Claire Sangba-Kembi-Ngounou, winner of the Talent Award 2024

At the opening ceremony of the Pasteur Network Annual Meeting, on October 21, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Dr. Claire Sangba-Kembi-Ngounou, entomologist at the Institut Pasteur in Bangui (Central African Republic), receives the Talent Award. This distinction, funded since 2017 by Institut Pasteur, highlights young Pasteur Network researchers who have demonstrated scientific potential. For the first time, the award is in the Science & Communication category, recognizing researchers’ ability to disseminate their work to the general public.  

A career in the service of public health   

Claire Sangba-Kembi-Ngounou joined the medical entomology department at the Institut Pasteur in Bangui to begin her thesis in 2015. Today, she is a promising researcher in the field of entomology, having successfully secured funding from the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust to support her innovative projects.  She plays a key role in the fight against malaria by studying the behavior of mosquitoes, particularly the Anopheles species, major vectors of the disease. Her work focuses on analyzing the genetic diversity and adaptability of malaria vectors, with direct implications for disease control in the Central African Republic. By understanding the genetic basis of mosquito behavior and resistance, her research contributes to the development of more effective vector control strategies. This could reduce malaria transmission rates and improve public health outcomes.  Her findings have been published in leading scientific journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).   

A bridge between science and public action   

In addition to her scientific activities, Dr. Sangba-Kembi is heavily involved in disseminating these results to all levels of society, earning her a dedicated article in the newspaper Le Monde, in the series “En Afrique, la science au féminin”. She has regular exchanges with the Ministry of Health of the Central African Republic on the development of policies to limit malaria transmission.  She will use part of the funding from this prize to organize an awareness-raising campaign in schools on changes in mosquito-biting behavior and their implications for the fight against malaria.  

Promoting scientific communication  

This 8th edition of the Talent Award is the first to reward a scientist who not only demonstrates a strong scientific commitment, but also an outstanding ability to communicate his or her research to a wider audience. The award supports initiatives that promote clear and open communication, essential for building trust between science and society. In times of crisis, such as pandemics, effective scientific communication directly influences public behavior and safety.  

“Encouraging scientific impact and communication”.  

In congratulating Dr. Sangba-Kembi-Ngounou, Odette Tomescu Hatto, Vice President of International Affairs at Institut Pasteur, points out: “The Talent Award today celebrates a scientist who embodies not only scientific excellence, but also the ability to translate her research into concrete action, accessible to all. Dr. Claire Sangba-Kembi-Ngounou demonstrates that scientific communication is a powerful lever for shaping the future of public health.”  

A total of twelve researchers have already received this award since its inception. The Talent Award 2024 marks a turning point in affirming that communication is an indispensable pillar for maximizing the impact of scientific research on society.  

To find out more, replay of the opening ceremony : https://www.youtube.com/live/4nvcIrt6IlQ

About the PNAM2024 : https://pasteur-network.org/news/en/pasteur-network-annual-meeting-2024-will-take-place-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil/