Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) has officially commenced its annual Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meeting today. The high-level gathering serves to review the institute’s achievements in medical and biomedical research and to map out future strategic directions.
The prestigious scientific forum brings together SAB board members, prominent national and international researchers, representatives from the Ministry of Health, and AHRI leadership.
During the high-level consultative sessions, intensive discussions and detailed briefings were held on critical public health priorities, including:
- Diarrheal Diseases: Diagnostic and vaccine options to prevent diarrheal diseases in resource-limited settings.
- Epidemic Preparedness & Clinical Trials: Lessons learned from the Marburg virus clinical vaccine trial to proactively prepare for future clinical trials during sudden outbreaks and beyond.
- Meningitis: Strategies to strengthen early detection and surveillance systems for meningitis within the Ethiopian national context.
Reflecting on the institute’s current positioning, AHRI Director General, Professor Afework Kassu, highlighted a pivotal shift in the organization’s national profile. “Over the past years, even though our scientific findings were published in reputable international journals and our scientists demonstrated excellent participation on international stages, our institution was not widely known domestically,” Professor Afework noted. “However, the recent inauguration of our laboratory complex by our Prime Minister has greatly helped to significantly increase AHRI’s national visibility.”
Professor Afework Kassu,Director General of AHRI
Moving forward, the Scientific Advisory Board will provide scientific feedback and recommendations aimed at boosting the quality and global competitiveness of the institute’s research. The board will also set directions on how to effectively translate research findings into health policies and community services.
Professor Tsige Gebre-Mariam,Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of AHRI
Emphasizing the vital role of the institute, the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, Professor Tsige Gebre-Mariam, stated that in today’s world—where epidemics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emerging infections, climate-change-related diseases, and unequal access to health technologies threaten society—institutions like AHRI are not a luxury. Instead, they are fundamental necessities for national survival.
This annual meeting plays a major role in further strengthening the institute’s leading research position in East Africa and on the global stage.
SAB members and participants Laboratory visit