Dear colleagues, partners and friends,
At a critical moment for Africa’s Ebola response, and as the continent works to accelerate the development of medicines, vaccines and outbreak-ready innovation, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Placide Mbala Kingebeni, MD, MSc, PhD, as Director of Research, Clinical Trials and Innovation at Africa CDC, effective 15 July 2026.
I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Mosoka Papa Fallah, PhD, MA, MPH, as Deputy Director of Research, Clinical Trials and Innovation.
Professor Mbala joins Africa CDC from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale — INRB — in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he has held senior leadership roles across epidemiology, global health, clinical research, pathogen sequencing and viral haemorrhagic fevers.
A medical doctor, microbiologist and virologist, Professor Mbala brings more than 15 years of experience in outbreak science, clinical research, pathogen genomics, surveillance, diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. His work has supported preparedness and response for Ebola, mpox, COVID-19, poliovirus and other emerging and re-emerging threats, with a strong focus on high-risk and hard-to-reach settings.
At INRB, he has led and co-led major African research platforms and studies, including Ebola therapeutics research, mpox therapeutics and vaccine-safety studies, COVID-19 vaccine research, the EBO-PEP Ebola post-exposure prophylaxis trial, the PARTNERS filovirus therapeutics platform and the WaSPP wastewater surveillance network.
Professor Mbala’s scientific leadership is widely recognized. He was named among Nature’s 10 People Who Shaped Science in 2024 and included in the TIME100 Health 2025 list of the most influential people in health. He has authored and co-authored more than 100 scientific publications in leading journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Nature Medicine and Nature Microbiology.
In his new role, Professor Mbala will lead Africa CDC’s work on African-led research, outbreak science, clinical trials, human and pathogen genomics, diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, environmental surveillance and evidence-to-policy translation. His appointment strengthens Africa CDC’s ability to generate the science, partnerships and innovations needed to support Member States and advance Africa’s health security and sovereignty agenda.
This appointment also honors the exceptional scientific ecosystem of INRB, the research community of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the mentorship of Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, whose legacy continues to shape African and global outbreak science.
I also want to thank Professor Mosoka Papa Fallah for his leadership as Acting Director and congratulate him on his appointment as Deputy Director. His contribution to Africa CDC’s science, research and innovation agenda has been significant. Working closely with Professor Mbala, he will help ensure continuity, institutional memory and strong delivery of this strategic agenda.
Please join me in congratulating Professor Mbala and Professor Fallah as they take up these new responsibilities. Their leadership will help position Africa as a global force in research, clinical trials, innovation and public health impact.
Warm regards,
H.E Dr Jean Kaseya
Director General of Africa CDC
