Welcome to the 65th ITM Colloquium!

Steve Ahuka Mundeke, a professor at the University of Kinshasa since 2013, is a medical virologist (since 2011) specialising in emerging diseases and an expert in vaccinology (since 2017). Over the past decade, he has gained extensive field experience and specialised training, making him a leading expert in managing major health crises affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the African continent, including polio, yellow fever, Ebola virus disease, and COVID-19.

He is affiliated with the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) and the University Clinics of Kinshasa, where he heads the Departments of Virology and Medical Biology, respectively. Currently, he serves as the Incident Manager within the Technical Secretariat for the COVID-19 response in the DRC.

Ahuka has been an expert consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO) for several years. He is also an auditor of the fourth special session of the College of Advanced Studies in Defense Strategy (CHESD), under the Ministry of National Defense in the DRC.

Jean-Claude Dujardin is a biologist specialised in parasitology and a full professor at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), where he leads the Molecular Parasitology Unit (MPU). He also teaches at the University of Antwerp (UAntwerpen) and the University of Namur (UNamur).

Professor Dujardin is internationally recognised as a multidisciplinary expert on the biology of Leishmania (with a focus on genomics and drug resistance) and on the parasitological aspects of leishmaniasis, including treatment failure, molecular diagnostics and epidemiology. At ITM, he has developed a strong research vision, connecting the field with the laboratory and ensuring that outcomes remain relevant for field application.

He has coordinated several EU-funded projects and, for more than a decade, directed the DGD-funded programme of scientific collaboration in Peru. Over the course of his career, he has (co-)organised 18 international conferences, delivered more than 200 presentations, and supervised 32 MSc and 27 PhD students from both Europe and the Global South, as well as hosting 13 post-doctoral researchers.

In 2027, he will hand over the torch to the next generation — salud por todo/as.

Adugna Abera earned his BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology from the College of Health Sciences at Addis Ababa University in 2005. He went on to complete an MSc in Medical Microbiology at the same institution in 2009 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Microbial Sciences and Genetics there. His research focuses on emerging neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), with particular emphasis on molecular epidemiology, drug resistance, diagnostics and metagenomics.

His research career began in March 2010 as an assistant researcher at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), where he worked on the use of Leishmania antigens for diagnostic and vaccine development purposes. His responsibilities included cell isolation, parasite culturing and molecular techniques. In 2016, he joined the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) as a researcher, where he managed malaria and NTD projects and received advanced training in molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Dr Abera has authored more than 55 scientific articles as first or co-author, mainly on malaria and Leishmania, as well as on other infectious pathogens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in establishing a dedicated testing laboratory. Together with colleagues, he has secured grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP-3).

He collaborates extensively with national and international partners, including the Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, CDC-Atlanta and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), on research areas such as malaria, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), NTDs, acute febrile illnesses, genomics and bioinformatics.

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Jeffrey Siegel, PhD, is Professor of Civil and Mineral Engineering and a member of the Hub for Advancing Buildings at the University of Toronto, where he also holds the Bahen/Tanenbaum Chair in Civil Engineering. He has joint appointments with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. He holds an MSc and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as a BSc from Swarthmore College.

Professor Siegel is internationally recognised for his work on indoor air quality and air cleaning. He is a Fellow of ASHRAE and a member of the Academy of Fellows of the International Society for Indoor Air and Climate (ISIAQ). His research interests include healthy and sustainable buildings; filtration and air cleaning; ventilation and indoor air quality; control of indoor particulate matter; the cognitive impacts of indoor air quality; and the influence of building systems on indoor microbiology and chemistry.

Before joining the University of Toronto, Professor Siegel was Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Veerle Vanlerberghe studied Medicine at the University of Ghent and worked as a medical doctor and coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières in several of its target countries. She joined the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) as a research assistant in 2003 and obtained her PhD in 2011 from the University of Ghent.

Dr Vanlerberghe is a senior scientist in Emerging Infectious Diseases, with research focusing on evaluating the impact of arbovirus control interventions. She is also head of the Education Unit in the Department of Public Health at ITM, where she coordinates educational activities. In addition, she teaches several components of the Master of Public Health and postgraduate courses at ITM, and serves as a scientific collaborator in ITM’s development cooperation programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cuba.

Victor Aganaba is a public health professional with extensive experience in programme monitoring and evaluation, as well as implementation research in Nigeria. With a background in Biochemistry, his interdisciplinary profile bridges biomedical science, public health and health systems strengthening.

