Didier Ménard

Prof. Didier Ménard is Professor-Hospital Practitioner (PU-PH) at the University of Strasbourg, holder of a Senior Chair at the Institut Universitaire de France, and Guest Scientist at Institut Pasteur Paris (Malaria Parasite Biology and Vaccines Unit). His research focuses on antimalarial drug resistance, particularly the mechanisms underlying artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum. He led the discovery of K13 mutations as the molecular marker of artemisinin resistance (Nature 2014), subsequently validated through genetic confirmation (Science 2015) and global mapping (NEJM 2016). His work also demonstrated P. vivax infections in Duffy-negative African populations, challenging a long-held paradigm. With over 25 years of field experience across Africa and Southeast Asia within the Institut Pasteur International Network, he currently coordinates several international projects including IMPRIMA (EDCTP3). He serves on the WHO Technical Expert Group on Drug Efficacy and Response. His work has resulted in 289 publications (h-index 53) and multiple awards including the ASTMH Distinguished International Fellow and the Joseph Augustin Medal.