Second Meeting of the DS-I Africa Consortium
29 October -2 November 2022

Prof Christian Happi (Participant)

Professor Christian Happi-Short Bio Christian Happi, is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics and Director of the World Bank funded African Center of Excellence for Genomics of infectious Diseases (ACEGID) in Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. Professor Christian Happi, did his postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University from 2000-2003. He subsequently worked at Harvard University as a Research Scientist (2004-2007) and became an adjunct Professor at Harvard University School of Public Health between 2007-2011. Professor Happi in an unprecedented way, recently used next generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the new SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, within 48 hours of receiving sample of the first case in Nigeria. This seminal work not only provided an insight into the detailed genetic map of the new coronavirus in Africa, not only confirm the origin of the virus, but also pave the way to the development of new countermeasures including new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. He received the Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award in 2011