Current Job

Researcher / Laboratory Manager

My research program focuses on the immunological and molecular mechanisms that govern vaccine-induced protection and immune variation in malaria-endemic populations, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. My overarching aim is to contribute to the development of next-generation vaccines and predictive immune biomarkers that support precision public health and strengthen malaria control strategies in Africa.I completed my PhD at the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS/CRUN) in Burkina Faso, where I investigated immune responses to placental malaria, with a focus on antibody responses to VAR2CSA and cytokine dynamics during the third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. This work strengthened my interest in host immunity and its modulation by infection, laying the foundation for my career at the interface of immuno-epidemiology and translational vaccinology.Over the past 15 years, I have been deeply engaged in clinical malaria vaccine research and have contributed to several major trials. I served as Country Coordinator for a Phase III trial evaluating hepatitis B responses to the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine (Mal-063, 2011-2017), and as Field Team Supervisor for the large-scale Phase III efficacy trial of RTS,S/AS01E in infants and children across different transmission settings (Mal-055, 2009-2013). These experiences reinforced my commitment to translational research and provided hands-on expertise in field operations, protocol compliance, and immunological sampling under GCP standards.

As Laboratory Manager at CRUN, I currently lead laboratory activities for multiple vaccine trials, including Phase I, Ib, IIb, and III studies of R21, RH5.1, and R78C/Matrix-M vaccines. In this role, I oversee sample processing, immunoassays, data integrity, internal quality control processes, and immune biomarker analysis. As Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator, I have also led several competitively funded research projects, including a GSK Africa Open Lab project on biomarkers of placental malaria, an RSTMH/NIHR project on postpartum malaria prevention, and a FONRID-funded study assessing hepatitis B vaccine efficacy in infants.

Through these initiatives, I have built interdisciplinary collaborations, supported MSc and PhD students, and contributed to strengthening local research capacity in West Africa. My current research seeks to bridge immunological phenotypes and ecological determinants by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing, high-dimensional flow cytometry, and microbiome analysis to identify correlates of malaria vaccine responsiveness. My long-term vision is to establish a regional center of excellence in immuno-vaccinology in Burkina Faso that informs malaria policy, enhances training pipelines, and accelerates innovation in vaccine science.

1. PhD in Applied Biology, Nazi Boni University of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 2019.

Area of study: Immunology and Microbiology.

2. Master of Science in Applied Biology, Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 2009.

Area of study: Immunology and Parasitology.

3. Master’s Degree in Biochemistry, UFR/SVT, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2005.

Area of study: Biochemistry, Food Technology and Human Nutrition.

1. January 2019 – ongoing: Laboratory Manager, Malaria vaccine trials, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN), Burkina Faso. Responsible for laboratory activities for Phase II/III R21/Matrix-M trials and Phase I/II RH5/Matrix-M and R78C/Matrix-M trials, including PBMC processing, immunological activities, sample processing, immunoassays, quality control, and data integrity.

2. October 2013 – ongoing: Researcher, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Burkina Faso. Permanent research fellow involved in national biomedical research activities.

3. September 2011 – June 2018: Study Site Coordinator, RTS,S/AS01E Phase III malaria vaccine trial, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN), Burkina Faso. Responsible for study coordination and overall site oversight.

4. April 2011 – ongoing: Research Assistant, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN), Burkina Faso. Involved in studies investigating immune correlates of protection against malaria, including organization of study visits, sample collection, and laboratory testing among children recruited in clinical trials.

1. 2018 – Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Travel Grant

Organization: Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM).

Travel grant to attend the 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria / Pan-African Malaria Conference.

2. 2018 – WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) Grant

Organization: WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN).

Grant to attend the workshop on data management and standardization at the MIM 2018 Conference Centre in Dakar, Senegal.

3. 2017 – VLIR-UOS Travel Grant

Organization: VLIR-UOS.

Travel grant to attend the international course in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Qualitative Research Methods, Antwerp, Belgium.

4. 2021 – ongoing – Member, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH)

Organization: Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, London, United Kingdom.

5. 2021 – Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) Alumni

Completed the AREF Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshop and became part of the AREF alumni network.

Patent contributor – OAPI Patent No. 1202000479

Contributor to the patent titled “Spectrophotometric method for quantifying Cochloxanthines antiplasmodic compounds.”

1. GSK’s Supported Studies Program: Africa Open Lab 2023. Placental malaria: identification of host potential biomarkers associated with the disease. Role: Principal Investigator.

2. Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) Small Grants Programme 2021 (National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)). Tackling postpartum malaria: Effects of chemoprevention and treatment of pregnant women on parasite reservoirs in the maternal and childhood environment. Role: Principal Investigator.

3. The National Fund for Research and Innovation for Development (FONRID Grants Programme 2021 funded. Estimation de l’efficacité vaccinale contre l’hépatite B : Prévalence de la séroprotection dans la région du Nord au Burkina Faso. Role: Co-Principal Investigator.