Michel Boussinesq, M.D., Ph.D.

Directeur de Recherche

Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)

911, Av. Agropolis BP 64501

34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France

Telephone: (33) 04 67 41 61 62

E-mail: boussinesq@ird.fr

Dr. Michel Boussinesq, Directeur de Recherche, Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, Montpellier, France

Michel Boussinesq, MD, PhD, has worked for more than 20 years on the epidemiology of onchocerciasis and on the strategies to control the disease by ivermectin chemotherapy. Most of his research has been conducted in Cameroon, where he was seconded at the Centre Pasteur. The main objectives of his activities were aimed at evaluating the effects of various regimens of ivermectin on Onchocerca volvulus, and at addressing the issue of the adverse events related to coinfection with the filarial parasite Loa loa. He has also participated, in collaboration with various partners, in research on the modelling of population dynamics of onchocerciasis and loiasis, and on the immunology of onchocerciasis and other nematodiasis. Presently, his researches focus on the possible emergence of an ivermectin resistance in O. volvulus, and on the relationship between onchocerciasis and epilepsy. Since 2000, Dr. Boussinesq is a member of the Technical Consultative Committee of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) and he coordinates two teams involved in the long-term impact assessment of APOC operations. He has been a member of the Mectizan Expert Committee (2004-2007). At the french Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), he leads the team "Infectious Diseases" of the Research Unit "Epidemiology and Prevention". Dr. Boussinesq has published more than 100 scientific articles on onchocerciasis, loiasis, and other helminthic diseases.