Biography

CV of Prof. Dr. Ayola Akim ADEGNIKA

NAME: Ayola Akim ADEGNIKA
POSITION TITLE: Full Professor at the University of Tübingen, Director of the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné
Affiliations: The Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné BP: 242 Lambaréné, Gabon & ITM, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
Contact: Email: aadegnika@cermel.org/ ayola-akim.adegnika@uni-tuebingen.de;/ aadegnika@gmail.com
Website: www.cermel.org / https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/1974
Adresses: Judengasse 1, 72070 Tübingen, Germany and CERMEL, BP: 242 Lambaréné, Gabon

EDUCATION/TRAINING

INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE Date FIELD OF STUDY
Lycée d’Etat de Port-Gentil, Port-Gentil Gabon Bac “D 1992 Human Sciences
University of Omar Bongo Libreville Gabon Dr. med. 2002 Medicine
Faculty of Biology University of Tübingen Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D) 2008 Ph.D. Immunology
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Post graduate 2012 Epidemiology
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine MSc 2014 Epidemiology

A. Personal Statement
I have a long experience in field work activities of clinical research studies and epidemiology of infectious diseases. Furthermore, I have had conducted as PI, and/or coordinator, several clinical trials of new and existing anti-infectious vaccines and drugs as well as immune epidemiology of helminths and malaria co-infection in endemic areas. Currently, I am interested in investigating the potential causes of poor vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in endemic population the through the development of human infection studies.

B. Positions and Honors
Present Appointment
Since 2008 Senior Scientist at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, (CERMEL)
Since 2009 Research Group leader at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany
Since 2009 Visitor Scientist at the Leiden Medical University, Leiden the Netherlands
Since 2010 Director of the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, (CERMEL)
Since 2014 Lead of the DZIF Clinical Research Group (CRG); and API (African Partner Institution) at CERMEL
Since 2016 Full Professor (W-3) at the Faculty of Medicine University of Tübingen
Since 2023 Research Director (Full professor at the CAMES)
Previous Appointments
1998-2001 Medical residencies at the Centre Hospitalier de Libreville, Gabon
2001-2002 Medical residencies at the Albert Schweitzer of Lambaréné
2002-2003 Junior clinical investigator at CERMEL
2003-2008 Ph.D. Student at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Tübingen
Clinical education
Training in General Medicine and Parasitology at the University of Medicine of Libreville Gabon.
Training in GCP, GCLP, GMP, DSMB and ethics.
Fellowships,awards and achievements
2013 Research Prize of the Centre national de la recherché scientifique et technologique (Cenarest), Gabon (shared)
2015 Charles C. Shepard Science Award for Prevention and Control, CDC, USA (shared)

C. Contributions to Science
Through my twenty-three years of clinical research activities, I have contributed to antimalarial anti-helminthic drugs regimen which was implemented through my research findings. At the vaccine development level, I have contributed to malaria vaccines candidates including the more advanced RTSS, as well as GMZ-2 malaria blood stage vaccine candidates. Recently I was a PI of three phase1 hookworm vaccine candidates, a Phase as well a coordinator of controlled human malaria infection model. Currently I am a PI of a Phase III TB vaccine trials, and the transmission blocking vaccine trials. At immunological levels, I have contributed to better understand the immunological responses of helminth and its co-infection with malaria in endemic areas. I have contributed as well to generate evidence base epidemiological data.

D. Additional Information: Research Support and/or Scholastic Performance
Important projects of the last three years include several investigations on the immune response to studies on CHMI and immunization with P. falciparum sporozoite vaccines, co-infections and epidemiology of malaria and helminths as well as two vaccine projects (malaria and tuberculosis) funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Currently I am leading one the two sites performing the molecular diagnostic of the SARS-CoV2 in my country.