New ASLM Country Ambassador Champions Laboratory Medicine in Central Africa

ASLM recently welcomed Prof. Francois-Xavier Mbopi-Keou to the ASLM Ambassador Programme. Prof. Mbopi-Keou joins ASLM as Ambassador for Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With over 25 years of experience in research, public health, and microbiology/virology, and as an author of more than 100 scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters, he is an expert in laboratory medicine and HIV/AIDS in Africa. More recently, Prof. Mbopi-Keou has focused his efforts on capacity building for research and public health laboratories in Africa, with the hope of equipping the region against the threat of emerging epidemics.

As an ASLM Country Ambassador, Prof. Mbopi-Keou aims to advance the ASLM2020 Vision through advocacy and facilitation of ASLM programmes in-country, promoting Society goals and activities (e.g. training and accreditation programmes) in Central Africa in partnership with regional health officials and organisations.

Prof. Mbopi-Keou serves as Professor of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, and is also Head of the Division of Laboratory and Blood Safety at the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health. He is a member of several national and international professional and academic societies, and serves on technical advisory committees on laboratory medicine and HIV/AIDS. Previously, Prof. Mbopi-Keou was a Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, a Senior Scientist and Senior Research Fellow at the University College of London, UK, and a Fellow at Harvard University, USA.

By: Rachel Crane (Editorial Team); Contributors: Francois-Xavier Mbopi-Keou, PhD (University of Yaoundé) and Corey White, MPA (Editorial Team); Editor: Michele Merkel, MS (Editorial Team)

Originally published in the November 2014 issue of Lab Culture newsletter.