Professor Christian Happi is a Cameroonian-born Nigerian molecular biologist and genomicist. He is a Professor of Molecular Biology and Genomics in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) at Redeemer’s University, Nigeria.
He is known for leading the team that used genomic sequencing to identify a single point of Ebola virus transmission from an animal reservoir to a human in the West Africa outbreak. His research focuses on infectious diseases including malaria, Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2.
Early Life and Education
- Born: Sangmélima, Cameroon
- Birth Order: Fourth of eight children
- 1993: B.Sc. in Biochemistry (Hons.), University of Yaoundé, Cameroon
- 2000: Ph.D., University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- 2000–2003: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University
- 2004–2007: Research Scientist, Harvard University
- 2007–2011: Adjunct Professor, Harvard University School of Public Health
Research and Career
Professor Happi has spearheaded multiple public health genomics projects in Africa:
Ebola Virus:
- Led Nigeria’s genomic sequencing efforts during the West African outbreak.
- Sequenced up to 20 Ebola cases per day during the crisis.
Lassa Fever:
- Sequenced strains during the 2018 outbreak.
- Demonstrated that transmission was due to rats, not a more contagious mutation.
Global Genomics Collaborations:
- Played significant roles in 1000 Genomes Project and H3Africa.
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2):
- Performed the first genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa within 48 hours of Nigeria’s first confirmed case.
TED Talk:
- In 2020, delivered “A virus detection network to stop the next pandemic.”
Awards and Honors
- 2020: Bailey K. Ashford Medal
- 2019: HUGO African Prize
- 2011 & 2012: ExxonMobil Malaria Leadership Fellow
- 2011: Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award
- 2010: Scholarship, Second Annual Course on Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Global Health (University of Washington, USA)
- 2010: Boroughs Wellcome & Bill & Melinda Gates Awards, Genome Epidemiology Meeting, Wellcome Trust (UK)
- 2009–2014: Wellcome Trust Research Grant Award
- 2009: EDCTP Senior Research Fellowship Award (Netherlands)
- 2008: Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Africa Health Research Organization (Ghana)
- 2007: Turner Biosciences Research Award (USA)
- 2005–2008: Plasmodium falciparum Pathogenesis & Applied Genomics Research Award (World Bank/UNICEF/WHO/TDR)
- 2004: Chair, Molecular Parasitology Session, 50th Annual ASTMH Meeting (USA)
- 2003–2005: Member, International Scientific Committee, 4th MIM Pan African Malaria Conference (Cameroon)
- 1999: Best Postgraduate Student, PIMRAT, University of Ibadan
- 1998: Wellcome Trust Award, Gordon Conference on Malaria (Oxford, UK)
- 1995: Best International Postgraduate Student, ISA, University of Ibadan
- 1994–1997: Organization of African Unity (OAU) Research & Training Scholarship
- 1988–1993: Cameroon Government Scholarship