The Institut Pasteur in Paris is one of the most globally respected research institutions in the field of infectious diseases. With its legacy rooted in Louis Pasteur’s groundbreaking work, the institute continues to lead state-of-the-art research in microbiology, virology, immunology, and epidemiology. It plays a critical role in shaping global health strategies and responding to emerging threats, from HIV to SARS-CoV-2, through its broad international network and expertise in outbreak investigation, disease prevention, and vaccine development.
This week’s seminar was a highly exclusive event, bringing together professionals from various disciplines – medicine, public health, epidemiology, virology, and clinical research – at a time when the world is still facing consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course was led by the renowned Dr. Arnaud Fontanet, a medical epidemiologist and an authority in emerging infectious diseases.
According to Dr. Fontanet, the course “aimed to equip fellows with in-depth knowledge of the origin and development of pandemics, scientific reasoning in times of outbreaks, and lessons from past pandemics for a more effective response during future crises.”
Dr. Fontanet’s career spans decades and continents. He began his work in global health by tackling malaria in Thailand and AIDS in Ethiopia. In 2002, he joined the Institut Pasteur, where he established the Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit. His work has since focused on viral hepatitis and new viral threats. As Director of the Centre for Global Health at Institut Pasteur and Professor of Public Health at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Dr. Fontanet has shaped public health discourse in Europe and beyond. In 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, he was appointed to the Scientific Councils advising both the French government and the European Commission President, underlining his pivotal role in pandemic preparedness and response.
“The course served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing threat posed by pandemics. Bringing together young professionals from all over the world provided a great opportunity to share experiences from recent pandemics, including COVID-19. It allowed us to examine differences in access to resources and mitigation measures across countries and identify best practices for future pandemic response.” Highlights Dr. Fontanet.
The seminar was enriched by the participation of distinguished faculty members from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, including Mr. Michael Casera, coordinator of the Outbreak Investigation Task Force; Mr. Jean-Claude Manuguerra, full professor at the department of global health; and Ms. Laurie Pinaud, clinical research project manager, also from the department of global health. Their dynamic lectures and interactive workshops offered fellows a comprehensive view of real-time outbreak responses, inter-agency coordination, and the ethics of global health interventions. Highlights of the week included two case study sessions on pediatric encephalitis in Asia and cholera in Haiti.
During this week, we also had the pleasure of welcoming two guests of honor all the way from Vietnam: Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung and Dr. Quang Duy Pham. Dr. Trung is the Director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, the OMI’s partner institution for its global health seminar series in Southeast Asia. With over two decades of experience in clinical microbiology and infectious disease research, Dr. Trung has held prominent academic and leadership roles at Hanoi Medical University, the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, and the Ministry of Health. His research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, viral and bacterial respiratory infections, vector-borne diseases, and infection control. A respected scientist and educator, he has made significant contributions to Vietnam’s medical education and public health system.
Pandemics are not only a scientific challenge, but also a political, social, and global health issue. As the world continues to face long-term effects of COVID-19 and prepares for future health threats, the insights shared during this course will resonate well beyond the classroom.
Heger Arfaoui
OMI fellow from Tunisia
“The Haiti cholera outbreak simulation session transformed the lecture hall into a crisis management center. We were divided into teams representing the Haitian Ministry of Health, WHO, MSF, and the academic community. That session was especially helpful in making me appreciate the importance of coordination and communication between all stakeholders during an emergency.”
Babacar Diouf
OMI fellow from Senegal
“Dr. Fontanet delivered a truly engaging lecture, “Introduction to Pandemics”, covering the definition, history, and concrete examples of pandemics. After the talk, I had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of conducting research in Africa, as well as my work on arboviruses, with him.”
Aina Harimanana
OMI fellow from Madagascar
“The diversity of participants, both in terms of their specialties and their countries of origin, allowed for interesting and enaging discussions. Overall, the experience allowed me to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of my country in the event of an epidemic.”
Joël Doté
OMI fellow from Central African Republic
“The course has equipped me with the latest updates and insights, which I’m eager to share with my colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. I am confident that the newly found knowledge will enhance my abilities and positively impact outbreak investigation and response in my country.”
Laura-Maria Ilottu
OMI fellow from Estonia
“High-quality epidemiological training is not easy to come by in Estonia. Thanks to this seminar, I not only feel more well-rounded as an infectious diseases specialist but am also eager to take on new challenges and continue my learning journey in epidemiology.”
Fernando Ortega Riosvelasco
OMI fellow from Mexico
“With Dr. Jean-Claude Manuguerra, we explored the process by which new viruses and bacteria are detected, classified, and analyzed, as well as new technologies that could aid in faster diagnosis and, ultimately, management and decision-making during pandemics.”
