Scientists and experts from the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) and the University of Liège (Belgium) as well as health institutions participated, Friday, at the Elais Center in Kinshasa, in a scientific morning on "the contribution of the UNIKIN Molecular Biology Laboratory in monitoring the resistance of plasmodium falciparum to antimalarials."

This scientific morning was organized by the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the UNIKIN Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with the University of Liège and the Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES/Belgium).

Professor Georges Mvumbi Lelo, head of the laboratory, presented his business card, which has solid expertise in the molecular diagnosis of major global infectious diseases: malaria, HIV and tuberculosis.

This laboratory, he said, is an institutional entity attached to the Department of Basic Sciences, with quality researchers.

"During the 12 years of this tool's existence, three books and 76 articles have been written, as well as the organization of various scientific meetings and the contribution in the fight against COVID-19, by carrying out quality control and validation of the "Astrazeneca" vaccine.", continued Professor Mvumbi Lelo.

Professor Marie-Pierre Hayette of the University of Liège in Belgium, who has been in contact with UNIKIN since 2009, spoke about the collaboration between his alma mater and UNIKIN's molecular biology laboratory. This cooperative relationship, he explained, has resulted in the training of several higher education medical professors, doctoral students, and other learners at the University of Liège.

She also presented research perspectives, in terms of collaboration with ARES, to support thesis projects in particular, to organize on-site training in medical mycology and other areas of microbiology in the DRC.

Restitution of research results on malaria

Furthermore, Professors Dieudonné Mvumbi and Nadine Kayiba Kalenda of UNIKIN presented their research results on malaria in the DRC, 2^th country in the world in terms of high malaria deaths and prevalence.

They stressed the need to strengthen surveillance mechanisms and antimalarial resistance.

The new agrégé of higher education in medicine, Dr Doudou Yodi, presented on this occasion the results of his agrégation thesis in medicine defended on Thursday May 19, 2022 under the supervision of Professors Hayette of the University of Liège and Mvumbi Lelo of UNIKIN.

This thesis focused on “Search for molecular markers of resistance of plasmodium falciparum to antimalarials in targeting the monitoring of therapeutic efficacy in the DRC”.

Participants from universities in the DRC and around the world, as well as international organizations, including the WHO, also raised the need to create an international molecular biology network to include universities around the world.

They asked the heads of the Molecular Biology Laboratory at UNIKIN Medical School to expand its services to other medical schools in the country.

ACP