Over the past seven years, Mr Aganaba has provided strategic support to Nigeria’s Federal and State Ministries of Health, focusing on tuberculosis, HIV and adolescent reproductive health programmes. His expertise includes strengthening health information systems, programme evaluation and driving data-informed decision-making to achieve impactful health outcomes. He has contributed to national Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) initiatives led by the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCP) and the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), supporting efforts to accelerate epidemic control of TB and HIV/AIDS by 2030.

He is currently a Senior Programme Officer at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), where he provides technical support to State AIDS and TB programmes in the southwest region. His work focuses on finding missing TB cases, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), HIV testing services (HTS) and the delivery of quality TB care to at-risk and underserved populations, supported by Global Fund financing.

His research interests include TB undernutrition, AI-enabled diagnostics and adaptive programme models for TB/HIV.

Emmanuel Vakaniaki Hasivirwe is a medical doctor, clinician and researcher with a background in infectious diseases. From 2009 to 2021, he worked as a general physician in various medical emergencies and served as a supervisor at Hôpital du Cinquantenaire and Hôpital Général de Référence de Kabondo in Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He also held a junior assistant post in paediatrics at the University of Kisangani. Through this work, he gained extensive experience in managing infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.

After completing a Master’s degree in Eco-epidemiology in September 2021, Dr Hasivirwe joined the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa, where he coordinated the implementation of field epidemiological and clinical research projects. During this period, he contributed to outbreak investigations and research on emerging infections, particularly mpox. In 2023, he received a scholarship for the short course Data for Action (DAC 2023) at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), becoming an alumnus.

In January 2024, he contributed to the discovery of a new monkeypox virus lineage, Clade Ib, during investigations into a major mpox outbreak in South Kivu, which led to the launch of a prospective cohort study in Kamituga Health Zone. Since February 2024, he has been a predoctoral fellow at ITM Antwerp, and in March 2025 he began his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at KU Leuven, specialising in Immunology and Microbiology.

His current research focuses on Clade Ib MPXV infections, aiming to generate critical insights into socio-demographic profiles, risk factors, clinical characteristics, viral shedding, ocular complications and the impact of infection during pregnancy. His presentation at this colloquium will address the impact of mpox infection on pregnancy.

Teresia Wanjiru Kabi is a highly motivated scientist with a strong academic background in microbiology, biotechnology and tropical animal health. She is currently Principal Laboratory Analyst at the National Veterinary Reference Laboratories in Kabete, Kenya, where she applies her expertise to safeguarding both animal and public health.

She holds an MSc in Tropical Animal Health (Global One Health) from the University of Pretoria and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. Her master’s research, conducted at Ghent University under the supervision of Professor Sarah Gabriel, examined the occurrence of Sarcocystis species in cattle. She also earned a BSc in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Nairobi, where her research focused on bacteria causing bovine mastitis.

With 16 years of experience in veterinary bacteriology and eight years in medical laboratory settings, Ms Kabi is a self-driven professional whose expertise is further strengthened by a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Sciences. Passionate about One Health initiatives, her current work centres on the surveillance of emerging pathogens to strengthen infection prevention and control.

Habtamu Belay Kassa is a neglected tropical diseases (NTD) researcher at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in the NTD Research Division. He is a microbiologist, epidemiologist and PhD candidate in Tropical and Infectious Diseases at Addis Ababa University. With a Master of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, he has developed strong expertise in public health response, pathogen distribution and the complex interactions between pathogens and their human hosts.

His research interests include leishmaniasis, soil-transmitted helminths (STH), schistosomiasis, emerging infectious diseases, and innovative approaches to prevention and treatment. Through his doctoral studies, he is committed to generating knowledge that not only advances science but also supports practical public health solutions with real-world impact. His current work focuses on the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in refugee camps.

Mr Kassa has published on outbreak investigations in South Omo Zone, Ethiopia; the distribution and determinants of visceral leishmaniasis in refugee camps; systematic reviews and meta-analyses on asymptomatic VL infection; and research on STH and schistosomiasis in southern Ethiopia. He aspires to contribute to sustainable solutions that address both current and future tropical and infectious disease threats.

Nelson Mapenzi–Kashali is a Congolese biologist holding a Master’s degree (Bac+5) in Biology. He works at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa, within the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, as part of the Pathogen Genomics Laboratory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

His professional experience in medical biology encompasses extensive training in microbiology, virology, biosafety and genomics. His research focuses on the genomics of viruses and bacteria that pose risks of human infection and transmission.

