Dr. Francis ATEBA NDONGO | Epidemiology | Best Researcher Award|

Chantal Biya Foundation, Cameroon

Professional Profiles:

👨‍🎓 Bio Summary:

Dr. Francis Ateba Ndongo is an accomplished epidemiologist and public health expert from Cameroon with over 19 years of experience in clinical research and care for HIV-infected and -exposed children and youth. Currently, he works as an epidemiologist in the Division of Operational Research in Health at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health. His vast experience spans HIV prevention, healthcare policy, community health, and emergency response, making him a leader in public health in Cameroon and beyond. His professional contributions extend to various national and international projects, especially in resource-limited settings.

🎓 Educational Background:

Dr. Ateba Ndongo completed his Doctorate of State in Medicine at the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon, in 2003. To deepen his expertise in epidemiology and public health, he pursued advanced degrees in France, earning a Master I in Public Health Methods in 2011, followed by a Master II in Public Health with an option in Epidemiology in 2012 from the University of Paris Sud 11. He later obtained his PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Paris Saclay in 2017. His educational journey is marked by specialized training and certifications in comprehensive HIV care, underscoring his dedication to improving healthcare for vulnerable populations.

🔍 Research Focus:

Dr. Ateba Ndongo’s research primarily revolves around HIV/AIDS, particularly in treating HIV-infected children, adolescents, and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. He has contributed to developing and implementing strategies for HIV prevention and care, including clinical protocols, community linkage strategies, and capacity-building efforts. His work also involves operational research in health, allowing him to tackle practical challenges in public health policy and implementation. Additionally, he has contributed to the COVID-19 response in Cameroon, managing initiatives to curb the virus’s spread.

🏆 Honors & Awards:

Throughout his career, Dr. Ateba Ndongo has received recognition for his contributions to public health and epidemiology. His leadership roles in major health initiatives and participation in the National Ethical Committee for Human Research demonstrate his respected position within the health sector in Cameroon. While details on specific awards are not listed, his professional advancements and roles reflect his impact and dedication to improving public health outcomes.

💼 Professional Experience:

Dr. Ateba Ndongo has served in various impactful roles over the years. He has coordinated HIV clinical care and research for the Chantal Biya Foundation, focusing on pediatric and adolescent HIV care. As a Clinical Officer for the CAMPHIA 2018 Project, he supported technical implementations for national HIV guidelines and policies. Since 2020, he has been a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Garoua. Notably, he coordinated the COVID-19 response for the Cameroonian Red Cross from 2020-2021, showcasing his capability in emergency health management. Currently, he is an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Public Health and a member of Cameroon’s National Ethical Committee for Human Research, providing oversight for human-centered clinical studies.

📚 Top Noted Publications :

Title: Tuberculosis Diagnosis in HIV-Infected Children: Comparison of the 2012 and 2015 Clinical Case Definitions for Classification of Intrathoracic Tuberculosis Disease
Authors: Marcy, O., Goyet, S., Borand, L., Delacourt, C., Godreuil, S.
Citations: 1
Index: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Year of Publication: 2022
Volume and Issue: 11(3), pp. 108–114

Title: Access to the Management of HIV-Infected Children: Overview of the Healthcare Supply in Cameroon in 2014 | Accès à la prise en charge de l’infection VIH pédiatrique – État des lieux de l’offre des soins au Cameroun en 2014
Authors: Penda, C.I., Zoung Kanyi Bissek, A.-C., Téjiokem, M.C., Njock, L.R., Koki Ndombo, P.O.
Citations: 0
Index: Revue d’Epidemiologie et de Sante Publique
Year of Publication: 2020
Volume and Issue: 68(4), pp. 243–251

Title: Low Rate of Early Vertical Transmission of HIV Supports the Feasibility of Effective Implementation of the National PMTCT Guidelines in Routine Practice of Referral Hospitals in Cameroon
Authors: Penda, C.I., Tejiokem, M.C., Sofeu, C.L., Warszawski, J., Faye, A.
Citations: 3
Index: Paediatrics and International Child Health
Year of Publication: 2019
Volume and Issue: 39(3), pp. 208–215

Title: A Treatment-Decision Score for HIV-Infected Children with Suspected Tuberculosis
Authors: Marcy, O., Borand, L., Ung, V., Blanche, S., Delacourt, C.
Citations: 35
Index: Pediatrics
Year of Publication: 2019
Volume and Issue: 144(3), Article ID: 2018-2065

