmad is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) of the UK, which further advocates his excellence in teaching and research.
Aleksandra Barac is infectious diseases specialist working in the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical diseases of the University Clinical Center of Serbia and Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. She is Fellow of ESCMID, Fellow of ECMM, general secretary of ESCMID Emerging Infections Subcommittee, Vice-president for Young-ISHAM, member of ESCMID Ethics Advisory committee, ESCMID Panel member for writing the treatment guidelines for COVID-19 as well as experts Panel member for writing the ECMM-ISHAM Candidiasis guideline, past President of the ESCMID TAE Steering Committee, chair of ERS CRC on Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), past Vice-President for Juniors of European rhinology Society (ERS) and representative of UNESCO’s Advisory committee for Open Science. She has been awarded with more than 20 international awards, of the most importance are UNESCO-L’Oréal for “Women in Science”, ISHAM Young Investigator Award for achievements in clinical mycology, ESCMID TAE Award for training achievements, ECMM Young Investigator Award, Award from the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade, EAACI Mentorship award and ERS grant. Dr Barac’s clinical and research work is focused on diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections, respiratory infections, sepsis and antimicrobial stewardship.
Paolo Calistri is working since 1995 at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZS-Teramo) Italy. He is the Head of the Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory. In his remit he coordinates the work of two Units (Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, Statistics and GIS), and the activities of the National Reference Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology activities.
Other responsibilities and memberships:
He was involved in many international activities as a risk analysis expert and in several international projects and initiatives focused on the prevention and control of animal health diseases and zoonoses.
More than 130 published papers (h-index: 26).
Nicola Petrosillo is an Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine specialist who currently works at the University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico in Rome, Italy. For 22 years, he has been the Director of an Infectious Disease Division at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” in Rome, Italy. He is President of the Multidisciplinary Joint Committee on Infection Control, European Union Medical Specialties (UEMS).
His main fields of interest include emerging and re-emerging infections, pandemic plans, preparedness, communication and health, healthcare-associated infections, severe infections, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial resistance, and antimicrobial stewardship. Since 2013, he has been Editor-in-Chief of the Peer-reviewed journal Infectious Disease Reports (IF=3.4).
Professor Alessandra Scagliarini graduated in Veterinary Medicine and obtained a PhD in Epidemiology and Control of Zoonotic Diseases. She is Full Professor at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (School of Medicina) where she is in charge of several One Health undergraduate and post graduate programs. Her scientific interests focus on the inter- and transdisciplinary approach of One Health in research, particularly in exploring the interactions between humans, animals, and ecosystems that can trigger health emergencies. Research efforts are particularly focused to the development innovative diagnostic Point of care technologies suitable for low resource settings. As a volunteer, Prof Scagliarini is involved in several capacity building projects on One Health in collaboration with NGOs.
Prof Scagliarini is associate editor of the IJID – One Health Journal and a member of the WHO One Health Working Group on Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and was the former Chair of the UNA – One Health Self Steering Committee of the UNAEUROPA Alliance. In October 2023, She was honored to receive the One Health Award as the best Italian scientist in this field.
Dr. Wannous is a public health professional who serves as the One Health Senior Specialist and Global Coordinator for the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Her work focuses on prevention of health threats at the human-animal-environment interface through the One Health approach, including on zoonotic and vector borne diseases, AMR, and integrating the environment in One Health initiatives.
Dr. Wannous is member of several Steering Committees including the Future Earth Health Knowledge Network, the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, the Council of International Society of Infectious Diseases, the Scientific Committee of the Global Research Project on One Health of EchoHealth Alliance and the 500 Women Scientist Editorial Board.
Dr. Patricio Acosta is a biologist and a physician, deeply passionate about respiratory diseases. He obtained a Master’s degree in Biology (with a concentration in genetics) from Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. He also earned his MD and PhD degrees with honors from the School of Medicine at Universidad de Buenos Aires.
Currently, he is an associate professor at the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children’s Hospital, a renowned pediatric public hospital in Argentina and one of the biggest public hospitals in Latin America. Over the years, he has specialized in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases, conducting research in both animal models and human populations. His work addresses research questions that bridge the gap between basic and clinical science, with a primary focus on respiratory diseases affecting pediatric populations in low-income settings.
Dr. Chad Cross is trained as a multidisciplinary scientist and holds advanced degrees in the life sciences, statistics, and the social sciences. He has expert knowledge, skills, and abilities in research, complex quantitative analysis, leadership, grantsmanship, and policy development. As a professional scientist, he has accumulated nearly three decades of experience in academia, in the federal government, in private industry, and as a professional consultant. His research consistently involves working with multidisciplinary research teams to address novel and complex research questions in public health, biology, and medicine. He applies his work broadly in both a dry-lab setting providing quantitative expertise, and in a wet-lab setting providing expertise in parasitology and vector biology. His research agenda spans the areas of quantitative ecology, applied biostatistics and epidemiology, medical and veterinary entomology, disease ecology, and the ecology and epidemiology of parasites and vector-borne diseases.
