Africa CDC strengthens scientific leadership with appointment of Prof. Placide Mbala

ETHIOPIA—The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has appointed Professor Placide Mbala Kingebeni, MD, MSc, PhD, as its Director of Research, Clinical Trials and Innovation, effective July 15, 2026.

The appointment comes as Africa intensifies efforts to strengthen its response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak while accelerating the development of African-led medicines, vaccines, and outbreak-ready innovations.

In recent days, Africa CDC has also appealed for US$18 million to support urgent clinical trials for experimental Ebola treatments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that delays could cost lives.

Professor Mbala joins Africa CDC from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa, DRC, where he held several senior leadership roles across epidemiology, clinical research, pathogen genomics, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and global health.

A medical doctor, microbiologist, and virologist, he brings more than 15 years of experience in outbreak science.

His work has focused on clinical research, disease surveillance, diagnostics, pathogen sequencing, vaccines, and therapeutics for Ebola, mpox, COVID-19, poliovirus, and other emerging infectious diseases. He has also worked extensively in high-risk and underserved communities.

Leading African research and innovation

During his time at INRB, Professor Mbala led and co-led several major research initiatives across Africa.

These included Ebola therapeutics studies, mpox therapeutic and vaccine safety research, COVID-19 vaccine trials, the EBO-PEP Ebola post-exposure prophylaxis trial, the PARTNERS filovirus therapeutics platform and the WaSPP wastewater surveillance network.

His contributions have earned international recognition.

In 2024, Nature named him among its 10 People Who Shaped Science, while the TIME100 Health 2025 list recognised him as one of the world’s most influential people in health.

He has also authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific papers published in leading journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Nature Medicine and Nature Microbiology.

At Africa CDC, Professor Mbala will oversee research, outbreak science, clinical trials, diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, human and pathogen genomics, environmental surveillance, and evidence-based policy development.

His appointment is expected to strengthen the agency’s capacity to generate scientific evidence and expand partnerships that support health security across African Union member states.

New deputy director named

Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya also announced the appointment of Professor Mosoka Papa Fallah, PhD, MA, MPH, as Deputy Director of Research, Clinical Trials and Innovation.

Kaseya expressed his gratitude to Professor Fallah for serving as Acting Director and praised his contribution to the agency’s research and innovation agenda.

He said Fallah’s experience would provide continuity and institutional knowledge while supporting the delivery of Africa CDC’s scientific priorities.

The Director General also acknowledged INRB’s scientific contributions and recognized the enduring mentorship of Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, whose work has helped shape outbreak science in Africa and beyond.

Meanwhile, Africa CDC continues to coordinate regional Ebola response efforts with partners, including the World Health Organization, as clinical trials begin in eastern DRC.