Title: Mortality and Its Determinants in Antiretroviral Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Children with Suspected Tuberculosis: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Marcy, O., Tejiokem, M., Msellati, P., Godreuil, S., Fournier-Nicolle, I.
Citations: 20
Index: The Lancet HIV
Year of Publication: 2018
Volume and Issue: 5(2), pp. e87–e95

Conclusion:

Dr. Ateba Ndongo’s impressive career in HIV/AIDS clinical care, research, and health policy makes him a strong candidate for a Best Researcher Award, particularly within public health and epidemiology. His hands-on experience in clinical settings, combined with his ethical oversight and recent COVID-19 response, demonstrate both dedication and versatility. Enhancing his publication volume and broadening his research scope could further reinforce his candidacy, positioning him as a distinguished researcher on a global scale.

👨‍🎓 Bio Summary:

Dr. Vandana Mukherjee is a seasoned Research Scientist and Senior Manager at IBM, based in San Jose, California. She specializes in advancing artificial intelligence and cognitive software with applications in healthcare, genomics, and knowledge curation. With over 15 years of research and leadership experience, Dr. Mukherjee has led major projects that bridge cutting-edge technology with practical applications, particularly in the realms of natural language processing and functional genomics. Known for her strategic acumen and dedication to innovation, she has been instrumental in IBM’s breakthroughs in AI for healthcare and semiconductor solutions.

🎓 Educational Background:

Dr. Mukherjee earned her Ph.D. and advanced degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her educational foundation has enabled her to excel in both academic and applied research, focusing on the intersection of engineering and artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges in technology and healthcare.

🔍 Research Focus:

Dr. Mukherjee’s current research centers on AI-driven healthcare solutions, focusing on the development of natural language processing models, knowledge curation, and genomic analytics. Her work contributes to a deeper understanding of diseases linked to genomics and microbial life through metagenomics. At IBM, she leads efforts to innovate multimodal models in text analytics and machine learning, enabling transformative solutions that pave the way for new products and partnerships.

🏆 Honors & Awards:

Throughout her career, Dr. Mukherjee has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Young Alumni award from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the YWCA Silicon Valley Tribute to Women Honoree. These honors reflect her impact as a leader in both the scientific and business communities.

💼 Professional Experience:

Dr. Mukherjee has been with IBM for over a decade, where she has held various leadership roles. Currently, she serves as the Senior Research Manager in the AI and Healthcare division, focusing on genomic and epidemiology solutions. Previously, she led the IBM Watson Health Imaging project, where her strategic direction was integral to the success of initiatives like the Medical Sieve radiology challenge. Her experience also includes extensive work in semiconductor manufacturing and memory systems development, where she managed global engineering teams to drive advanced technology in IBM’s power and mainframe systems.

📚 Top Noted Publications :

Title: Creation and validation of a chest X-ray dataset with eye-tracking and report dictation for AI development
Authors: A. Karargyris, S. Kashyap, I. Lourentzou, J.T. Wu, A. Sharma, M. Tong, V.V. Mukherjee, et al.
Journal: Scientific Data
Citations: 92
Year: 2021

Title: On the role of artificial intelligence in medical imaging of COVID-19
Authors: J. Born, D. Beymer, D. Rajan, A. Coy, V.V. Mukherjee, M. Manica, P. Prasanna, et al.
Journal: Patterns
Citations: 81
Year: 2021

Title: Supercritical extraction and HPLC analysis of taxol from Taxus brevifolia using nitrous oxide and nitrous oxide+ ethanol mixtures
Authors: V. Vandana, A.S. Teja, L.H. Zalkow
Journal: Fluid Phase Equilibria
Citations: 51
Year: 1996

Title: Convolutional autoencoder based model HistoCAE for segmentation of viable tumor regions in liver whole-slide images
Authors: M. Roy, J. Kong, S. Kashyap, V.P. Pastore, F. Wang, K.C.L. Wong, V. Mukherjee
Journal: Scientific Reports
Citations: 42
Year: 2021

Title: Vapor-liquid equilibria in the carbon dioxide+ 1-propanol system
Authors: V. Vandana, A.S. Teja
Journal: Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data
Citations: 37
Year: 1995

Conclusion:

Vandana Mukherjee’s extensive experience in semiconductor and cognitive software research, coupled with her leadership and innovative contributions, make her a strong candidate for a Research Excellence Award. To maximize her potential, a focus on academic publications and increased community engagement could further bolster her impressive profile.