From 10 to 11 October 2024
The Scientific days on infectious diseases of the ANRS Emerging infectious diseases partner site in Cambodia were held on October 10 and 11, 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This event brought together researchers, clinicians and representatives of international institutions to present advances in research and define future priorities.
On October 10 and 11, 2024, Cambodia hosted a new edition of the Scientific days of the ANRS MIE partner site. This event, organized every two years, is a key moment for sharing advances in infectious disease research. These scientific days provide an opportunity to present the results of recent research, to discuss future research priorities for addressing local and regional health challenges.
These days are the result of a strong partnership between France and Cambodia, initiated in the 1990s and formalized by an agreement between the Cambodian Ministry of Health and the ANRS MIE in 2000, which is materialized by what is called “the ANRS MIE partner site in Cambodia”. The partnership is built around two major Cambodian institutions: the University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh and the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia. This long-term commitment has helped to create a privileged framework for scientific collaborations, bringing together Cambodian, French and international experts to refine strategies to combat infectious diseases.
The scientific days event brought together Cambodian, French, and international researchers, clinicians, representatives of associations and civil society, as well as representatives of authorities. Among the key players present was Professor Saphonn Vonthanak, Rector of the University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Bruno Spire, Research Director at Inserm, who coordinate the Franco-Cambodian partnership. The event also gathered representatives from partner institutions such as Inserm, IRD, the Institut Pasteur, CIRAD, Initiative and Expertise France, as well as international organizations like WHO and UNAIDS.
Professor Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine, was the guest of honor at these scientific days, in her capacity as a scientist particularly involved in HIV research and care in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia and Vietnam.
For the first time, results from major studies were presented, such as the CAM-C study, an ANRS MIE study conducted in Cambodia by the University of Health Sciences on community-based hepatitis screening methods, as well as DATURA, a multicenter ANRS MIE study involving Cambodia and conducted by the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia in partnership with hospitals, to reduce mortality among immunocompromised people living with HIV and tuberculosis. One of the flagship projects presented at the conference was the TA PROHM project, aimed at designing and evaluating a programme to reduce mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus.
These scientific days were not limited to research conducted in Cambodia: projects conducted in other countries in the region, notably Vietnam, were also presented. The discussions focused on recently completed research projects supported by ANRS MIE and other funders. They also set priorities for future studies in the fight against infectious diseases, including emerging infectious diseases, with a one-health approach. This meeting promised to be a crucial step in strengthening the links between research and public health authorities, with the goal of improving the health of local and regional populations.
Over 400 face-to-face and online participants from 17 different countries attended these scientific days. The event provided an opportunity to highlight the range of initiatives that are beginning to be implemented, particularly in relation to emerging infectious diseases and global health, in collaboration with a number of French institutions such as the IRD, CIRAD and the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Guests of honour included the coordinators of the Cambodian partner site, Prof. Saphonn Vonthanak and Dr Bruno Spire, the French Ambassador to Cambodia, Prof. Françoise Barré Sinoussi (former coordinator of the partner site), the Director of ANRS MIE and the Cambodian Minister of Health.
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