Francine Ntoumi

“Interview with Francine Ntoumi”

“In the Republic of Congo, there is no research culture yet. In Germany, it is a given that students also give their opinions and that discussions result. In Congo, the importance of exchanging ideas has not yet been grasped. However, in research, what counts are new ideas, and discussions are necessary.”

“I created the country's first molecular biology laboratory at the University of Brazzaville, the capital of Congo. If this project worked, it was only thanks to the support of my colleagues in Tübingen.”

“The level is very high and I do there what I cannot achieve in Congo. Both parties benefit from this close cooperation because the Institute obviously does not have direct access to tropical diseases and the required samples.”

“In Congo, we are probably at the stage where Germany was about 25 years ago. The difficulties start with the Internet, which does not work well. Congolese students therefore have difficulty following the latest research.”

“I started studying in France, where I passed my medical exam and my state doctorate. When I returned to Africa,I wanted to specialize in a field of research that is important to my compatriots. Malaria kills thousands of people in Africa every year. I want not only to fight this disease.”

“Raised in a family of six children, being the only girl and the eldest facing a demanding father, I learned competition and above all to never feel diminished because I was a woman.”

“They are ghostly… The Congolese Foundation for Medical Research (FCRM) is a unique example in the country, and probably in Central Africa: operating with public and private subsidies, it conducts research activities directly linked to the health of the Congolese population and the training of young Congolese.”

“Since the great demonstration for women's right to vote on June 21, 1908 in London, the place of women in society has improved and, of course, this change is visible in universities where more and more young girls are enrolled.”

“The critical mass of qualified personnel capable of validly serving the needs of research does not exist. Which means that research teams are generally shaky.”

“The dynamism of research is assessed by indicators such as publications and patents. With regard to biomedical research, which is my field, the African continent bears the heaviest burden of disease in the world, but it is also the continent that invests the least in research, development and innovation.”