Conference speaker

Christian Happi, is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director of the World Bank funded African Center of Excellence for Genomics of infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria. He did his postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University (2000-2003), and worked there as a Research Scientist (2004-2007). He is currently Adjunct Professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA.

Professor Happi used next generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, within 48 hours of receiving sample of the first case in Nigeria. This seminal work not only provided an insight into the detailed genetic map of the coronavirus in Africa, but also paved the way to the development of new countermeasures including new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. He received the Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award (2011); the 2019 Human Genome Organization Africa Prize for his seminal work on infectious diseases genomics in Africa; the 2020 Bailey K. Ashford Medal by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In 2021, he received the Al-Sumait Prize for African Development of the Kuwait Foundation for Advancement in Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences