Institut Mérieux is committed to supporting research on public health issues with worldwide relevance. In this context it created the Young Investigator Awards, a program dedicated to promising researchers and investigators from both high and low/middle income countries, with an initial focus on teams working on antimicrobial resistance, a major public health issue worldwide.
Owing to its success, this program has been more recently broadened to other topics, like microbiota & nutrition, oncology or food safety.
Every year, prizes worth €10,000 are awarded to young clinicians or biologists with less than 15 years’ postdoctoral experience, who contributed to significant advances in public health priority areas. The candidates are spotted by local societies partnering with the Institute and its subsidiaries. These societies collaborate with the Institut Mérieux Scientific Council to shortlist the winners. The prize is given during the societies’ annual congress or any other visible event with national or regional outreach.
Since inception of the Young Investigators Awards program in 2012, nearly 90 young recipients have been honored around the world.
Last awards
Angela CHOW
Singapore
Antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention, infectious disease surveillance and emerging infectious diseases.
Satoshi NAKANO
Japan
National surveillance of pneumococcal infections in children, demonstration of the efficacy of pneumococcal vaccines, discovery of novel drug-resistant clones and their resistance mechanisms.
Kageto YAMADA
Japan
Research on antimicrobial resistance of some bacteria causing otitis and diarrhea and development of innovative rapid tests for SARS-CoV2.
86
awards attributed since 2012
in
5
main fields of research
YOUNG INVESTIGATORS AWARDS across the world
South Africa
ANGELIKI MESSINA
- 2017Institution: Netcare Hospital Pty - Sandton
Learned Society: Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa (FIDSSA)
Project: "Improving compliance to antibiotic stewardship principles in the management of patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia"
YOGANDREE RAMSANY
- 2018Institution: Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital - University of Kwazulu-Natal - Durban
Learned Society: Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN)
Project: "Optimizing the use of antibiotics in intensive care units in the context of sepsis and ventilator associated pneumonia"
NATHLEE ABBAI
- 2019Institution: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Learned Society: South African Society for Clinical Microbiology (SASCM)
Project: "Development of antibiotic stewardship as an accessible tool to improve antibiotic prescribing in South Africa"
LIZEL GEORGI LLYOD
- 2019Institution: Tygerberg Hospital
Learned Society: Southern African Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SASPID)
Project: "Development and validation of a novel neonatal infection prediction score to improve infection diagnosis and management for VLBW infants in LMIC"
SUSAN MEIRING
- 2019Institution: National institute for communicable diseases (NICD)
Learned Society: Southtern African Society for Paedriatic Infectious Diseases (SASPID)
Project: "National surveillance programme on neonatal sepsis in South Africa"
SEAN WASSERMAN
- 2019Institution: Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town
Learned Society: the Infectious Diseases Society of Southern Africa (IDSSA)
Project: "Development of antibiotic stewardship as an accessible tool to improve antibiotic prescribing in South Africa"
Vietnam
NGUYEN VU TRUNG
- 2016Institution: National Hospital for Tropical Diseases - Hanoi
Learned Society: Vietnam Society Infectious Diseases (VSID)
Project: "Sample collection and processing for multiplexed blood-based point-of-care analysis"
LE HOA NGUYEN MINH
- 2018Institution: National Hospital for Tropical Diseases - Hanoi
Learned Society: Vietnam Society of Infectious Diseases (VSID)
Project: "Multi-drug resistant acinetobacter baumannii detected on post neurological surgery patients"
United States
JASNA KOVAC
- 2019Institution: Pennsylvania State University (PSU)
Learned Society: International Association for Food Protection (IAFP)
Project: "Identifying key drivers of AMR transmission in microbial communities to mitigate the dissemination of AMR pathogens in the food supply chain"
SHIVARAMU KEELARA VEERAPPA
- 2020Institution: College of Veterinary Medicine
Learned Society: International Association for Food Protection (IAFP)
Project: "Investigating the spread and evolution of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens across human, animal and environmental sectors"
TOMEFA ASEMPA
- 2020Institution: Hartford Hospital
Learned Society: Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)
Project: "Assessment of the in vivo efficacy of meropenem and impact of zinc-depleted conditions on the in vitro susceptibility of metalle-Beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa"
Uganda
GERALD MBOOWA
- 2020Institution: Makerere University - College of Health Sciences
Learned Society: African Association for Research & control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AAARM)
Project: "A new rapid microbial bioinformatics pipeline to characterize global burden antimicrobial resistance"
Thailand
WANATPREEYA PHONGSAMART
- 2017Institution: Siriraj Hospital Mahidol - Bangkok
Learned Society: Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand (PIDST)
Project: "Surveillance of MDR and XDR bacteria in pediatric patients with a particular focus on S. pneumoniae"
PINYO RATTANAUMPAWAN
- 2017Institution: Siriraj Hospital - Bangkok
Learned Society: Infectious Disease Association of Thailand (IDAT)
Project: "Setting up of an antimicrobial stewardship program research network in Thailand"
NUNTRA SUWANTARAT
- 2017Institution: Thammasat University Hospital - Pathum Thani
Learned Society: Infectious Disease Association of Thailand (IDAT)
Project: "Impact of medical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance mobile learning module for patient care and antimicrobial stewardship participation in general practitioners in Thailand"
JURAI WONGSAWAT
- 2017Institution: Bamrasnaradura infectious disease Institute - Bangkok
Learned Society: Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand (PIDST)
Project: "Assessment of AMR burden and pediatric healthcare-associated infections in Thailand"
SARUNYOU CHUSRI
- 2018Institution: Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University - Hat Yai
Learned Society: Infectious Disease Association of Thailand (IDAT)
Project: "Study of antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii"
JACKRAPONG BRUMINHENT
- 2019Institution: Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Learned Society: Infectious Disease Association of Thailand (IDAT)
Project: "Evaluate the role of antimicrobial prophylaxis which is given perioperatively using third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems"
APINYA FAKTHONGYOO
- 2020Institution: Uttaradit Hospital
Learned Society: Infectious Disease Association of Thailand (IDAT)
Project: "Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programs at Uttaradit Hospital (Thailand)"
Togo
MOUNEROU SALOU
- 2017Institution: Laboratoire BIOLIM - Lomé
Learned Society: Société Togolaise de Biologie Clinique
Project: "Resistance to anti-retroviral drugs in Togolese HIV patients"
Senegal
BISSOUME SAMB-BA
- 2018Institution: Institut Pasteur - Dakar
Learned Society: International Forum of Biology in Africa
Project: "Surveillance of antibioresistance in human, animal and food"
Singapore
WEI LIN LEE
- 2017Institution: Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) - Singapore
Learned Society: Society Infectious Diseases Singapore (SIDS)
Project: "Role of epitranscriptomics in the regulation of AMR and biofilm formation in enterococci"
TZE PENG LIM
- 2017Institution: Singapore General Hospital (SGH)
Learned Society: Society Infectious Diseases Singapore (SIDS
Project: "Design of a bioluminescence assay to monitor infections by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria"
LOUIS CHAI
- 2018Institution: National University Health System - Singapore
Learned Society: Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (APSCMI)
Project: "Novel diagnostics and management of opportunistic infections in immuno-compromised patients"
CATHERINE WEI MIN ONG
- 2018Institution: National University of Singapore - Singapore
Learned Society: Society Infectious Diseases Singapore (SIDS)
Project: "Development of a point-of-care test identifying pathogens in bloodstream infections with their key antibiotic sensitivities"
ANGELA CHOW
- 2020Institution: Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Learned Society: Society of Infectious Disease Singapore (SIDS)
Project: "Antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention, infectious disease surveillance and emerging infectious diseases."
ANGELA CHOW
- 2021Institution: Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Learned Society: Society of Infectious Disease Singapore (SIDS)
Project: "Antimicrobial resistance, infection prevention, infectious disease surveillance and emerging infectious diseases."
Peru
FIORELLA KRAPP
- 2019Institution: Instituto de Medicina Troical Alexander von Humboldt,Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Learned Society: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Project: "Evaluation and impact of antibio resistance of Gam negative bacteria in Peru"
PABLO TSUKAYAMA
- 2019Institution: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH)
Learned Society: Universidad peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH)
Project: "Emergence and sprading modalities of AMR in Peru through monitoring of hospitals, communities and sewage systems"
Niger
EMELDA CHUKWUEBERECHUKWU
- 2020Institution: Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
Learned Society: Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)
Project: "Evaluation of antimicrobial resistance burden of bacterial infections in Lagos state"
Malaysia
WON FEN WONG
- 2017Institution: University of Malaya - Kuala Lumpur
Learned Society: Malaysian Society Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC)
Project: "Host immune response against infectious and oncogenic pathogens"
CINDY TEH SHUAN JU
- 2018Institution: University of Malaya - Kuala Lumpur
Learned Society: Malaysian Society Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC)
Project: "Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriacae"
HELMI SULAIMAN
- 2019Institution: University of Malaya - Kuala Lumpur
Learned Society: Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC)
Project: "Antimicrobial resistance and treatment optimization"
PUAH SUAT MOI
- 2020Institution: University of Malaya
Learned Society: Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC)
Project: "Mechanistic elucidation of Tigecycline resistance among Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates"
Mexico
LAURA CARRETO BINAGHI
- 2018Institution: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias “Ismael Cosío Villegas” - Mexico city
Learned Society: Asociación Mexicana de Infectología Pediátrica (AMIP)
Project: "Characterization of non-tuberculous and tuberculous mycobacterial infections"
ANAHI DRESER MANSILLA
- 2019Institution: Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica (INSP) - Cuernavaca
Learned Society: Mexican National Institute of Public Health (INSP)
Project: "Policy making on AMR"
ALEJANDRA AQUINO-ANDRADE
- 2019Institution: National Institute of Pediatrics - Mexico city
Learned Society: Asociación Mexicana de Infectología y Microbiología Clínica (AMIMC)
Project: "Molecular detection of pathogens, detection and typing of resistance mechanisms in pathogenic bacteria"
Mali
DJENEBA BOCAR FOFANA
- 2018Learned Society: Association Africaine pour la recherche et le contrôle de la Résistance aux Antimicrobiens (AARAM)
Project: "Assessment of resistance mutation acquisition by distinct sub types (B and non B) of HIV-1"
BASSIROU DIARRA
- 2020Institution: Faculté de Médecine et d'Odontostomatologie de Bamako
Learned Society: African Association for Research & Control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AAARM)
Project: "Fight agaisnt antimicrobial resistance and control of Tuberculosis drug resistance"
Sri Lanka
VERANJA LIYANAPATHIRANA
- 2020Institution: University of Peradeniya
Learned Society: International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)
Project: "AMR monitoring and intervention studies at the community level in Sri Lanka"
South Korea
DONGEUN YONG
- 2013Institution: Yonsei University College of Medicine
Learned Society: Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Purifying lytic phages for methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus"
JAE-SEOK KIM
- 2014Institution: Hallym University College of Medicine - Seoul
Learned Society: Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its interaction with Staphylococcus epidermis"
JEONG HWAN SHIN
- 2015Institution: Inje University College of Medicine - Busan
Learned Society: Korean Society Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Clinical usefulness of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the identification of gram-positive bacilli"
HYUK MIN LEE
- 2016Institution: Yonsei University College of Medicine - Seoul
Learned Society: Korean Society Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Surveillance for antimicrobial resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Korea"
KYOUNG UN PARK
- 2017Institution: Seoul National University College of Medicine - Seoul
Learned Society: Korea Society of Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Molecular diagnostics of mycobacterium and transfusion-related infectious agents"
HEUNGSUP SUNG
- 2018Institution: Asan Medical Center
Learned Society: Korean Society Clinical Microbiology (KSCM)
Project: "Prevalence of macrolide resistance and distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae subtype"
Kenya
LOICE ACHIENG OMBAJO
- 2020Institution: University of Nairobi
Learned Society: KAVI-Institute of clinical Research (KAVI-ICR)
Project: "Implementation of policies to improve the use of antimicrobials and the development of several guidelines in this respect"
EDWIN WALONG
- 2020Institution: University of Nairobi
Learned Society: Kenya Association of Clinical Pathologists (KACP)
Project: "Epidemiology of pathogen and AMR in adult & children affected by respirtatory infectious diseases"
Japan
HITOSHI HONDA
- 2019Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center - Tokyo
Learned Society: The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases (JAID)
Project: "AMR stewardship in outpatient settings"
JUN-ICHI WACHINO
- 2019Institution: Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
Learned Society: The Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology (JSCM)
Project: "Characterization of new diagnostic and interventional tools in the context of AMR"
YOSHITOMO MORINAGA
- 2020Institution: University of Nagasaki
Learned Society: Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology (JSCM)
Project: "Establishment of a microbiological evaluation system for screening patients at risk of AMR colonization"
HAJIME KANAMORI
- 2020Institution: Tohoku University Hospital
Learned Society: The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases (JAID)
Project: "Molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), using wholegenome sequencing (WGS) and development of infection prevention strategies."
