The Molecular Biology and Biotechnology lab (LBMB) and Unit of Immunobiology and Helminth Infections (IBHI Lab) at IMPM Hosts Six Interns from the University of Bamenda for Two-Month Training Program
Yaoundé, Cameroon – The Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and the Immunology Unit at IMPM, is pleased to announce the commencement of a two-month internship program for six students from the University of Bamenda.
The program officially kicked off this week with an orientation session led by the Training Lead, Dr. Ngum Lesley Ngum. The orientation included a comprehensive tour of the laboratory facilities, an overview of the lab’s organizational structure, and introductions to the various research teams.
During the first phase of the program, the interns presented their initial academic objectives to the team leads. Following detailed presentations on the ongoing research projects, the students were given the opportunity to refine and submit their final objectives, tailoring their learning goals to the specific projects available.
Program Structure: The Rotational Approach
To ensure a broad and multidisciplinary experience, the interns will engage in a weekly rotation across six distinct research teams. This structure is designed to provide hands-on experience in diverse methodologies, ranging from molecular diagnostics to bioinformatics.
The Research Teams and Their Focus:
Immunology Team (Team lead: Mr. Bernard Zambo & Mr. Leonel Kamguia): Focused on understanding host immune responses and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of treatments during Schistosomiasis infection.
Transcriptomics Team (Team lead: Dr. Leonel Mbah): Dedicated to the exploration of human host gene expression dynamics during infection.
Metabolomics Team (Team lead: Dr. Mireille Kameni): Investigates the alterations in metabolic pathways and host-parasite interactions.
Metagenomics Team (Team lead: Dr. Martin Oyono): Examines the composition of the gut microbiome and bacterial abundance in the context of parasitic diseases.
Mycobiome Team (Team lead: Dr. Cyrille Kountchou): Analyzes the diversity and community structure of gut fungi.
Molecular Diagnostics team (Team lead: Dr. Mansour Mohamadou): Focused on developing, optimizing, and evaluating novel diagnostic tools to enhance field assay sensitivity.
A Word from the Laboratory Chair
Dr. Nono Justin KOMGUEP Chair of the LBMB and IBHI Lab, expressed his enthusiasm for the program, stating, “Investing in the next generation of scientists is a core part of our mission. This rotational model provides unparalleled exposure to the multi-omic approaches necessary to tackle complex diseases like schistosomiasis.”
The laboratory looks forward to the contributions of these interns over the coming weeks and wishes them a productive and insightful training period.
