About CILM

History

Following a visit of the Lao Ministry of Health in France in 2005, Dr Christophe Mérieux has been struck by the alarming needs of the country in terms of diagnosis.

Because the country didn’t have at that time a facility dedicated to clinical biology and because making the right diagnosis is essential in the success of disease treatment, Dr Christophe Mérieux decided to help Laos in providing the tool for fighting against infectious diseases. As a result, the Centre d’Infectiologie Christophe Mérieux of Laos (CICML) was established in 2009 with a mission to serve public health. Today, the CICML is integrated into the Lao public health infrastructures and is under the guidance of the Lao Ministry of Health.

Dr Christophe Mérieux, the philanthropic catalyst

Through Fondation Mérieux, a French independent family foundation and thanks to his strong will and his deep involvement in the fight against infectious diseases, Dr Christophe Mérieux had generously contributed to the building of the Centre. As a gesture of gratitude and in his memory, the Lao Ministry of Health decided to name the Centre after him.

The Centre d’Infectiologie Christophe Mérieux of Laos and the Fondation Mérieux are two complete different identities, independent from each other. Today, Fondation Mérieux is supporting us in our development.

A unique organizational scheme

The Centre d’Infectiologie Christophe Mérieux of Laos counts 12 permanent staff working towards the common goal of improving access to diagnosis. Each year, a Strategic Orientation Council is held, gathering members from the Ministry of Health, from Fondation Mérieux and from international public health institutions. This council aims at defining the development strategy of the Centre in line with the needs of the country.

Affiliated to the Ministry of Health and integrated into the University campus, the Centre d’Infectiologie Christophe Mérieux of Laos offers an incredible place for a high quality applied research and for a productive training and knowledge sharing in infectious diseases.

Mission

Carrying out specialized molecular biological analysis in line with nationwide programs to fight against infectious diseases.
Developing scientific research programs on infectious diseases in Laos in partnership with different scientific and medical institutions.
Training of health professionals through strong partnerships between public hospital laboratories and the University of Health Sciences and IFMT.

Links

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health prepares and implements health policy in Lao P.D.R.

www.moh.gov.la/

Fondation Mérieux

Fondation Mérieux is an independent family foundation established in 1967 whose mission is to strengthen local capacities in developing countries in order to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations.

www.fondation-merieux.org

University of Health Sciences

The mission of the University of Health Sciences is to work together with organizational counterparts to train qualified human resources for health to improve the health of all people in the Lao P.D.R.

uhs.edu.la

GABRIEL network

GABRIEL (Global Approach for Biological Research on Infectious Epidemics in Low Income countries) is a network that brings together laboratories in developed and developing countries.