News

Share Tweet

Avisiting HIV Research Trust Fellow from Cameroon, Dr Armando Djiyou, joined KRISP for a month-long training and knowledge exchange programme. Based at the University of Yaoundé I, Dr Djiyou wished to deepen his expertise in genomics and clinical research methods.

A Fellowship with Purpose

Dr Djiyou’s interest in advanced laboratory and clinical approaches began during his PhD research on HIV drug resistance among adolescents using Sanger sequencing. In his words: “For my PhD, I was working on HIV drug resistance among adolescents using the Sanger sequencing methods. And then, because I wanted to gain more insight into more robust clinical and laboratory methods, I started looking for opportunities… Then I came across this HIV Research Trust Fellowship… a UK-based charity that funds researchers from low- and middle-income countries to travel to another research unit to gain skills in clinical trials, genomics, or any HIV-related field.”

Recognising KRISP’s leadership in genomics, Dr Djiyou reached out to Dr Richard Lessells, Principal Investigator at KRISP, securing a placement aligned with his goal:

'My objective in coming here is to strengthen my skills in genomics, but also in clinical research methods in order to tackle HIV drug resistance in Cameroon.' – Dr Armando Djiyou

A Month of Learning and Sharing

During his stay, Dr Djiyou gained hands-on experience in high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics, and data interpretation, while contributing to ongoing research projects. He also shared insights with KRISP Masters and PhD students through discussions, presentations, and informal mentoring, enriching their understanding of HIV research across Africa. Reflecting on the exchange, Dr Lessells said: “Armando’s academic journey is a great example of how a scientist can take his work beyond the pages of a thesis and apply the findings in the real world, making a positive change within your community. This was inspiring for all of us, especially the junior researchers within KRISP.”

Strengthening Ties Across Africa

Dr Djiyou’s visit highlights KRISP’s commitment to fostering scientific capacity across the continent through mobility, collaboration, and shared learning. His time at KRISP exemplifies how exchange programmes broaden horizons, enable innovation, and connect African researchers in a shared mission to improve health outcomes.

KRISP wishes Dr Djiyou every success as he continues his work in HIV drug resistance surveillance and clinical practice, marking the beginning of a productive collaboration with the University of Yaoundé I.

This news piece was published at the gem!

Click on the image above to read the gem, genomics, epidemics & microbes Vol 8 Issue 10, Nov/Dec 2025, or scan the qrcode.