Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum

A key figure in the fight against epidemics, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum is globally recognised for the co-discovery of the Ebola virus and his pioneering research on emerging pathogens. On the occasion of the Doctor Honoris Causa ceremony in 2025, Sorbonne University pays tribute to the exceptional scientific commitment of the man who is now the Director General of the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What does this Doctor Honoris Causa mean to you, and how do you perceive the recognition of your work at the academic and international scientific level?

Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum: Sorbonne University is a prestigious institution, globally recognised. Receiving the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from such an institution is a tremendous honour. The work of African scientists is often overlooked, and this distinction helps to bring visibility.

I accept it with humility because it validates my academic and scientific contributions. After earning my doctorate in medicine, I climbed the ranks to become an emeritus professor and twice dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Kinshasa. I have trained several generations of doctors and supervised researchers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who are now recognised worldwide.

Scientifically, I have undertaken numerous research projects in the field of infectious diseases, particularly in virology. My career has been marked by the co-discovery of the Ebola virus with Professor P. Piot and the research that led to an effective treatment against this deadly scourge. I am proud to have written, along with my collaborators, some of the most significant chapters in biomedical research on emerging pathogens (Ebola, mpox, and others) and to have contributed major advancements and invaluable tools to the global scientific community, pushing the boundaries of science.

I have always placed humanity’s well-being at the heart of my actions, without seeking recognition. This distinction deeply moves me because it reflects the academic and scientific world’s appreciation of my life’s work.

Sorbonne University highlights the importance of research and international scientific collaboration. In your opinion, what are the major challenges today in strengthening cooperation between African and European institutions in the fight against infectious diseases?

J.-J. M.-T.: The challenges are numerous. First, securing basic autonomy in research funding. The lack of funding is strongly felt in Africa, where most institutions do not receive government subsidies and largely depend on European, American, or Asian partners, whose priorities sometimes differ.

Next, there is a need to create a critical mass of researchers capable of mobilising substantial funding through a multisectoral and multilateral approach. A stimulating work environment is also essential to limit the risk of brain drain.

Investment, ownership, and sustainability of research achievements by national or supranational governments are crucial. Establishing shared interest hubs across countries and regions would help to stimulate and strengthen cooperation at all levels.

Project sustainability is another key issue. Many European collaborations are time-limited, which hinders capacity-building and the scientific influence of African institutions. Institutional capacity disparities are also problematic: African institutions often lack human (scientific expertise) and material (equipment) resources, restricting them to sample collection roles while analyses and publications take place in the West.

Finally, there is a divergence in priorities between African and European institutions. Infectious diseases, which primarily affect developing African countries, should be better integrated into European partners' agendas, particularly by incorporating social sciences into epidemic response strategies.

You are globally recognised for your role in the discovery of the Ebola virus and your major contributions to the fight against epidemics in Africa. Looking back, what have been the key moments in your career that shaped your scientific and medical commitment?

J.-J. M.-T.: The key moments of my career can be summarised as follows:

• The discovery of the Ebola virus in 1976

A mysterious disease broke out in Yambuku (DRC, then Zaire). As the first scientist to arrive on-site, I examined patients and collected blood and liver samples under rudimentary conditions, without gloves or protective clothing. My survival, as well as that of the technicians conducting analyses in our university’s basic laboratory, was almost miraculous.

These analyses ruled out malaria, typhoid fever, and yellow fever, prompting us to seek help from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) to further investigate this deadly and mysterious disease. This North-South collaboration led to the discovery of the Ebola virus, which joined the Marburg virus, isolated in 1967, in the newly classified Filoviridae family.

• An observational study on serotherapy reignites hope in 1995

During the Kikwit epidemic in a city of 400,000 inhabitants south of Kinshasa, I coordinated the response of international experts (WHO, ITM, Médecins Sans Frontières, etc.) and national teams (Kinshasa University, Congolese NGOs). I spoke the local language, knew the political, administrative, and religious authorities, and had prior experience with the 1976 Yambuku outbreak. At that time, it was unusual for a national to lead a high-level international expert team.

Out of compassion, our Congolese team treated eight patients with transfusions from Ebola survivors. Seven survived. This brought a glimmer of hope, but the study was controversial due to the small sample size and the lack of a control group, preventing its replication in later epidemics.

Far from being discouraged, I remained convinced of the neutralising power of anti-Ebola antibodies (serotherapy) in protecting infected patients.

• The development of the monoclonal antibody mAb114 in 2006

The Vaccine Research Centre (NIH/USA) and the INRB, which I lead, developed a monoclonal antibody from the blood of a Kikwit survivor. This antibody, mAb114, neutralised the Ebola virus 100% in non-human primates that received lethal doses of the virus. In 2018, during the 10th Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC, a randomised clinical trial proved its effectiveness in Ebola virus disease (EVD) patients. In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it under the Congolese name Ebanga®, as one of the therapeutic molecules for treating Zaire EVD in both adults and children.

During the 2018–2020 Ebola epidemic, INRB researchers, under WHO guidance, evaluated the efficacy and safety of two vaccines: rVSV-ZEBOV-GP (Merck), a single-dose vaccine for frontline healthcare workers and contacts in epidemic hotspots, and Ad26.ZEBOV-GP (Johnson & Johnson), a two-dose prophylactic vaccine for the general population and healthcare staff outside outbreak zones.

From the discovery of the Ebola virus to the development of an effective curative treatment, it took years of perseverance and determination. Several health challenges were transformed into research opportunities and services for all of humanity. Today, Ebola is both preventable through vaccination and curable with monoclonal antibodies.

You have been on the front lines of major health crises, from Ebola to COVID-19. Based on your experiences, what lessons should we learn to better anticipate and manage future pandemics?

J.-J. M.-T.: Drawing from my experience with both epidemics, I will highlight some key lessons. EVD is poorly known among healthcare personnel and often emerges unexpectedly in remote areas lacking proper medical infrastructure. As a result, outbreaks occur where they are least expected, and hospital staff fail to take adequate precautions, leading to nosocomial infections and widespread transmission.

In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic was not a surprise. From its emergence in China and its spread to Europe, we knew it would inevitably reach Africa through travellers, much like a tsunami. By February 2020, we had already dispatched an INRB team to the Institut Pasteur in Dakar and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa for training in molecular COVID-19 diagnostics.

Ultimately, preparing for future epidemics and pandemics requires mastering technological innovations in diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines through a multidisciplinary approach.