Prof Rose Leke clinches prestigious UNESCO Women in Science prize.

It will be organised at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

According to the committee, the celebrated immunologist was awarded for her outstanding fight against malaria in Cameroon, Africa and the world as a whole.

“Her outstanding research and pioneering efforts to improve outcomes in pregnancy-associated malaria, support the eradication of polio and improve immunization in Africa, as well as for her efforts to improve the career path of young scientists,” part of the statement by UNESCO committee reads.

According to the committee, Prof Rose Leke’s outstanding achievements, positions her as a role model, leading educator and advocate for young female scientists, as such should be celebrated.

Prof Rose Leke in a nutshell

Prof Rose Leke is a malariologist and Professor Emeritus of Immunology and Parasitology at the University of Yaounde I. She is a Fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences.

Until March 2013, she was the Head of Department in the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaounde I, and Director of the Biotechnology Centre. 

She was once Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Medical Research Institute, IMPM, Vice President of the Scientific Committee of Cameroon First Lady’s Research Centre, CIRCB. 

In 2014, she was invited by the Aggrey-Fraser-Guggisberg Memorial Lecturers of the University of Ghana where she was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa.

In 2011, she was among the few women who received the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award for Women, for her excellence in the domain of science.

On November 23, 2018, she was crowned Queen Mother of the Cameroonian medical community by the Cameroon Medical Council.

She has served as Executive Director of the Cameroon Coalition against Malaria and Chair of the Multilateral Initiative in Malaria as well as President of the Federation of African Immunological Societies.

She still serves as the World Health Organisation, WHO, Consultant in several domains.

In 2022, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged her contributions to science and public health by awarding her the Achievement in Global Health Leadership

In recognition of her expertise and leadership, Professor Leke was appointed Chair of the Independent Review Committee, IRC of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in February 2023. 

In September 2023, she was named winner of the 2023 Virchow Prize for Global Health award. She was also declared The Guardian Post 2023 Woman of The Year.