Mr Mapenzi–Kashali has contributed to multiple studies on emerging infectious diseases in the DRC, including:

• Evaluation of a commercial real-time multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Orthopoxviruses and Monkeypox virus, with simultaneous identification of subclade Ib.
• Epidemiology and phylogenetic characterisation of distinct Mpox outbreaks in 2023 and 2024 in Kinshasa.
• Genomic diversity in the genomic surveillance of clade I Mpox virus in Kinshasa.
• Timeline of events for the first documented positive Mpox case in Kinshasa.
• Overview of SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in the DRC: challenges and perspectives.

Many of his research findings have been presented internationally through oral communications, abstracts and posters at scientific conferences.

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Adéchinan Ovide Gouton holds a Master’s degree in Molecular and Medical Microbiology and works as a Research Assistant at the Supranational Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis in Cotonou (SRL Cotonou). He is actively involved in the SIMBLE, Tropicare and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance projects.

As Head of the Bacteriology Culture Media Production Unit, his research focuses on improving the quality of biological diagnostics and integrating technological innovations into healthcare.

Mr David Ouma Otieno is a Clinical Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Born in Siaya County, Kenya, he is committed to advancing health equity by developing accessible, evidence-based interventions that address disparities in healthcare.

At KEMRI, Mr Otieno contributes to strengthening health system resilience through rigorous research on disease prevention, diagnostics and treatment strategies, helping communities to better withstand health crises. He also focuses on climate and environmental health, examining the impacts of ecological factors on human health and promoting sustainable practices.

His work is driven by a strong motivation to improve health outcomes for underserved populations while contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future.

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Anke Breine is a research scientist at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium. She obtained her Master’s degree in Bioengineering Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2019, after which she began her doctoral studies at the VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology. Her PhD research focused on the discovery and development of alternative strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Following the completion of her PhD, Dr Breine joined the Unit of Tropical Bacteriology (UTB) at ITM. Driven by her passion for addressing antimicrobial resistance, she now works on UTB’s innovative diagnostic projects tailored for resource-limited settings.

Julca Ingrid Amanda Tirado is a Peruvian Master’s student in the Molecular Biology programme at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), where she also obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Genetics and Biotechnology. Her academic and research trajectory has been shaped by a strong interest in molecular mechanisms, bioinformatics and cell biology, with a particular focus on parasites as aetiological agents and the elucidation of their intracellular mechanisms, especially within the Leishmania genus.

Her research experience includes developing innovative strategies for sensitive and portable molecular detection methods, suitable for both laboratory and field applications. This work earned her a postgraduate fellowship to support advanced studies and expand her research contributions.

Currently, her research interests centre on the role of post-translational modifications in Leishmania and their impact on parasite physiology and virulence. In the longer term, she aims to integrate this knowledge into the development of novel diagnostic approaches and the identification of pharmacological targets. By bridging fundamental research with translational applications, her goal is to contribute to improving global health through innovative molecular and cellular parasitology.

Welile Nwamba is a PhD Fellow with the Clinical Mycobacteriology and Epidemiology (CLIME) Research Group at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and a 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talent laureate. As an early-career researcher, she is dedicated to developing innovative point-of-care and rapid diagnostic tools to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) detection, particularly in resource-limited settings. Her doctoral research focuses on non-sputum-based diagnostics to improve access to timely and accurate TB testing.

She is actively involved in SeroSelectTB, a European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)-funded multinational study on diagnostic delay, conducted in South Africa, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Previously, she worked as a medical scientist intern at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa.

Ms Nwamba holds a BSc from the University of Pretoria, a BSc (Hons) from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, and an MPath in Anatomical Pathology from Stellenbosch University. Her master’s research evaluated the GeneXpert® platform for validating breast cancer hormone markers using the Xpert® Breast Cancer STRAT4 assay in South African women.

Hana Yohannes is a biomedical scientist from Ethiopia. She obtained a BSc in Medical Laboratory Science in 2021 and an MSc in Immunology in 2024. She has served as a lecturer and researcher at the University of Gondar and is currently affiliated with the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Belgium, where she is pursuing a Master’s in Tropical Medicine.

Ms Yohannes is deeply passionate about immunology research, particularly in the context of tropical infectious diseases, with a primary focus on leishmaniasis and malaria — both persistent public health challenges in Ethiopia. Since 2021, she has been actively engaged in research on visceral leishmaniasis in close collaboration with ITM. This collaboration formed the basis of her MSc thesis, which investigated the potential of the Whole Blood Interferon-Gamma Release Assay as an alternative test-of-cure in Ethiopian visceral leishmaniasis patients with varied treatment outcomes. The results were promising and hold potential for improving VL management strategies.

Building on this work, she is now exploring additional cell-mediated markers as prognostic tools. Her long-term goal is to contribute to the development of reliable biomarkers to support less invasive evaluation of treatment outcomes in patients with visceral leishmaniasis.