KAGETO YAMADA
- 2021Institution: Toho University Omori Medical Center
Learned Society: Japan Society of Clinical Microbiology (JSCM)
Project: "Research on antimicrobial resistance of some bacteria causing otitis and diarrhea and development of innovative rapid tests for SARS-CoV2."
SATOSHI NAKANO
- 2021Institution: Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine
Learned Society: Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases (JAID)
Project: "National surveillance of pneumococcal infections in children, demonstration of the efficacy of pneumococcal vaccines, discovery of novel drug-resistant clones and their resistance mechanisms."
Italy
NICOLA SEGATA
- 2019Institution: University of Trento
Learned Society: Pharmabiotic Research Institute (PRI)
Project: "In-depth characterization of the gut microbiome in clinical application"
India
TUHINA BANERJEE
- 2018Institution: Banaras Hindu University - Varanasi
Learned Society: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists (IAMM)
Project: "Molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant A.baumannii within intensive care units"
United Kingdom
BENJAMIN MULLISH
- 2020Institution: Imperial College London
Learned Society: Pharmabiotic Research Institute (PRI)
Project: "The evolution of the use of faecal microbiota transplantation and emerging therapeutic indications"
Colombia
FEDERICO PERDOMO CELIS
- 2018Institution: Universidad de Antioquia - Medellin
Learned Society: Asociación Colombiana de Infectología (ACIN)
Project: "Contribution of CD8+ T cells to the response to anti-retroviral therapy in HIV patients"
China
GUANGWEN LU
- 2013Institution: Chinese Academy of Sciences - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Society of Microbiology (CSM)
Project: "Characterization of the interaction between hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein and the viral receptor CD81"
QIANGZHENG SUN
- 2012Institution: National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Society of Microbiology (CSM)
Project: "Analysis of serotype conversion mechanisms of Shigella flexneri"
MING LI
- 2014Institution: Third Military Medical University - Chongqing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Project: "Molecular basis of the pathogenicity of Streptococcus suis (serotype 2): a major zoonotic pathogen"
CHENG-FENG QIN
- 2014Institution: Beijing Institute of Microbiology - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Project: "Identification of the neurovirulence determinants of Enterovirus 71 by reverse genetics"
LEI GAO
- 2016Institution: Institute of Pathogen Biogogy CAMS - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)
Project: "Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management in high-risk groups"
CONGRAN LI
- 2017Institution: Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)
Project: "Physiological study of clinical important isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and possible new routes against bacterial resistance"
HONGBIN CHEN
- 2018Institution: Peking University People's Hospital - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Medical Association (CMA)
Project: "Research on antimicrobial resistance and transmission of Staphylococcus aureus"
LEI GAO
- 2018Institution: Third Military Medical University - Chongqing
Learned Society: Chinese Medical Association (CMA)
Project: "Hematological & infectious research focusing on resistant and refractory leukemia"
HAIYU HU
- 2018Institution: Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)
Project: "Detection and identification of bacterial pathogens by optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging"
BIN LIU
- 2018Institution: Nankai University
Learned Society: Chinese Medical Association
Project: "Investigation of key virulence factors in Cronobacter sakazakii and the mechanisms by which these factors influence bacterial pathogenicity"
LILI REN
- 2018Institution: Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences - Beijing
Learned Society: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS)
Project: "Etiology and pathogenesis of respiratory infections"
PIN WU
- 2018Institution: Zhejiang University School of Medicine - Hangzhou
Learned Society: Chinese Medical Association (CMA)
Project: "The role of tissue-resident lymphocytes in human cancer microenvironment"
Chile
RAFAEL ARAOS
