CERMEL

CERMEL, the Lambaréné Medical Research Center, is a medical research and training institution in Gabon, in Central Africa’s equatorial rainforest region. Formerly the Medical Research Unit of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, it is a leading center serving Gabon and the wider region. Its work combines applied clinical research, including clinical trials and epidemiological studies, with fundamental research into the immunology and molecular biology of infectious and chronic diseases prevalent locally.

CERMEL’s research capabilities are supported by specialized facilities, including clinical, research, microbiology, tuberculosis, and parasitology laboratories. Its areas of activity include infectious disease control, tuberculosis, microbiology, immunology, and social sciences. The center also provides training, attracting students and academics from national and international schools and universities, and employs close to 100 staff. CERMEL shares its findings through publications in international journals, as well as articles, theses, annual reports, and scientific reviews. In 2018, it was designated to manage Gabon’s Global Fund tuberculosis grant. It also hosts workshops and promotes research collaboration with local and international partners.