Phnom Penh & Health: Institut Pasteur du Cambodge defines strategic priorities

The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) held its annual Liaison Council meeting on Friday to review the institute's achievements over the past year and define strategic priorities for 2025. This high-level meeting was chaired by His Excellency Professor CHHEANG Ra, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Council brought together ten permanent members representing Cambodia's main ministries, universities, and health authorities, as well as international partners such as the Pasteur Institute in Paris, the French Embassy, and the World Health Organization. This diverse meeting highlighted the spirit of collaboration that is at the heart of the IPC's mission.

Opening remarks were delivered by His Excellency Professor CHHEANG Ra, Ms. Odette Tomescu-Hatto, Vice President of the International Affairs Department at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and Mr. Jacques Pellet, French Ambassador to Cambodia. Professor André Spiegel, Director of the IPC, then presented a detailed overview of the institute's scientific activities, achievements, and vision for the future. Professor Spiegel highlighted the IPC's six specialized research units dedicated to combating infectious and emerging diseases endemic to Cambodia and Southeast Asia,

including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, chikungunya, dengue, HIV, hepatitis, rabies, malaria, tuberculosis, and antimicrobial resistance. In 2024, IPC researchers published 60 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, demonstrating the strength of their scientific output.

Le professeur André Spiegel, director of IPC

The institute's essential role in public health has been demonstrated once again through its management of three national reference centers for influenza, avian influenza, and COVID-19, as well as Cambodia's largest rabies prevention center, which provided post-exposure treatment to more than 58,000 people last year.

The IPC's Medical Biology Laboratory and Food and Environmental Safety Laboratory (LEFS) also provide essential diagnostic and analytical services. Innovation remains a priority, with the IPC expanding its expertise in bioinformatics and artificial intelligence applications to advance data-driven public health research.

On the educational front, the IPC continues to deepen its partnership with the University of Health Sciences through a joint master's program in infectious diseases, which promotes local capacity building and the training of future health professionals.

Looking ahead, Professor Spiegel presented five major research projects to be launched in 2025, focusing on the emergence and surveillance of zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, adopting a “One Health” approach that integrates climate change considerations. He also provided an update on the IPC 2030 initiative, a long-term plan to improve infrastructure, research capacity, and the IPC's position as a leading regional research institution.

The Board members commended the IPC's scientific excellence, the diversity of its activities, and its fruitful collaborations with the Cambodian Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of a sustainable partnership to improve public health throughout the country.

The Permanent Liaison Council includes representatives from the Ministries of Health, Economy and Finance, Education, Youth and Sports, the French Embassy, the University of Health Sciences, the Royal University of Agriculture, UNICEF Cambodia, and WHO. Among the invited participants were leaders from leading Cambodian health institutions, international development agencies, and academic partners.