- 2018Institution: Universidad del Desarrollo - Santiago
Learned Society: Chilean Society of Infectious Disease
Project: "Prevalence of intestinal colonization of multidrug resistant organisms in Chilian hospitals"
JOSé MUNITA
- 2018Institution: Facultad de Medicina Clinica Alemana de Universidad del Desarrollo - Santiago
Learned Society: International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID)
Project: "Analysis of multidrug-resistant organisms with emphasis on Gram-positive bacteria ; correlation between genotypic resistance and clinical outcome"
Brazil
JORGE LUIZ MELLO SAMPAIO
- 2015Institution: Sao Paulo University
Learned Society: Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia (SBM)
Project: "Faster detection and identification of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae directly from blood culture vials"
JULIO CRODA
- 2017Institution: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Campo Grande
Learned Society: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Project: "Strategies for tuberculosis control in prisons - Prophylaxis for primary prevention of tuberculosis in prisoners"
PRISCILA ROSALBA OLIVEIRA
- 2017Institution: University of Sao Paulo
Learned Society: Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia (SBI)
Project: "Knowledge of the epidemiology and characteristics of nosocomial infections, especially those related to bone and joints and orthopedic surgery"
PEDRO L. SILVA
- 2018Institution: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Learned Society: Latin-American Sepsis Institute (LASI)
Project: "Development of high-quality biomedical research at the interface between basic research and clinical practice"
ANDRE SIQUEIRA
- 2018Institution: Instituto Nacional de Infectiologia Evandro Chagas - Fiocruz - Rio de Janeiro
Learned Society: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Project: "Novel interventional approaches in Malaria and arboviruses"
TATIANA MARON GUTIERREZ
- 2019Institution: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Rio de Janeiro
Learned Society: Latin-American Sepsis Institute (LASI)
Project: "Mesenchymal stem cell therapies in infectious diseases"
RAFAEL FRANÇA
- 2019Institution: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Rio de Janeiro
Learned Society: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Project: "Characterization of immune control mechanisms of Zika and Chikungunya viruses"
MONIQUE MICHELS
- 2020Institution: Universidade do Extermo Sul Catarinense
Learned Society: Latin-American Sepsis Institute (LASI)
Project: "Epigenetic modulation through an enriched environement to improve cognitive damage in animals submitted to sepsis"
Burkina Faso
ABDOUL SALAM OUEDRAOGO
- 2016Institution: Laboratoires du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sourô Sanou - Bobo Dioulasso
Learned Society: Société Burkinabé de Biologie Clinique (SBBC)
Project: "Prevalence, spreading and genetic characterization of multiresistant bacteria in Burkina Faso"
PAUL SONDO
- 2018Institution: Institut Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) - Unité de recherche Clinique de Nanoro (URCN)
Learned Society: International Forum of Biology in Africa
Project: "Chemoresistance of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs"
ADAMA ZIDA
- 2018Institution: University of Ouagadougou
Learned Society: Société Burkinabé de Biologie Clinique (SBBC)
Project: "Phenotypic and genotypic resistance of Candida albicans to antifungals"
Belgium
LAURE BINDELS
- 2018Institution: Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) - Louvain
Learned Society: Pharmabiotic Research Institute (PRI)
Project: "Development of new therapeutic nutritional tools based on the gut microbiota-host crosstalk in several pathological contexts"
Argentina
NOELIA MANEZ
- 2016Institution: Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires
Learned Society: Sociedad Argentina de Infectiologia (SADI)
Project: "Advantages of rapid bacteriological techniques for processing positive blood cultures in hospitalized patients"
NATALIA LAUFER
- 2018Institution: INBIRS - Institute for Biomedical Research on Retroviruses and AIDS - Buenos Aires
Learned Society: Sociedad Argentina de Infectologia (SADI) / INBIRS
Project: "Immune regulation of hepatic fibrosis in HIV/HCV coinfected patients and analysis of HIV reservoirs in the context of HCV coinfection"