Professor Jacob Souopgui is a molecular biologist and biotechnology expert with more than two decades of experience in academic research, capacity building, and international health collaboration. He is currently Professor and Chair Holder in Developmental Biology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium, where he also leads the Laboratory of Embryology and Biotechnology (LEB) at the ULB-BioPark Campus.

Originally trained in Cameroon, where he earned a PhD in molecular parasitology focused on onchocerciasis, Professor Souopgui later completed a second PhD in molecular genetics of development in Germany, followed by postdoctoral work in both Germany and Belgium. His research spans developmental biology, infectious diseases, and therapeutic innovation, with recent efforts targeting drug-resistant malaria.

A key focus of his career has been fostering scientific partnerships and strengthening research capacity in Africa. He has led collaborative programs across Cameroon, Rwanda, and Senegal, supporting the development of medical, biomedical, and biotechnology training.

From 2019 to early 2025, Professor Souopgui served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali, a premier university-affiliated referral hospital in Rwanda. Most recently, I was honored to be selected to join the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Board of Directors of the Movement Health Foundation, based in Geneva. This new role offers an important opportunity to expand field-based networks and strategic collaborations.

His foremost goal is to contribute technical insight and field-driven perspectives to global health governance and equitable access to essential medicines.