From April 23 to 24, 2025, a team from the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) participated in the 5th Malaria Vector Symposium held at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala. Under the theme “Bridging research advances and community involvement,” the event brought together scientists, students, and health professionals to share ideas and explore new solutions in the fight against malaria.

CRID used the opportunity to present its flagship initiative—the African Centre for Vector Genomics (AVecGen) project. The AVecGen stand attracted wide interest, especially from young researchers and students. Many praised the project’s innovative approach, which combines genomics and molecular biology to tackle vector-borne diseases. Charlène Tina, a molecular biology enthusiast, shared her excitement: “AVecGen integrates both genomics and molecular biology, which for me is the perfect combo for a young, modern and innovative researcher.”
Belinda Kiam, a Ph.D. student, added: “Establishing the first genomic centre in Central Africa is a huge step forward for infectious disease research in Cameroon and the entire region.”

During the plenary session, CRID scientists delivered impactful presentations. Gadji Mahamat, Bioinformatics Lead, gave an overview of the AVecGen project, highlighting its capacity-building efforts and collaborative potential. His presentation sparked interest from several attendees, including Prof. François Eya'ane, an Associate Professor of Chemistry, who expressed a desire to collaborate on metabolomics research.

Arnaud Tepa, Research Assistant, presented his work on “Insights from transcriptomic profiling identify molecular factors contributing to pyrethroid resistance escalation in Anopheles gambiae.” His compelling presentation earned him the Best Oral Presentation Award.
Samuel Ndick, Ph.D. student, showcased his research on “Characterisation of insecticide resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l. and its impact on malaria control in two localities of the Centre Cameroon region.”

Dr. Agnes Toumba, the event organizer, visited CRID’s exhibit and expressed interest in how AVecGen could benefit students at the University of Douala. The AVecGen project continues to gain traction as a transformative initiative, empowering African scientists with genomic tools to combat malaria and other vector-borne diseases. CRID’s participation in the symposium reaffirmed its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and capacity building in public health research.