Dr. Cross is currently Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is Co-I or Co-PI on several grants, and serves as the Co-Director of the Parasitology and Vector Biology Laboratory (PARAVEC Lab), that uses both morphological and molecular techniques to study parasites and to enhance understanding of vector-borne diseases.
Tatiana Drummond is a Venezuelan pediatric infectious disease specialist with a master’s degree in HIV. Since 2010, Dr. Drummond has served as the Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Pediatric Infectiology at the Central University of Venezuela and Coordinator of the Pediatric HIV Consultation at the University Hospital of Caracas. From 2006 to 2010, she was a technical advisor for Project Fight against HIV in Central America and the Caribbean. She is also a member of both PENTA and PLANTAIDS groups. Her work includes numerous investigations into HIV infection in children.
Davidson Hamer, MD is a Professor of Global Health and Medicine at the Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, the co-lead of the climate change and emerging infectious diseases research core at the BU Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases, and an attending physician in infectious diseases and Director of the Travel Clinic at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Hamer is currently the Surveillance Lead, of GeoSentinel, a global surveillance network of 70 sites in 30 countries that uses returning travelers, immigrants, and refugees as sentinels of disease emergence and transmission patterns throughout the world.
Dr. Hamer’s research interests include maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCH&N) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), arboviral infections, emerging diseases, tropical medicine, travel medicine, infection control, and antimicrobial resistance.
Senior Researcher and Faculty, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia. Researcher and Faculty, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru. Non-Resident Faculty Researcher, Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon. Dr Rodriguez-Morales is an expert in tropical and emerging diseases, particularly in zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, including COVID-19 and mpox, and their occurrence among travellers and migrants, as well as its approach under the One Health lens. President, Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI) (2023-2025). Past-President, Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (ACIN) (2021-2023). Member of the Council, International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) (2020-2026). Editor-in-Chief, Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Full Member, European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). Member, American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTM&H). Member of the International Society for Travel Medicine (ISTM). H index 63 (Scopus).
After her MBBS (1994-2000) and MD (2002-05) she joined the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory as a junior faculty and carried out her doctoral research (2005-10) jointly at CMC, Vellore and Tufts Medical Center, Boston. Following a brief post-doctoral research stint at National University of Singapore (2014-15), she returned to CMC, Vellore and set up an independent, multi-disciplinary research program. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, impact and prevention of endemic parasitic and bacterial infections, such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Campylobacter and soil transmitted helminths. Her team carries out studies in geospatially mapped and censused populations combined with high throughput laboratory testing supported with funding from NIH, BMGF, ICMR, SERB, GCRF and DBT. She has obtained an NIH Fogarty ‘Emerging Global Leader Award’, leads one of seven NIH funded Tropical Medicine Research Centers and has obtained recognition as a ICMR Center of Excellence for work on helminthic infections. She is a council member of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, and co-chair of a WHO DTAG subgroup for NTD and was inducted as a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Science in 2023. She also oversees one of the busiest parasitology diagnostics laboratories in south Asia at CMC hospital which receives over 40,000 samples annually and has initiated a national EQAS program for enteric parasites. She is involved in teaching parasitology and tropical medicine for students at CMC as well as for faculty at other institutes nationally and internationally.
Prof. Rijal Basista is a researcher in the field of infectious diseases. He mentors undergraduate and post-graduate students, is the Chief-editor of the Devdaha Medical Journal, and a grant reviewer for the ISID, the University Grant commission, and the Tribhuvan University. He is a member of the Nepal Medical Council.
Dr. Anil Kumar Bhola is a medical doctor with specialization in public health. He has been working as an Independent public health consultant over two decades across diverse range of areas. He has worked with national governments, humanitarian agency (MSF), and UN agencies (UNICEF, WHO) globally. Currently, he is extending his services to the Balkan region in the southeastern Europe. His in-depth understanding of the community-level field realities of the low- and middle-income countries has been instrumental in re-orienting and locally adapting the health service delivery provisions for maximizing impact on health and well being of the populations. He has contributed in development of national, regional and global health strategies.
His focus of interest has been on risk prevention/mitigation, strengthening healthcare systems, infectious diseases epidemiology, preparedness, and operational readiness for emerging and re-emerging health threats. He is strong advocate for evidence-based public health practice and has contributed in design and piloting of innovative solutions in resource-challenged settings. He serves on the Research Committee. He also serves as a mentor to early researchers under the ISID-BMGF Research Capacity Building grant.
Dr Lilani Karunanayake is a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist in the Medical Research Institute, which is Sri Lanka’s apex National Reference Laboratory complex. She is the Head of the Department of Bacteriology and leads the National Reference Laboratories in clinical microbiology & molecular biology, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, leptospirosis, and the quality control laboratory which is the Proficiency Testing Provider (PTP) for clinical microbiology laboratories islandwide. She is the proficiency testing coordinator and technical advisor for the National External Quality Assessment Scheme (NEQAS) in clinical microbiology. Her laboratory provides special and reference clinical microbiology tests for the country. Further, she also provides clinical services such as advice on infection prevention & control and investigation of hospital outbreaks.
She serves in several national advisory committees in the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, such as National Advisory committees on antimicrobial resistance, biosafety and biosecurity, infection prevention & control etc. She is a member of the ‘Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists’, ‘Ceylon College of Physicians’ and ‘Sri Lanka Medical Association’.
She obtained MBBS from the North Colombo Medical College, and MD (Medical Microbiology) from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She also trained in medical microbiology at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK. Her further training includes, antibiotic stewardship from National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore; biosafety preparedness to handle infectious material from National Institute of Virology, Pune, India; antimicrobial consumption methodology from WHO, Geneva Switzerland; laboratory diagnosis for leptospirosis at WHO CC, Andaman Island, India; and laboratory training courses in ISO 15189 and 17043. She pioneered and obtained ISO 15189 and ISO 17043 for all microbiology and molecular biology investigations in her laboratory and the NEQAS program respectively.
She is also a postgraduate trainer, teacher and examiner for Diploma and MD programmes, and thesis supervisor and examiner for MPhil and PhD programs both nationally and internationally.
Her research interests are in antimicrobial resistance, leptospirosis, and vaccine-preventable bacterial diseases. She has contributed to many peer-reviewed publications, including in the Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control journals, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. She also has over 100 peer-reviewed conference presentations. On several occasions, she has won ‘President’s Award for Scientific Publications’, the highest for research in Sri Lanka. She has contributed to several books and delivered invited speeches both nationally and internationally.
Fingani is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the faculty of Medicine, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand. A molecular microbiologist with over 15 years of experience in public health and in infectious disease research in low- and middle-income countries, she has worked on infectious diseases, including TB, malaria, and dengue fever in Malawi, Sweden, the UK, New Caledonia, and Thailand. Her work focuses on infectious diseases affecting at-risk populations and communities. She has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals, including three books. Her current book, “Sustainable Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries,” is part of the Sustainable Development Goals Series.
Fingani’s work focuses on infectious diseases, including sustainable health in LMIC, emphasizing Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3), and analyses the various factors affecting populations in achieving SDG3 and associated Sustainable Development Goals. Her work highlights the impacts of various shocks on health and livelihoods, determinants of health, as well as social and economic outcomes in rural populations including at risk populations in limited resource settings. She is a council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) and an editorial board member for ISID journals. She is a member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Organization of Women in Science.
Associate Professor Dr Nadia Atiya obtained her medical degree from the National University of Ireland and practised as a medical doctor in the Irish healthcare system before returning to Malaysia in 2009. She subsequently obtained her master’s degree and specialist qualification in medical microbiology from the University of Malaya. She is certified and registered as a medical specialist in medical microbiology in the National Specialist Register of the Malaysian Medical Council. Dr Nadia is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya and a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and the Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). She also serves as the Head of the Diagnostic Mycobacteriology Unit at UMMC and Deputy Chairman of the UMMC Tuberculosis Committee.
In 2022, she was selected by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), a global network of science, engineering & medical academies (hosted by The World Academy of Sciences secretariat), as one of 21 outstanding young physician leaders under the age of 40 from around the world who are pursuing careers in medical education, clinical leadership, public health, health policy and health services management and show great promise for leadership in their chosen careers. In 2023, she was inducted as a life member of the College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia.
She has published papers in peer-reviewed journals, including PLOS ONE, Scientific Reports, The Journal of Hospital Infection, and Tropical Medicine & International Health, and she has reviewed manuscripts for PLOS ONE and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open.She is a two-time recipient of the University of Malaya Faculty of Medicine Best Para- Clinical Lecturer Award, voted by the University of Malaya medical students in the graduating class of 2018 and 2020. In recognition of her excellent service and contributions to clinical service, teaching and research, she was awarded the University of Malaya Excellent Service Award in 2017 and the University of Malaya Certificate of Excellent Service in 2020.
Dr. Doo Ryeon Chung is an esteemed infectious diseases specialist with over 25 years of experience in clinical practice and research, focusing on antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship. He currently serves as a professor at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea.
Dr. Chung obtained his M.D. from Seoul National University and furthered his expertise with a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Department of Medicine at Seoul National University Graduate School. His post-graduate training includes an internship at Seoul National University Hospital, a residency in internal medicine at Asan Medical Center, a clinical fellowship in infectious diseases at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, and a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School, the USA.
Throughout his career, Dr. Chung has held significant roles in various institutions. He served as the Director of Infection Control at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital and later at Samsung Medical Center. He has also played a key role in public policy advisory roles at both national and international levels, contributing to the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Chung’s significant contributions to the field are reflected by his numerous academic appointments. He has served as the Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Foundation for Infectious Diseases (APFID) and the Organizer of the Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP). His commitment to antimicrobial stewardship is highlighted by his leadership in developing computerized prescription programs and launching public antibiotic awareness campaigns.
With over 300 research papers published in reputable journals, Dr. Chung remains a leading figure in the fight against infectious diseases, advocating for improved infection control practices and antimicrobial stewardship globally.
Kerushini Govender is a veterinarian with a Masters degree in veterinary tropical diseases and a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the field of Veterinary Public Health. Currently employed at New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries as a Principal Adviser for Animal Health.
Focus/fields of interest: Reducing the impact of endemic animal and zoonotic diseases by promoting and progressing research, surveillance and control programmes. Driving disease control through a One Health approach.
David Lewis is currently Director of the Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre in Australia. He holds a Conjoint Professorship at the University of Sydney and an Honorary Professorship at the University of Cape Town. Prior to his move to Australia in 2014, David was Head of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Disease’s Centre for HIV and STIs. David’s research interests include antimicrobial resistance and surveillance of STI pathogens, biomedical prevention of bacterial STIs and STI care in resource-poor settings. He is an elected Council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases and a Past President of the International Union against STIs. David served as Deputy Editor for Sexually Transmitted Infections for over a decade and remains on the journal’s Editorial Board. David is a member of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Technical Advisory Committee for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STIs, and assists with WHO’s work on STI treatment guidelines and point-of-care diagnostics. Within New South Wales, he is a member of the State’s HIV and STI Strategy Implementation Committees, the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service’s Advisory Committee and the International Advisory Board for the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine.
Professor David LYE Chien Boon (MBBS, FRACP, FAMS, FRCP) graduated in medicine on the Dean’s List from the University of Melbourne in 1996 and completed specialty training in infectious diseases in Australia in 2004. He returned to Singapore to work at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) in 2005.
Professor Lye is Director, Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Disease (NCID); group head (research), interim Communicable Disease Agency, Singapore; professor, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; and deputy executive director, Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE), Singapore. He is co-director, Respiratory and Infectious Disease Programme, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, and senior consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, TTSH. At TTSH, he founded and led the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme from 2009 to 2018. At NCID, he headed Singapore Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network (SCRN) from 2014 to 2020, and Training and Education Office from 2018 to 2020.
He has chaired the National Antimicrobial Stewardship Expert Panel since 2014. He is member, National Antimicrobial Resistance Control Committee, One Health Antimicrobial Resistance Project Team and Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination, Ministry of Health, Singapore.
His research interests are in COVID-19, dengue and antimicrobial resistance. He has published more than 370 peer-reviewed manuscripts in journals such as NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, JAMA Oncology, JAMA Pediatrics, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Lancet Infectious Diseases, Lancet Microbe, Lancet Global Health, Annals Internal Medicine as well as Science, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Reviews Immunology, Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, Science Translational Medicine, Journal Clinical Investigation and Journal Experimental Medicine. He was a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher 2022 and 2023, and Stanford University Top 2% Scientist 2022 and 2023. He is member, Editorial Advisory Board, Journal Global Antimicrobial Resistance. He was formerly associate editor, BMC Infectious Diseases and Scientific Reports; and member, editorial board, JAC- Antimicrobial Resistance.
Professor Lye is President, Society of Infectious Disease (Singapore). He is an advocate for HIV prevention as Vice President, Action for AIDS. Internationally, he is President, Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection; ex officio, executive committee, International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy; and member, council, International Society of Infectious Diseases.
Xiang Ren is an Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Disease at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He graduated from Capital Medical University, subsequently pursued a Master of Science in Public Health at Emory University, and later completed his PhD training in infectious disease, epidemiology, and biostatistics at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Ren is epidemiologist whose work focuses extensively on surveillance and outbreak response to acute and emerging threats in China, Ren’s research explores the design and deployment of national infectious disease surveillance network by which public health emergencies and health policies translate into healthcare big data and health outcomes, with the aim of embedding scientific evidences into disease control policy design and increasing prevention impact. Dr. Ren has conducted research on vaccination strategies and the epidemiology of various infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis and etc. Findings from his studies have been incorporated into national disease control guidelines. Additionally, he has contributed to drafting and revising laws, regulations, and technical guidelines pertaining to infectious disease control and prevention in China.
